SHORT STORY || COVER
COVER
The day when the smile comes to visit,
Carrying a list of alphas,
"Many did not attend later," he said.
"Maybe it's not a good day. I don't want to be suspicious. Go," I answered simply.
The next morning he returned,
"Still not here yet," he wearily conveyed to me.
"What is it?" I asked the smile
"Warm greetings, stories about the end of the night, breakfast at the dinner table, happy activities," he said one by one, holding back tears.
"Maybe he's tired. Besides, it's not the right time for you to come, smile. Go back to your place."
The bitter morning went very slowly,
Until that night the smile returned again. Unfortunately, he brought sorrow with him. I didn't have time to question the meaning of a smile, he invited grief to open his voice.
"How to make this blind disappear--Stop being deaf--Stupid and ignorant!?---Good night! Have a sweet dream--When--and Is there!?--"
Grief swirled endlessly, while a smile floated beside him. I hugged both of them, sorrow and smile together.
I tell them,
"From the start, smile or not, sad or not, we can't expect anything from other humans. We must be good at knitting prayers for ourselves, hugging our own nights, lighting our own mornings. You don't need to come to me again after this."
"No," they answered quietly, "We were made for you too. You can smile and be sad, you know? We can stay a while with you because you are human, surely you won't forget?"
"Regarding negligence, or bad attitude, maybe you are right, maybe not. And what I should grow is not you," I show a smile.
"And not you,"Show me to sorrow
"It's the greatness of my heart, to accept and forgive anything that is beyond my control. It's okay. We can't change everything. We don't have to show everything. Because in truth, the only rights and obligations we have as humans are; " cover" what hurts in the heart.
Tulat hari si senyum berkunjung,
Membawa daftar alpa,
"Banyak yang tak hadir belakangan," Tuturnya.
"Barangkali harinya tak bagus.Aku tak ingin berburuk sangka.Pergilah," Jawabku sekenanya.
Paginya ia kembali,
"Masih belum hadir juga," dengan letih disampaikannya padaku.
"Memangnya apa saja?" Tanyaku pada senyum
"Sapaan hangat,cerita tentang malam yang usai,sarapan di meja makan,selamat beraktivitas," Satu persatu disampaikannya menahan tangis.
"Barangkali ia letih.Lagipula ini bukan waktu yang tepat kau datang,senyum.Kembalilah ketempatmu."
Pagi pahit itu berjalan amat lamban,
Sampai malamnya senyum kembali lagi.Celakanya,ia membawa duka bersamanya.Tak sempat aku mempertanyakan maksud senyum,ia mempersilahkan duka membuka suara.
"Bagaimana agar buta ini hilang--Berhenti menjadi tuli--Bodoh dan tak tahu!?---Selamat malam!Semoga mimpi indah--Kapan--dan Adakah!?--"
Duka merancau tanpa henti,sementara senyum tersenguk-senguk di sampingnya.Kupeluk keduanya,duka dan senyum bersama-sama.
Kuberi tahu mereka,
"Sejak awal,tersenyum atau tidak,perih atau tidak,semuanya tak boleh kita harapkan pada manusia lain.Kita harus pandai-pandai merajut doa untuk kita sendiri,memeluk malam kita sendiri,menyalakan pagi kita sendiri.Kalian tak perlu datang lagi padaku setelah ini."
"Tidak," Jawab mereka lirih,"Kami di bentuk untuk kau punya juga.Kau boleh tersenyum dan bersedih,kau tahu?kami boleh tinggal beberapa saat bersamamu sebab kau manusia,tentu kau tak lupa?"
"Perihal ke alpaan,atau sikap tak baik,barang kali kalian benar,barangkali juga tidak.Dan yang seharusnya kutumbuhkan bukan kau,"Kutunjukkan pada senyum
"Dan bukan kau,"Tunjukku pada duka
"Melainkan kebesaran hatiku,untuk menerima dan memaafkan apa-apa yang di luar kendaliku.Tak apa.Tak semua bisa mampu kita ubah.Tak semua harus kita tunjukkan.Sebab sejatinya,satu-satunya hak dan keharusan yang kita punya sebagai manusia adalah; "menutupi" apa yang sakit di hati.