REPLACEMENT MEN Season 2
THE SHADOW OF GUILT

Janu's breath hunting. His eyes were staring ahead. Sweat drenched in the forehead. His hand tightly gripped the bed sheet.

"Mas!" peekot Maira's. The woman's hand was on her husband's shoulder. Gutted Janu's back to ease the man's uneasiness.

"What's wrong with you, Mom?"

Janu did not answer. Tears started to flow down her cheeks. Then she hugged Maira tightly. Real tight.

"Sik, I-I'm t-fearful!"

"Why, Mom, what are you afraid of?"

"Dreams ... My dream!" Janu was stuck on his wife's shoulder.

Maira's hand was still stroking her husband's back. He deliberately let Janu spill his emotions first. After a while, the man's cries began to subside.

Maira stretches a hug. Now look at Janu lekat. The man looked down inside.

"I'm sorry, brother," said Janu slowly.

"Sorry for what, Mom. Why are you like this?"

Janu. "Eitherway. I-I dreamt of meeting him. I-I'm scared ...."

"That's it, Mom, don't think too much. You are here now, with us. Don't think anything!"

"But ...."

Maira grabbed Janu's head and dropped it back on his shoulder. He took the man's back without saying much.

***

In Jogja, in Bertha's room, the woman screamed loudly. When he got out of bed he suddenly staggered. Holding his head while closed. He wants to go back to the bed. But too late, his body crashed into the table.

Brak!

While outside Bu Harni's room looked panicked. Repeatedly knocked on Bertha's door, but there was no word.

"Bertha, Bertha!"

From the direction of the main house, the pastor Andreas approached. "What's up, Mom?"

"No idea, father. I just heard Bertha scream!" Miss Harni's face looks pias. The old woman's hand shook as she knocked on Bertha's door.

"Berthaaa ...!" shouted again.

Priestess approaching. Turn the door handle, lock it.

"Let's try Miss Harni step aside!"

Miss Harni moved aside, giving room to the priestess Andreas. Then the priest Andrew took a sling. He took a few steps back. Next, scatter towards the door of Bertha's room with a sideways direction. His arms and shoulders became weapons of destruction.

Brak!

The door remains unmoved.

Once again, once again,

Brak!

Kraaakhs!

Door made of plywood broken down instantly. The two of them rushed inside. And how surprised to see the sight there. Bertha lay on the floor with a pool of blood on the lower part of her body.

"Berthaaa ...!!!"

***

Mistakes even though they are forgiven still look like shadows of darkness. The best thing to do is to follow in our steps.

This morning Janu's permission not to go to work. After dawn, he locked himself in his room. Even the screams from Oza who wanted to go to school were ignored.

"Mas, can I come in?"

There's no answer. But a moment later it sounded like the key was playing from inside. When the door opened, Janu stood up while bowing his head in front of the door.

"Sir, I'm ashamed. I don't have a face to face with you."

Maira shook her head. He went into the room. Janu headed to the bed. Then they both sat on it.

"Mas, what's the matter with you?" Maira looked at Janu with a probing look.

Janu still looked down. His hand trembled as Maira grasped it.

"If Janu keeps this up, don't you feel sorry for us, me and your kids?"

The man in front of Maira was stunned. Then he grabbed Maira's body and hugged her. "I'm sorry, brother," he said in between sobs.

After the crying subsided, Janu released his embrace on Maira. He looked at his wife with sadness.

"Sik, I'd like to talk, but .. but I hope you're not mad."

Maira gulps. Then he nodded his head.

"Sir, all my life I've felt guilty, very guilty. That feeling always haunts me and scares me."

"We've forgiven you, Mom. I hope it reduces your burden."

Janu nodded. "I know, you're good. Thank you for forgiving me. But ...." He paused for a moment. "But this is about Bertha."

Maira's face stiffened. The woman then breathed a heavy breath.

"Sorry, brother, if this hurts you. But I feel so guilty about that woman. Without him, I wouldn't be able to be here with you and the kids. Maybe I'd have died in the wilds of Papua if Bertha hadn't helped."

Maira nodded, assuring despite the weight.

"And I've been unfair to him. Never looked for him, never apologized to him. Though, I ... I've planted the seed in ... in her womb."

Janu painstakingly finished the sentence. Maira also hard to strengthen her heart when she heard it.

"Is she healthy, is the baby she contains okay, is .... has the baby been born ...?" Janu shook his head strongly. Like throwing a burden on his head.

"I actually wanted to forget him and the incident. But my little heart refused, brother. The shadow of my guilt for her was always chasing. Like there are voices in my head holding me accountable for what I've done!" The man returned sobbing. Covering the face with the palm of the hand.

"I understand, Mas," Maira said in a hoarse voice.

Janu looked back at his wife with puffy eyes. "When I think about him, I feel guilty about you. But if I try to completely forget it, my little heart rebelled. I'm confused, Brother."

Maira just sighed. The woman's gaze was blank, looking forward. Then the woman got up from her seat, walked out of the room without saying anything more.

***

Pastor Andreas and Bu Harni race against time. The pastor drove the car quite fast, while Bu Harni held Bertha in the back seat. Not long after they arrived at the nearest clinic.

"Well, it's like this. Let's go to the county hospital, sir!" said the doctor who handled.

The pastor just nodded, unable to think anymore

It didn't take long, Bertha was immediately rushed to a bigger hospital. The woman was still unconscious, while the bleeding had not stopped either. The sound of siren ambulance cut open the heart of pastor Andreas. The man pressed his chest several times while driving the car following the ambulance. She prayed for the safety of Bertha and her baby.

While Ms. Harni who accompanied Bertha in the ambulance could not hold back tears. The woman cupped both hands in front of her chest. His closed eyes occasionally opened, staring at Bertha's increasingly pale face. Prayer did not escape him.

At the hospital, Bertha immediately entered the operating room. Pastor Andreas and Bu Harni were waiting outside the room. They look very agitated. The priest walked back and forth, while Bu Harni sat on the waiting chair with his eyes closed. His lips were constantly praying.

"What would Ms Harni think if I told Ms Maira?"

(connect)

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