CHARTER GIRL CHAIRMAN
A PIECE OF THE PAST

*So why does it rain?

Feels just the same

As if I'd be on my own without you

So I'm thinkin' about the memories through this song

It helps me forget 'bout everything that went wrong

I know that we're not through for sure

Deep down in my heart the pain I can't ignore

And so I sing my song* ....

Zachira blinked, the piece of song that accidentally played in the car reminded her of something, something she wanted to forget but couldn't.

"Sir, before I get home can take me to this address?" Zachira gave the driver a piece of paper. The middle-aged man glared at him at a glance then nodded, "good non."

Back in silence, the faintest sounding was only the roar of the machine, the rest of the song and the fine snoring of Zio who had been asleep since. The boy had a habit of sleeping on the way. Sometimes just taken by car for a while he had slept well. That's one of Zachira's powerful ways to stop fussing.

Along the way the girl stared at the expanse of rice fields whose pad turned yellow. Bandung direction is indeed full of plants like this, soothing the eyes. To take him flying into a long time.

"Adrians ...."

One name just slid off his lips. It was almost inaudible. Zachira rubbed the corner of the eye with her fingertips, chuckling in light of her own congruent behavior. Why has he recently come back to remember the figure of a man who had left him so cruelly.

Not back.

"It's non, '" Mr. Min broke his daydream. Zachira regained his senses, slowly carefully laying Zio on the passenger seat. Luckily, he always had a pillow and blanket in the car. The boy remained asleep, undisturbed.

"Nitip Zio bentar yes sir, if he wakes up and cries, you just take him inside. I won't be long." Zachira explained as she opened the car door then got down and closed it slowly.

"Non good, be careful." Mr. Min looked up from the car. Zachira nodded. Turn your head to the left and right before crossing the street. In front of him stood a carved crossbar, a public cemetery.

***

"Neng Zach? Where the hell is it?"

As soon as he entered the cemetery, an elderly man came over. Zachira knew him, he was Mr. Amir, the caretaker of the tomb as well as a florist and all sorts of other funeral paraphernalia.

"Yes sir, Zach hasn't been here in a long time. Busy work." The girl greeted the wrinkled hands of the man before her warmly. They've known each other for years.

"Okaya huh?" He continued. Mr. Amir who had memorized the girl's request nodded, giving her a basket of roses and a jug of water.

"Be careful, the road is a little slippery because it was raining neng." He reminded. Zachira gave a small nod, gave her a red bill and then left. Tracing the path of a thin opportunity. The green grass that adorned each graveyard soil looked well preserved. Many tombs are still wet. The tomb that was just occupied.

And that's where he stopped. Under a tree whose flowers are blooming. He rested in front of the navel covered with green grass. Rinses of rain still appear to decorate each strand. The black headstone engraved on the name of a person who was now lying peacefully down there looked dewy.

Gently, Zachira's springy fingers stroked the headstone. He whispered the name of someone he could never forget to this day.

"Adrians ...."

***

Two years ago ....

"We broke up." Barren, there was no wind let alone rain, the man with the rogue mane said that piercing sentence.

Zachira gaped, feeling like she was being bombed right to the bottom of the heart. All this time their relationship was fine, why suddenly change direction like that?

"But why? Have I made a mistake? Are you no longer in love? Tell Adrian, don't shut up!"

There's no explanation.

Zachira felt that the sky had suddenly collapsed on her, aching, aching.

For months the man disappeared without news. Leaving a woman who loves so deeply wallows in disappointment.

All forms of maki and swearing he addressed to the man. Hate once even though just remembering how the sharp but full of tender eyes.

Indeed, Zachira never expected, the reason for Adrian's departure at that time completely destroyed himself more deeply than before.

"He's sick Zach ... His pancreas has cancer. The doctor said the chance of cure was slim." The middle-aged woman he knew as the mother of Adrian explained with tears in her eyes.

Stabbing, really a reality that so stabs the heart. All this time he continued to wallow in hatred and disappointment, but it turned out that reality was beyond what he had expected.

"Why aren't you being honest?"

The girl sniffled beside the hospital bed. Squeezing the fingers of pale hands that have only bone wrapped in skin.

The man with my face only smiled slightly, "i'm afraid you're more hurt." The answer.

"But I love you no matter what." The girl refuted impatiently, emotions were certain.

"It is precisely because of that .. I know you love me, and I don't want you to be hurt by that love." He coughed he explained. Squeezing the lentic fingers of the girl he loved so much with the remnants of energy.

"Can I ask for one thing?" He spoke out very softly, trying to stay with the rest of the diminishing consciousness.

"What?"

"If I go .. please move on. Open your heart and start loving." His speech stammered. Zachira's tears are falling.

"You can't say that, you have to heal."

"Promise ...."

Although the heart was so torn, the girl nodded.

Adrian smiled sweetly, closing his eyes peacefully.

And never again open your eyes.

To this day.

***

The girl was sowing flowers on top of the navel. Sealing and praying. For two years, every chance he ever came to this cemetery, let go of the presence of the man he so loved with all his heart.

"Mbu ... mbu ...!"

His head turned, Zio was seen crying in Mr. Min's sling. Approaching where he was squatting.

"Here ... Mbu child just woke up huh? Cup cup ... don't cry."

The girl grabbed onto Zio's petite body, patting his back while swinging around.

"You want to go straight home, don't you?" Mr. Min reprimanded, taking a quick glance at the gravestone that had just been sprinkled with flowers. Maybe want to ask but afraid to say meddle.

"Yes sir, the night hunt." The girl nodded, before the driver left the path. A small nod to Mr. Amir who looks shocked and confused to see the child who is now in his arms.

Before coming out once again the girl turned her head, staring at the tomb from a distance.

"May you always be at peace up there Adrian ...."

[how's the story? Don't forget to leave a trace in the comment field, like also vote and rate yes ... see you in the next episode okay? 😊😊😊🙏🙏]