In winter
In the middle of the night, when others are fast asleep in their sleep. As usual, within a few months the girl known as Margaret was always awake, the noises that woke her up also made her think that life was quite cruel. Margaret glanced at the clock beside her bed. The clock shows 01.00, exactly midnight.
"I'm fed up with all this drama, so let's just separate!!" His father's voice was clear, and loud in Margaret's ears. Then he squeezed the blanket, and the tears fell without being able to hold it in the slightest.
Margaret was upset, sad, scared, and angry. But Margaret couldn't do anything about it. There was the sound of her mother sobbing, followed by the loud voice of her father who often shouted at her mother with words that really hurt Margaret's heart. Margaret covered her ears as hard as she could with her index fingers while crying silently. In his mind he hoped that the noises he heard every night that disturbed his sleep were just a dream. However, it still can't change the situation. Until finally Margaret cried until she was tired and fell asleep by herself.
An overcast morning with wisps of mist filling every corner of the tea garden, the sound of roosters crowing woke Margaret. His face was as it had been that morning, looking pale and his eyes a little red. Even though there seemed to be no zest for life, Margaret still forced herself to get up, take a shower and immediately get ready to go to school. Then, head to the dining room for breakfast.
"Good morning dear." Greet her mother in a tone of voice like nothing happened.
"Morning mom" Margaret replied as she walked over to her and hugged and kissed her cheek. Seeing her puffy eyes Margaret was silent and her heart was very sad. After a few minutes his father came out of the room in his neat office clothes and joined us to sit at the dining table together. They started breakfast without any joking sound like before, the three of them were like a group of mute people, the only sound that could be heard was the clash of spoons, forks and plates on the dining table.
Long story short Margaret arrived at school and entered her classroom. His heart and mind are full of questions, "What will I do if mom and dad really separate? Don't Mom and Dad think of me? Don't Mom and Dad love me anymore?" There were many more questions in Margaret's mind. Even during study activities, Margaret did not focus because she was thinking about things that often bothered her mind.
After school, Margaret walked weakly towards the door of the house, opened the door and said hello. His mother's voice answered the greeting. Margaret entered the house and found her mother sitting alone in the living room with a confused look on her face. Margaret's eyes shifted to several large bags sitting next to the sofa.
"We'll be staying at Grandma's from now on." His mother suddenly said. "I know, the past few weeks your sleep must have always been disturbed by Mom and Dad's conversations." Before Margaret could answer, her mother continued her speech. "That's right son, Father and Mother will be separated." Her mother's words confirmed what Margaret had been asking all this time.
It was as if the world had gone dark. All kinds of mixed feelings. Margaret froze like ice, frozen like a rock and the feelings of sadness, anger, became one. "Don't Mom and Dad ever think about my feelings? Don't Mom and Dad love me anymore? Why do you have to separate? Why is it that every time I ask about Mom and Dad's problems I don't get an answer?" Margaret asked, holding back tears. Hearing Margaret's question, her mother couldn't answer but immediately hugged her while stroking her back and kissing her forehead. Her mother's arms tightened and Margaret's cries grew louder. "This is the best way for our family and also for you son." Mom answered slowly, calmly, but still can't be fooled if Mom is also sad.
I immediately got out of my house, ignoring the screams of my mother who kept calling my name. Sad and angry mixed in my feelings. What did you say earlier? Is this the best he says? Is it best to make me sad because of their separation? Then Mom and Dad don't love me. I really don't understand what Mom said. I feel Mom and Dad are very selfish. They only think about their feelings, without thinking about their children's feelings.
Without saying much, Margaret immediately ran to the house of her friend, Mala. Mala was surprised to see Margaret with puffy eyes. Mala immediately ordered Margaret to enter her house. A few hours later, Margaret cried in front of Mala in the room and then began to tell her heart, in a stammering and sometimes low voice. Margaret told Mala everything that Margaret had been going through recently. "Parents are selfish, they never think about their children." Said Margaret at the end of the story. Mala took a deep breath and smiled, then stroked Margaret's right hand. “Back then, I used to think like you too.” Mala said slowly. Mala continues her story.
“In the past, my father and mother also often quarreled, almost every day and night. To the point that I have to cry every day and not focus on studying. Every time I ask Mom why mom and dad always fight. Mom always said I didn't need to know. I feel annoyed and angry. I also want to know what's wrong with my parents. But, mother always doesn't want to tell." Mala story. “In the end, they decided to separate. I was angry with both father and mother. When Mom and Dad decided to separate, Mom immediately moved to Grandma's house. I was forced to go with my mother. On the way to Grandma's house, Mother cried silently. Still feeling angry and annoyed, I asked Mother. If you were sad when you separated from your father, then why did you do that?” Mala told the story while staring blankly at her bedroom window.
Mala continued, “When I asked what you were asking your mother, my mother just hugged me and said that this is the best way for our family. I disapproved of Mother's answer, still feeling angry.
Mala stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, took a sip of tea and then continued her story “But as time went on, my mother's smile slowly started to reappear. My father also often visits my house to see me. I am very happy. I also began to forgive whatever happened. And, as we can see today, I can focus on studying, no longer crying listening to the noises caused by Mom and Dad fighting."
Mala looked into Margaret's eyes, "Do you understand the meaning of my story earlier?" Ask Mala. Hearing Mala's story as well as questions, Margaret just kept silent listening to Mala's last question.
Mala again stroked the back of Margaret's hand with the intention of strengthening, "What we thought all this time was that parents were selfish, but in fact they are not. If they decide to separate, it doesn't mean they don't love their child. That is indeed the best choice. Just look at me, slowly I can smile again, don't cry every night anymore, my study focus has reappeared. If I force my parents to stay together, I can't either. Because, I can not bear to see my mother who cries every day. And I also feel restless, not calm, not focused on studying, crying every day, because of my father and mother fighting." Slowly, Mala's gentle words calmed Margaret.
“Friends, no matter how your father and mother are, they are also human. They have feelings. They can be sad, angry, disappointed, or whatever. Have you ever thought that we as children are also selfish?” Mala asked Margaret.
Margaret didn't answer and just looked him in the eye. “Sometimes we only think about our feelings. We just blame our parents, say they don't love us, say they are very selfish. In fact, they are separated too for good, our mental health as well. Do you want to hear your parents fighting every day? Do you want to hear your mother cry all the time? Do you want to see your father angry, tired, because of his never ending problems?” Mala's question left Margaret speechless.
"If your mother doesn't want to tell you what the problem really is, I don't think you need to force it. Not everything that happens in this world we have to know. Maybe your mother didn't want to tell you because she didn't want you as a child to hate one of them. Whether it's your father or your mother. Let it be their business. All we do is learn to forgive, let go, and make peace with destiny. Perhaps, this is a path that has been ordained by God. I know it's hard. But, I'm sure you'll get through all of this." Mala said while followed by a smile.
“But,” said Margaret
“But what?” Mala asked briefly
"Did my parents fail in living a married life?" asked Margaret
"No. I say not to fail at all. Not all divorced men or women are human failures, they could be separated by destiny from their partners who are not good." Mala replied.
After pondering for a while, Margaret stared blankly at the photo of the two of them at school. Margaret hugged Mala and said, “I understand everything you are saying. Thank you for teaching me about the importance of accepting fate and reality”
The End
