A Letter from Mom

That afternoon, the sun still shone majestically in the sky. Children at the end of the alley were still engrossed in playing hide-and-seek. This was indeed city life, but the children's joy in playing was no less than in a village. At that very moment, a girl from a village on the island across from Surabaya stepped into the neighborhood where the children were playing. The girl, whose full name was Arumi Dewi Sari, smiled watching them play. It reminded her of her own childhood. The times when she was still in the village. The time when she didn't yet know the harshness of the world. A time when all she knew was playing in a peaceful and tranquil village. Recalling everything made her longing for her family back in the village swell even more. But she couldn't go home. Her wound was still open. She still hadn't been able to fully heal it. Right in front of her rented room's door, the landlady approached Arumi. “Miss Arumi, there was a letter for you earlier,” the woman said kindly. With a joyful smile, Arumi accepted the letter. She was sure the letter was from Mom. It had been three months since Mom replied to her letter. So, when a letter arrived, she naturally felt extremely happy. Her longing for her beloved family felt overwhelming. “Thank you very much, Ma'am,” Arumi said politely. The woman simply nodded and continued her work of gathering the clothes that had been drying all day. Arumi slowly opened the door to her rented room. She carelessly put down her shoes and bag. She'd tidy them up later. Now, there was something more important than all of that. Namely, reading the letter from Mom. She sat on the simple sofa in her rented room's living area. With an impatient heart, she began to tear open the envelope. She smiled. Mom's letter folds always made her happy. How could they not? The airplane-shaped letter folds were always Mom's favorite when sending her letters. She said it was a sign of Mom's love for her. When she was little, she would always insist every day that Mom make paper origami airplanes. Little Arumi said it was so that when she grew up, she could fly and reach her dreams. At that time, Mom just smiled faintly. She slowly unfolded it. With a longing that pounded in her heart, Arumi read the letter. Assalamualaikum, My Child! How are you? Mom hopes you're always healthy there. Rum, when are you coming home? Mom and Dad miss you. Don't you miss your old Mom and Dad? Come home, child. It's been over a year since you came home from living away. Mom knows you're there earning money, but Rum, Mom and Dad also need you here, child, not just your money. If it's just for your food, Mom and Dad are more than capable here, child. Mom also knows your not coming home is because of Aryo. Child, for how long? Aryo is already happy with the path he chose. You should be too. Child, the past is not for lamenting, but for facing. You've spent enough time, over a year, living away. Now it's time to come home, child. You're an adult now. It's time to build a family. Let go of your past, child. Mom is sure there are many better men out there. Rum, please come home, child. Get married soon. While Mom and Dad are still healthy. Mom will wait. Signed with love, Mom and Dad in the village. Arumi's tears fell as she read the letter. This letter must have been sent by Mom 3 or 4 days ago. But it felt as if she was hearing Mom say everything directly at this very moment. She wept bitterly. Should she go home? Could she? Those questions had been pounding at her ever since Mom's last letter before this one. This was the second time Mom had asked her to come home. The first request, she was able to refuse because Mom used the pretext of her cousin Ratih's wedding. She was still able to make excuses about being busy at that time. But if it was like this, with the honesty Mom expressed, could she? Especially with Mom's request for her to get married? Truly, she still couldn't. The trauma was still gnawing at her soul. The failure of her wedding party two years ago was still a terrifying specter for her. She let out a weary sigh. Her tears continued to flow. She truly didn't know what to do anymore. She cried out in her heart, calling to God to help her. She also desperately wanted to go home. She didn't want to be a disobedient child to Mom. But her heart kept refusing. “Oh Allah, truly I am weak. Please help Your servant, my Lord,” she prayed in her heart.