THE WOUNDED EARTH

BLOSSOM BACK

***

ANNISA POV

ANNISA Az-Zahra's...

A woman who is patient, strong and intelligent.So that is probably the meaning of the name pinned on me by my father and mother.

"Name is prayer."that's what you once said.

And it's true.

When I was 5 years old, I recently entered kindergarten education and Kak Yoga who at that time was just 7 years old, we have given a big test.

***

15 Years ago.....

"Ma, where are you going ...?"

"Cock is beautiful....?ask little Annisa who is ready with her school uniform.

"Today mama wants to join Ica school.."sahut her mama while still tidying up Annisa's hair braid.

"Mama is very fragrant, wear a new perfume huh....?"Annisa hugged and smelled the fragrance from her mother's body.

"Don't you, you haven't used perfume yet." answered the mother gently and then kissed Annisa's head and cheeks.

Mama lifted me in her lap.

"Mama dear Ica.." she said softly and then hugged me tightly and long enough.

"We all love Ica." she continued.

"It's also..."

"Dear mom and dad." I replied innocently.

"Lho kak Yoga is missing...."

"Ica does not love Kak Yoga because nyebelin, nosy like..."

Mom laughed at my behavior.

"Yes, let's have breakfast first."so mommy said, leading my little hand.

At the dinner table there was already papa and sister Yoga waiting for us.

"Mama is very neat, where are you going ma...?ask Yoga .

"Mama wants to join papa nganterin you guys school." replied mama.

Then we had breakfast together, the atmosphere this morning was different.

Papa and mama kept looking at us with a smile.And repeatedly expressed his affectionate words.

"Are you all ready...?"

"Nobody's missing again...?"ask papa.

"It's pa.."I agree with Kak Yoga.

"Bik.."call mama to our housemaid's Asih.

"I, mom...?"answer bik Asih.

"I'm the same old mom .." said papa.

"Please take care of the children, bik.."mama's message also.

"Lho, will the children follow the mother with the father...?"sahut bik Asih's.

But mama just replied to a question made Asih by smiling.

Bik Asih, a 45-year-old middle-aged woman.

We consider it like our own family.

Bik Asih has no children and her husband is also dead.

Bik Asih has been like a grandmother for us because mama has no parents.Mama grew up in an orphanage.

While papa only had one younger brother, Oma died of illness in the afterlife 2 years later.

The car drove slowly at a speed that led us to school.

Mama and I were sitting on the back bench with Yoga at the front near Papa.

Along the way my mom always hugged and kissed me, I was so happy.

"Sir Yoga is now big yes, this year has passed SD."

"So the boy must be strong, as the protector of his sister." said papa to Yoga.

"Papa is very happy to have kak Yoga.."puji papa.

"Well pa, Yoga must be strong also certainly dong will take care of Ica." replied kak Yoga sure.

"Annisa must also be strong, must also get along with Yoga kak ya dear.."add papa again.

"Well pa.." answered me who still hugged my mother spoiled.

"We have arrived." said Mama.

Mom and Dad got out of the car.

"Yoga same Ica school first yes pa,ma.." said Kak Yoga then greet and kiss the hand of papa also mama.Di followed by me.

"The diligent school is dear."answered mama.

"Yoga, remember the message papa ya son.." said papa then hugged kak Yoga.

"Ready, it must be pa..."

Yoga and I walked into the school.

Seen from afar, mama and papa let us off while waving their hands.

My Kindergarten School is still one area with Yoga because of one foundation.

"So, I'll just go to class first." said Kak Yoga, who took me to the study.

"Yes, brother." I answered briefly.

Yoga left me for her class in the opposite building.

The classroom atmosphere was still quiet, there were only a few girls who had just arrived.

I put my little bag in the locker and picked up the puzzle toy.

"Oh.." I cried out in pain because someone pulled my braid from behind.

I was sad and crying too.

"Hey, stop.." the voice of the little boy.

"If you're nosy again, I'll report it to the teacher..."

"Annisa, I'm sorry." said Affan, the nosy kid.

I didn't care about it because I was upset.

"Not crying, I'll treat the ice cream.." The boy's voice just coaxed me.

"Who are you...?"I asked while sweeping away the tears that were still dripping.

"Hi, my name is Ridwan Firdaus."

"I just moved to this school" he said with a smile.

"Can I be your friend....?"

I nodded in agreement.

"That was the first time I knew you,....Ridwan Firdaus."

A few minutes later the bell rang the sign that school lessons would begin.

***

The clock is 09:00.

All students are still busy doing drawing assignments from teacher.

Tok.dok...

"Excuse me, ma'am, excuse me for a moment.."a man from outside our class.

"Mom's kids stay out for a while huh..."

"Well ma'am.."we're in unison.

After a few minutes, the teacher came back in.

"Annisa darling.."Call her.

"Yes Ma'am.."sohutku.

"Today Annisa came home first yes, outside there is already the same Yoga Brother Om Alif who picked up Annisa.."lang Bu guru.

"Good ma'am."I said innocently then cleaned up the table and picked up the bag in my locker.

"Annisa, it's the same Om.." said Om Alif.

"Okay Om but where are we going...?"ask me curious.

"Follow to the house."Am Alif replied with a hanging sentence.

