How cruel the world is?
“Father, wake up! Father, please!” Adele cries while she’s on the side of her father. Alfred never wakes up after so many times Adele tries to wake him up.
Not everyone will have the courage to fight in life, they are all mice hiding in their dwelling. Being a soft-hearted warrior who has the power to pursue the world's outrage is what you called a father. Life is beautiful, gorgeous, mysterious in the eyes of a person who has money and wealth, they have the position to make someone’s life in danger and make their life miserable. A strong love in a family is the best shield in this cruel world, but what if you lose your family?
It’s been an hour since Rosa came to their home, she gave the medicines to Adele to hide in the drawer. Alfred is finally woken up, he could no longer stand, the only thing that he can do is to cough loudly.
Rosa asks her daughter if she can get her herbal medicines near to the river, Adele nods. When Adele left, Rosa got some sleep next to her husband.
Anything that smiled reminded how dark the place was. Love can be the light.
Adele ran as fast as she could to get to the river immediately. She was desperate to get herbs to bathe her father, these herbs can help Alfred to relax and reduce the pressure inside his body. Adele only thinks about her father's condition, she didn’t notice a fallen wood on her path.
“Oh ouch what’s that!” Adele shouted in pain.
“A-are you okay?” a boy came out, “Sorry it was my fault.”
Adele didn’t waste her remaining time with the boy, she immediately stood up and continued running towards the river.
“Wait! It’s dangerous!” the boy ran towards Adele while shouting. He tries to stop Adele because the water in the river is rising but Adele seems to hear nothing.
The boy stopped at the boulder and rested for a few seconds, gasping for breath.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!” The boy stood up in shock, he ran fast to look at what happened to the girl. He look so nervous, his sweat was dripping and he no longer knew what he was going to do. “Someone out there? Please help me!”
The boy's eyes widened when he saw Adele clinging to a branch of a tree while the water washed away her body.
“How can I help you?” the boy looked around to find something that useful. “Tss stubborn.” he continued talking while thinking. “I said stop but you didn’t listen.”
“I’m sorry, please help me.” Adele pleaded. The boy threw the rope to Adele so she could hold it and survive. As soon as Adele grabbed the rope, the boy immediately pulled it.
“Thank you, by the way I’m Adele.” she smiled and held her hand to introduce herself. “Sorry for being rude a while ago, I didn't mean it. I just need to go here so that I can get the herbs that I need.”
“I’m Gabriel.” the boy introduced himself.
He helps Adele to stand up, Gabriel also lends her jacket to Adele because he notices that Adele is getting cold. “What kind of herbs are you looking for? Maybe I can help you.”
They walked back while looking for an herb that Adele's father could bathe in. “You looked familiar.” He stopped walking and looked at Gabriel. “Don't think about it, you haven't seen me yet. just look for what you are looking for.” he chuckles. “You’re so naughty, Gabriel tch.”
A few minutes later they saw herbs that could be used. The two look happy, Adele hugs Gabriel.
Adele said goodbye and told Gabriel that she needed to go home, she thanked Gabriel and hug him once again.
Adele is still confused who’s that kid. She wondered where she had seen the other child.
“Mom! I’m home, here is what you are asking for!”
“M-mom?” she stopped at what she saw.
“Why are you crying? Where is father?” Rosa looked at Adele with tears in her eyes. “When you left, your father could no longer breathe so I took him to the town hospital.” Adele slowly walked towards her mother, “How’s his condition, mom?” Adele starts crying, “He’ll be fine.” Rosa hugs her daughter. “I just went home for you. We will go to the city later, I got some money from my job, that was a big help. Get dressed and eat so you don’t get tired on our trip.
Adele and Rosa quickly prepare for their departure. After an hour, they started to walk. It took two hours before they arrived at the hospital.
They hurried to Alfred's room to find out his condition. When they opened the door they saw a doctor looking at the patient. “How’s my husband, doc? Rosa asked. Adele ran towards her father and held her father’s hand. “He’s fine, miss.” the doctor looked at the patient, “We need to talk outside please.” Rosa immediately obeyed what the doctor said. “What are we going to talk about, doc?” the doctor stopped and looked at Rosa’s direction, “Uhm, it’s about your request earlier.” he said,
“Hmm?” Rosa answered. “We will not be able to grant your request, I’m sorry.” the doctor bowed in frustration.
“But why!? We cannot afford such a large bill!” Rosa started crying, “Why not? But if there’s no other way, can we pay it little by little?” the doctor shook his head, “I’m very very sorry, the hospital will not allow it. all we can do now is move your husband to another hospital, but as far as I know the public hospitals where the government will pay the cost are now full, excuse me.”
Rosa sat down while crying, her mind was occupied by problems, she did not know what to do. The hospital bill cost twenty thousand dollars, Rosa didn’t have a lot of money, she only had ten thousand dollars which is not enough.
Adele talks to her father as if he could hear it. “Stay here first Adele, watch your father. I will go to town looking for another income. We don't have enough money to pay the bill, I’ll be back before the sunset.” Rosa closed the door when she left.
“Father, Is what you told me about the guardian angels true?” Adele asked, “If they are true, is no one watching you?” she continued. “If they were around, I wish they could hear me. I hope they finally take care of you when you are already recovered, Father. Especially when we get out of this hospital.”
She smiled while looking at her father, Adele did not realize she had fallen asleep.
Rosa asked the people in town if there were any job vacancies there, but it ended up with nothing.
It’s already 3 o’clock in the afternoon but Rosa has not yet found a job. She was already tired but surrender was not in her mind. She doesn't have any other choice but to go again to her boss to borrow extra money. She thinks that her boss can help her so she quickly went to his work place.
When she arrived, she did not find anyone there. She felt very sad at that time, so Rosa just looked for another source of income in a nearby place.
It’s 6 o’clock in the evening, she still doesn’t have any extra money. She looked so exhausted and hungry, she decided to go back to the hospital to look for her daughter and husband.
Meanwhile, Adele woke up because of the noise of the doctors and nurses behind her, “What is happening?” Adele asked, “You need to go home, your mother has not been paid yet.” the doctor said. “W-what? we can't go home like this! My father has not recovered yet!” Adele shouted.
“We can’t do anything about it, this is an order from the highest board member of the hospital, we’re sorry.” The nurses surrounded her father’s bed to get him out but Adele kept on restraining them. “Please don’t do this to us!” she pleaded.
“Hey! What are you going to do with my husband!” Rosa shouted when she saw what’s going on, she ran towards her daughter to hug her and tell that everything will be fine.
They did nothing but go home knowing that even though the head of the family was not completely well, Adele continued to cry while holding her father,’s hand. They just walked home even at night because there were no more vehicles passing by in the area.
When they got home, Alfred was very weak. They do not know what to do to make him stronger. “Let me go, I'm old too. I don't want to see you struggling anymore.” Alfred said with a lower voice. “Don’t talk like that! you will be healed, let just trust our Lord.” Rosa said. “I’m tired, take care of Adele okay? I'm going to sleep.”
Alfred slowly closed his eyes and never woke up again.