Short Story

Towards Her Last Haven

It’s been three years since the last time I heard that soft low-pitched voice calling me “Sugarcane”. But still, I can remember it clearly even though you are far away from me. Out of my reach. Out of my sight.

“Sugarcane, come here”. That’s it. I am being summoned. The same sentences uttered by you. Still, I will gladly go without a tad bit of hesitance because who would hesitate to reach someone as lovely as you? Even others could not resist. Once I reached your bed, you’ll likely tap the space beside you and said “Here, sit beside me”.

While holding my hands with that warm wrinkled hands of yours, you said “Sugarcane, fighting with your siblings is not good. They are your family. The one that will always be by your side no matter what happened. That will always support you. Try not to fight with each other okay? After this, I might not be able to stop your fight. I cannot advise you anymore. Please remember this okay?”. The same advice, somehow it feels different. As if it was your last advice. But I let it slide since I was being positive by not listening to my heart’s voice. 

I went back to my boarding school life, leaving you at the village. I wonder why my heart felt heavy as if there is something bad that will happen. My uneasy feeling faded once you told me that you will visit me next weekend and take me for an outing. However, my instinct turned out to be true on that day.

How could I forget that painful day? The day where I was supposed to feel happy since it will be my first outing with you. I waited excitedly in front of the gate for you to pick me up. I saw my cousin’s car and I knew that you will be in there since you told me that you will come with her. How clueless I was when I saw that you were not there and seeing my cousin’s eyes were bloody red apart from teary. She suddenly hugged me. I could not comprehend the situation at first but I know that something bad had happened. She took her breath and told me that you were no longer here with us. My heart breaks into million pieces and I fell on my knees, crying and shouting painfully. You lied. You promised to meet me. How could you leave me?

I rushed to the village because I wanted to see you for the last time. Once I reached there, I saw a white van leaving the house and I knew that I was too late. Who would have thought that last day was the last time that I could see your lovely smile, that I could kiss your forehead, that I could feel your hand stroking my head? But it was for the better me. You knew that I could not handle seeing your face in blue, feeling your icy cold skin. You hate seeing my tears since it might hurt you.

I took my steps to your bed. I hugged your pillow and I could feel my memories of yours hugged me back. I can never feel your warmth anymore. The moment I intended to put it back, I saw lots of love letters from grandpa and a few poems from you to him. The poem that caught my eyes the most was a poem entitled “Invalid 11:11 wish”.

Who would have thought that you have suffered so much? You missed your only life companion that stayed with you through thick and thin. Now, you have decided to follow his path. A path towards happiness. A path towards a new place that is out of my sight and out of my reach. A place that suits both kind souls. With hand in hand, both of my loved ones walk together with smiles on their faces.