The Tomb Next to the House
53. Closing the Inner Eye

That night I slept with three people I loved. Thinking tonight is the last night I'm with them. Before reaching for the dream, I observed their faces one by one, then landed kisses on each forehead.

"I love you" said Raihan with closed eyes.

"Love you more," I replied before actually moving on to dreamland.

Actually I didn't want to sleep and let all this end, but the tired and almost crumbling body made me give up too.

Although the bed feels full and makes us difficult to move, but togetherness is also the warmth that is channeled like giving meaning to us.

...----------------...

The sound of chirping outside the window made me realize that the night had changed by morning. A beam of light that moved straight through the window vents hit my face. My eyes are hard to open because of the swelling on the bottom.

I seem to be crying too much. Even when just opening the eyes, the clear water immediately decays through the corner.

Turn your head to the right and left, examining each inch of the room that holds many of these memories. Making my smile rise instantly. What was I expecting? Am I not sincere?

"They have left .." I watered as I rose from the now empty bed.

With heavy steps, I guided the body towards the bathroom. Ignoring the loneliness that began to whack.

It didn't take long to complete my morning bathing ritual. Now this foot is on the road to Surti's grandmother's house. Along the way I kept throwing fake smiles at everyone I met.

Pretending to be okay. But my heart remains fragile. In front of Grandma Surti my tears broke. I told you everything I just experienced.

"Grandmother tried to tell you. But you forgot Grandma's message," Surti's grandmother told me to frown.

"I mean Grandma?"

"That's when Grandma asked you to sprinkle the salt you've been praying to around the house, right? Are you carrying out as ordered?"

I'm down. "Sorry Grandma. I forgot."

"Through that way Grandma wants to tell you, if you've been living the same way you're not human."

Again, my forehead was wrinkled not understanding. Before the question slid free from my ranum lips, Grandma Surti again explained.

"If the salt that Grandma loved at that time you sow around the house, then any subtle creatures cannot enter the house. Because through that salt, Grandma gave a supernatural fence to astral beings. Including your husband."

My memory goes back to the time when I argued with the ghost of the actor first. Also true. When I threw the packet of salt towards the annoying creature, its figure instantly vanished. While Raihan mas has been lost somewhere. Is he aware of what I'm carrying, and then avoids me?

"Ooo!" My mouth reflexes to form the letter o when remembering the events of the past.

"So, you intend to close your inner eyes, Nduk?" surti's grandmother asked, reminding him of my purpose for coming to her.

"Yes, Grandma."

"Are you ready to never see your husband and children again?"

"Must be ready, Grandma. I'm so sincere."

"Good, Grandma."

I then chose to go to the water faucet located in the front yard. Since we were in the living room, the faucet was closer than the bathroom.

But my real goal is to get to the figure outside the fence, who has been looking at me ever since. But my steps were immediately prevented by him with a hand gesture, when I had just crossed the doorway.

The figure is right. I need to stay focused on the initial goal. Pray for a moment and then take the water with wisdom. The freshness of the water outside the skin is like being in a heart. It feels cool and soothing.

After ablution, with a lighter step than before, I went back in to see Surti's grandmother. A little touched when watching a glass of water is available on the table. Honestly I was so thirsty, considering since I woke up I had not wet my throat at all.

I almost opened my mouth, but Grandma Surti interrupted first. "Sit down."

I comply.

"Yes, Grandma. Shouldn't have to rep—"

"Close your eyes" cut off Grandma Surti not allowing me further words.

Before I obeyed the order, I spread my eyes out to the outside of the window, focusing the bead right outside the wooden fence. Where Raihan— mas with Rada in his arms—and Althaf is standing waving at me.

'May I get along, ' I hope in my heart.

Kubalas the lambaian was brief. She smiled, hoping I could stop myself from crying. After that I closed my eyes slowly to remove all the things that should not be seen by normal vision.

"I sincerely ... " my rapalku accompanied by a long breath.

Surti's grandmother immediately chanted a thread of prayer. I gasped a little as I felt the splash of water on my face.

"Open your eyes and drink this water. But leave a little. Don't spend it all."

That direction I immediately indicated. Although there is a speck of strange taste but, yes, that's it. I thought I was asking her for help.

With three sips, now the water in the glass is only a quarter of a glass.

"Already, Grandma," I said.

My eyes opened wide as Grandma Surti put her hand into the glass. And what makes me no less surprised, when the wet, wrinkled hands were rubbed on my face from top to bottom.

'Gile. Extreme very, 'my mind riled.

I opened my eyes again with a fresher vision than before. Although there is a little smell of jengkol but it is not a big problem for me.

My eyes look different. I felt like this was the beginning of my new life.

When I opened my eyes, the first place I went to was the front page. Seeing that there was no one there, my heart actually felt like it was being pinched.

It feels sore and tight when we can't see the person we care about anymore. To give up those who have no presence on earth is the highest peak of sincerity.