"Ica sama kak Yoga ya.." said Kak Yoga who led me to walk to Om Alif car in the school parking area.

Along the way in the car, Om Alif and Kak Yoga did not say much.

The car turned into the hospital parking area.

"Let's go in." said Om Alif.

"We got out of the car and entered the white building.

"Why are we here, brother...?"

"We're going to get the sick, huh...?"ask me again Yoga.

Yoga is silent.

We met Bik Asih who was sitting in front of a room.

his face looks very sad.

"Bik Asih, I'm here."

Aunty did not reply, her tears dripping slowly.

My aunt led me to Yoga and Om Alif entered a room.

There lay mom and dad in separate beds.

"Ma,mama why....?"

"Papa...?"

"Mama is sick, huh...?"I said with a trembling voice.

Bik, mama same papa sick what...?"ask me to bik Asih.

But auntie even sobbed.

"Om, Mama is equally sick what Om....?"

"Patience yes dear, my same papa Ica, ...

it's in heaven now." replied Om Alif rasping.

"Om lying, ." I yelled.

"Mama same dear papa Ica, not possible ninggalin Ica same kak Yoga, is it right kak...?"instead of me at Yoga.

"Sister, sister why cry.....?"

"Your dear parents, you may not leave us..."

"Papa same mom just sick and now definitely sleep again....iya right bik...?"I said I started crying.

"Ma, come on, wake up..."

"Wake up pa.."ask me.

My chest feels tight.

The whole room felt empty.

My eyes slowly blurred until I remembered nothing else.

***

Tok...

"Non Ica.." the voice of the Asih from behind the door called my name.

My room door opened, Kak Yoga entered in the bik Asih follow behind her.

"Ica,ayo same sister..."

"We're going to mom's funeral with papa...."

"Ica still reminds me of my mom's message papa.." said sister Yoga holding my hand.

"We need to be patient and strong..."

I nodded quietly without a sound and followed Yoga's footsteps and made Asih leave the room.

At the cemetery many people who deliver mom and dad to his final resting place.

Kak Yoga looks tough at his teenage age.

We sprinkle flowers on the graves of mama and papa who are still wet.

One by one the people who drove him back home.

Stay me, kak Yoga and bik Asih and Om Alif

who still looks at the tombstone.

"It's late in the afternoon, let's go home .."pajak Om Alif.

"Come on,ca.."guide to Yoga.

I tried to stand up but it felt heavy.

Om Alif quickly caught my body starting to look.

In Om Alif's sling, I can't remember anything anymore.

***

The days go by very slowly.Sun without mom and dad.

For almost a month, Yoga and I did not go to school.

Om Alif stayed with us since mom and left.

Tok.dok...

"Non Ica, there's a non ica friend coming.." said bik Asih.

smiling and leading me out.

"Hey,Annisa..."

"Ridwan..."

"Here I bring ice cream, don't be sad again..."

"Thank you.." I tried to smile.

"Let's play outside." said little Ridwan.

I turned to look towards the Asih.

Bik Asih nodded with a smile just like the old mama.

I nodded and smiled, agreeing with Ridwan's invitation.

Slowly my spirit returned with time.

Ridwan also often come to the house to invite me to play or just give ice cream or chocolate.

Cheerful smiles and laughter began to re-emerge as they used to in my days.

***

The present.....

My palms feel warm, I try to move slowly.....

Slowly open my eyes .

My smile was also present when I saw the figure of a man who fell asleep while lying face down beside the bed.

His hands tightly continued to hold my hands.

"Sister, I'm Yoga..."

"Wake up..."

I look at it again carefully.

He woke up, raised his face while rubbing his eyes.

"Ridwan.."my inner.

I looked at his face again for certainty.

Did I expect too much of his presence to hallucinate so far.

"Hi Ica..."

"It's morning..."

His style of speech is exactly like Ridwan.But I still can't believe it.

"You...?"I said hang.

"You want ice cream or chocolate." she said.

"Ridwan.." I said softly holding the clear hairs that were ready to drip on my eyelids.

"Lho kok cry.."his reprimand then approached hugged me and wiped the teardrops that had fallen.

"Don't cry anymore,..."

"I'm sorry I've been gone too long."he wooed.

"Promise....?"

"Don't ever leave again."ask me.

He nodded and smiled.

I hugged her body tightly, I didn't want to lose her again.

"Ehm.hm..."

We turned our head towards the origin of the voice and released a hug out of embarrassment.

"Morning is a hug, not yet muhrim.."tegur kak Yoga with his flat voice.

"And just woke up, doesn't it smell....?"he teased us again.

"Sister." cried out to me with a reddened face in shame.

We laughed too.

This morning was beautiful.

I did not feel the pain that enveloped my body.All felt lightly floating because of your presence.

Ridwan Firdaus's,....

Like your beautiful and benevolent name

You are present again to bring the spirit of my life as before when I was devastated by the departure of mama and papa.

Please don't ever leave again.

Don't let me live this life myself.

Help me to get back up.

Ma love for those who have stopped by the mother's lap

Don't forget the broom first the tears....

And don't forget to give his support so that mother also continues the spirit of his writing yes....🙏🙏🙏

Greetings from the mother of future fighters anak2 and family