Waiting for the Light to Return

Chapter 16 - Promise

Rawindra

Two years ago it was a rare afternoon.

Coming home early from guard duty at the hospital, I was grateful for the kindness of Andra who was willing to take over my position for the next shift.

Well, not the goodness anyway.

It was only one action ‘paying indebted’ he did, after many times I covered his *** in hospital.

Including when he's late for fucking a koas kid in... Ah already.

He's not the core of the story.

The whole point of the story is that I was driving my car a little faster than usual.

The clock is three o'clock in the afternoon, and I know that in these hours Dewi and Tia-ku are playing in the back garden. I just couldn’t wait to join them.

Speaking of couldn’t wait, I have also not met the Goddess who is awake for two weeks. I always went home to find he was asleep and I woke up to find he was gone.

I really couldn’t wait to be with her again, completely.

It was those thoughts that filled my mind as I entered the streets of our house.

Increasingly peaked when the fence of the house is getting closer.

And collapsed to pieces looking at the empty courtyard.

Disappointed not to play, I pressed the horn to make sure and right.

It was Mbok Jem who was caught crossing the courtyard and opening the door, with no sign of Dewi or Tia in the doorway.

Trying to make my tone ordinary, I asked Mbok Jem.

“Mbok, Mom hasn't come home?”

Polite, Mbok Jem replied.

“Not yet, Mr.”

Nodding a glance, I asked again.

“Kok tumben not home yet, huh? Do you have any needs? Where to?”

Mbok Jem replied again.

“Lack of knowledge, sir. Last morning I didn't say anything.”

Nodding again, I ended this free interrogation.

“Good, Mbok. I'm in first, yes.”

As I walked, I didn't know why I felt something strange.

Dewi is indeed an extraordinarily busy career woman, but as busy as she is, Dewi is always planned.

From waking up in the morning to sleeping again, he always followed the mental schedule he made for himself and us.

Even if there is an interruption or change, usually he always informs first.

Therefore, straying from this newsless routine was not her at all.

...

Is...

...

In a breath, I shook off that excess suspicion.

Most Dewi and Tia were playing to the mall or eating at the restaurant. Preoccupation until forgetting to tell people home.

After all, it is only natural that in one day the Goddess makes exceptions for her schedule and plans. It doesn't’t hurt anyone to let loose a little, right?

The ringing of the house phone filled the middle room.

Throwing the briefcase onto the sofa, I walked over and said to Mbok Jem.

“I'm the only one to lift, Mbok.”

Mbok Jem nodded and returned to the kitchen, while I attached the phone handle to my listening senses.

“Halo?”, call voice from across. The voice of a woman I don't know.

“Ya, hello. Who is this?” with, I replied.

“Is this really Judistia's home, sir?”, replied the caller.

My forehead is wrinkled, I answer.

“Iya right. Who is this with, huh?”

The woman's voice sounded relieved.

“This is with Ms. Yuni, Sir. His homeroom teacher Tia at school. With Mr Rawindra, yes?”

Still don't understand, I agree with the question.

The voice said again.

“This sir, it's been an hour from school but Tia hasn't picked up yet. I called to his number Mother Goddess was not lifted from earlier. What could you possibly.?”

Without thinking, I immediately replied.

“I pick up now.”

Rushing and ignoring Mbok Jem's astonished look, I ran and started the car.

Back on the road, driving with the mind drifting everywhere.

While wading through the brazen Bandung traffic jammed, I repeatedly called Dewi's phone.

Connect tone, connect tone, then “The number you are aiming for is out of reach”.

Kalut, I drive wildly and ferociously.

After several near-misses on a motorcycle and crossing the road, I finally arrived at Tia's school.

Still without any answer or news from the Goddess.

Without caring about the parking lot, I ran over to my daughter who was crying in the school lobby.

Gasps, I greet him.

“Hai, Darling.”

Still sobbing, Tia raised her face and hugged me tightly.

“Pa... Papa..”

Caressing and carrying her, I smiled lightningly and thanked the accompanying teacher, then immediately returned to the still-lit car.

