3 Rose Without Thorns

Dark clouds and drizzle accompanied a woman's small steps that morning, she continued to walk definitely towards a location that was so quiet, a location that people were reluctant to go to in the rainy season like this.

She wore a black dress, a very polite dress wrapped around her slim petite body.

With a collar covering her beautiful neck, the dress was also long-sleeved that had buttons as a hook at the wrist.

A floral dress made of silky silk below her knees, moving beautifully with the steps and the wind that blew her, she was also wearing a black lace scarf that covered some of her silky, wavy hair.

Black Flat shoes add to the beauty of her long legs. Everything she wears is in stark contrast to the color of her white skin.

Perfectly flawless even in simple mourning clothes. Keep radiating beauty because she is the wearer.

Every eye that sees will be amazed by the beauty that she has, not too much but far from lacking. Yes! the woman was Anna who was currently heading to her husband's grave to spend hours.

"Miss," said a grave guard. Anna who had entered the complex area also turned towards the source of the sound.

"You'd better not linger today, it looks like it's going to rain heavily again," said the middle-aged officer politely attentive to Anna. Anna who heard that just nodded in response and stepped back.

The calm expression devoid of emotion made Anna look more like a goddess of death.

She walked gracefully with a black umbrella to keep the rain from getting wet.

The location of the grave is deserted with the presence of a beautiful woman who looks all black, accompanied by the sky starting to darken, making the atmosphere even more gloomy and tense.

******

"Fateh, how are you today? Is hugging the earth warmer than my hug? Usually, you will hug me tightly when it's raining like this, with the excuse that your body needs a warmer so it doesn't freeze, even though I know that's the only reason you can hug me," said Anna who had knelt in front of the tombstone.

With tears starting to drip together with the rain, she closed her eyes and imagined Fateh was with her right now.

The umbrella that served to protect her from the rain had been placed on the other side, then she sat right beside the grave and fondly stroked the mound of earth that she imagined was her husband's head.

She didn't care about her body and her clothes were dirty and wet.

"Last night you appeared in my dream, you were so real but I couldn't reach you." She sobbed slowly. A bitter smile etched on her beautiful face as she recalled the dream.

"You expect me to live happily without you, that is the most impossible thing dear," she continued again in a desperate tone. She spoke as if the buried figure could hear her.

"Right now my life is like a rose that has lost its thorns, lost its protector and source of life, tell me how can the rose survive? That's who I am now," she said while sowing fresh flowers from head to toe.

Until the fragrance of the flowers wafted around the tomb that was close to her, the words that came out of her beautiful lips implied excruciating pain, there was no reply to what she said.

Only silence and heavy rains are witnesses and good listeners to the voice of his heart. She folded her arms on the mound of earth and lowered her head and closed her eyes, a heart-wrenching sobs came from those tiny lips.

"Fateh, take me with you, I promise not to trouble you in heaven," she whispered in despair.

*****

"The current Miss Anna although still beautiful but very scary." Said another grave official.

"Yes, as if the young lady we knew used to go with her husband," said the middle-aged officer when confirming his colleague's words. He was very sorry to see the young lady.

"Though they are very good people, but have separated at a very young age," he said with a concerned tone.

"Birth and death belong to Allah, no matter old or young, poor rich, evil or good, if the promise has arrived, then there is no way to refuse the decree," he replied in response to his colleague's words. Because life is a mystery.

********

All of Al-Ghifary's family and Wijaya's family gathered in the living room because Wijaya's family would return home after a week's stay at Al-Ghifary's house to attend tahlilan (ritual of sending prayers)

Rani looks busy with her twins Zikra and Zura, as well as Ammar talking to Fitra, while Alya hugs Fania, both of them cry when they remember the fate of their sister, while the madam and the big master can only look at their children weakly.

They are more broken than anyone.

"Anna, not back yet, Mar?" Wijaya asked Ammar when he and his wife arrived in the living room.

"No, Anna doesn't allow me or Alya to accompany her," answered Ammar weakly. He rushed to help his father carry the bag. He was frustrated because of Anna's refusal.

Wijaya and Lusi could only sigh tiredly, because he and his wife also received a rejection from their youngest daughter, not without reason everything that happened was so complicated and painful for his daughter. All they could do now was wait for Anna to adjust.

"Well, we'll just wait a few more days, let Anna be like this, we can't force it," he decided. He didn't want Anna to be even more depressed if she was forced to talk or hear explanations from them.

"Yes, that's all we can do right now, it's hard for us, but Anna is much harder to bear," said Zakaria confirming his besan statement.

"Okay, then we say goodbye, and I'll leave Anna," said Wijaya to Zakaria.

"She is my daughter too, I will take care and guarantee her with all my heart," Zakaria replied to Wijaya, then they hugged as a sign of farewell as well as the others.

"Of course, I believe that," said Wijaya, breaking the hug and smiling warmly.

Of course, he did not need to hesitate because Anna was always treated well by all members of her daughter-in-law's family.

Lusi walked towards Maira who was standing next to Zakaria. She stopped in front of her besan and said, "As a mother, I apologize to Anna, because she received a lot of Fateh's love. I know what Fateh means to you but, please don't blame Anna or hate her, if you want to hate someone then blame me, I can't bear it if I have to see Anna suffer more and feel guilty because of your hatred, I really can't. Hiks .. hiks … hiks …," she said to Maira stammering, and clasped hands begging for forgiveness.

With strong wrists, Maira took Lusi's hand and hugged her tightly. "Anna is also my daughter, don't say things like that, I was a bad mother in the past and I hate myself quite a bit because of that, so please don't say this, I don't want my son who has calmed down in heaven to feel disappointed seeing his mother not change, Fateh leaves Anna to us, so we have to take good care of her, will you take my hand for Anna's happiness?, and also forgive me for being so bad to her," he said in stuttering sentences mixed with sobs but still heard clearly for Lusi and the others. Lusi is so grateful that Maira has melted her heart for Anna.

"Of course, Anna, our daughter, of course, we both have to take care of her," answered Lusi, breaking the hug and wiping Maira's tears as well as Maira's.

Fitra and Ammar stepped closer to their mother and took her into each other's arms. The women who are most precious to them, strengthening each other is their way to survive in the hope that tomorrow will be better. But is it possible!

********

"Anna."