Putting Tia in the passenger seat, I tried to calm her down with half attention.

“Tia, Dear. Sitting sweet, yeah. Wear a seat belt. Papa wants to phone Mama first.”

In sobs, Tia was trying to convey something.

“Pa... Pa... Mamma... Mom, Pa..”

Answering and caressing her around, I still kept calling my wife.

“Pa, Mom... Mama doesn't love Tia anymore.”.

Heart pounding and cold sweat everywhere, I stroked Tia a little faster.

“Nno, Honey. Maybe she was busy and forgot to tell me. Dear mom Tia, kok.”

Her crying broke even louder.

“Ngak, Pa. I am not busy (read: busy). Mom was at Tia's school. But when Tia calls, Mama pelgi (read : go).”

For a moment, my whole heart stopped.

In disbelief, I looked at my daughter who kept telling me stories.

“Tia call. But Mama didn't see. When Tia arrived at Mama's place, Mama was not there.”

Grasped cluelessly, I looked for lies in my daughter's eyes.

Maybe Tia saw it wrong.

Maybe Tia called wrong.

There is no way the Goddess behaves so to the princess only wayangnya.

There's no way my wife would do that to our only daughter.

And just then, a car entered the parking lot.

Jazz ash, with a police number corresponding to my wife's birthday.

Hypnotized, Tia and I looked along as the car passed us and stopped rudely at the lobby door.

Descending quickly from there, the black long-haired beautiful woman ran across the threshold.

Panicked and not aware of our existence at all.

Goddesses. My wife's.

　

　

***

“Win, Darling. Sorry yes, sorry. I have absolutely no idea what happened.”

We're home and it's night.

Tia was sleeping well in her room.

The goddess sat on the edge of our bed and I walked to and fro.

Looking for a calmness that has evaporated out of nowhere since.

Trying to explain, the Goddess continued to beg.

“Darling, I'm sorry. Ii'm sorry. I really don't know. I-i didn't... I remember I was already at Tia's school, but what happened after that I really..”.

I cut.

Anger, disbelief, fear, and horror mixed into one.

“So you mean to tell me that you are completely unaware that you have been circling around Bandung for an hour without your only daughter, Wi?”

The goddess seemed to be crying.

“I don't know, Win. I don't get it. I'm sorry, Win. I'm sorry.”

Not knowing what to say, I was sitting limp in bed.

Minutes passed in silence, while I tried to find a logical explanation for all this.

I know the Goddess inside and out. We dated a long time before we finally got married.

I know he's not a liar.

But if he's not lying, then...

Taking a deep breath, I turned my head and clasped his hand.

Trying to make my question as gentle as possible.

“Wi. Please be honest with me. Have you ever experienced something like this before?”

The goddess looked at me not understanding.

“Ma... You mean, Win?”

I moved closer and looked at him deeper.

“Have you ever had those empty periods where you forgot what you were doing before that? Do you have trouble remembering things?”

His eyebrows were linked as he answered.

“You... You're diagnosing me?”

The more I clasped his hand.

“Wi, please answer me.”

His forehead is getting deeper. He shook his head in disbelief and took his hand off me.

“I'm fine, Win. Maybe I'm just exhausted. I'm sorry for failing to pick up Tia today. But I'm okay.”

Away, he pulled a blanket over him.

I'm still trying to catch up.

“Wi.”

It was his back that he showed when he answered.

“Good night, Win.”

...

Desperate, I could only see him lying in the opposite direction.

Knowing that my efforts were in vain, I laid myself on my back beside him.

My heart is still pumping fear into all my cells.

But what good is it for me as a husband and a doctor if I can't solve this problem?

Looking up once again, I reached out wanting to caress her.

Stopped and hung in the air as he felt the cry he was sounding in silence.

Puffing my hands, I sighed and whispered in my heart.

“I don't know what's going on in my family, God. But I promise I will do my best to protect them. Both of them.”

Feeling a little weight lifted in prayer, I turned my head once again.

She's still crying.

Not knowing what to do, I stroked her as gently as I could.

And I fell asleep.