cERITA fIKSI : Mother's whisper

illustration: mother's whispering voice

The morning sun crept in through the gap in Risa's bedroom window, but its warmth was unable to warm her frozen heart. At the age of 25, Risa lived alone in a minimalist apartment in Jakarta, far from her childhood home in Bandar Lampung. Far from memories, and far from her mother.

Regret was like a thorn that always pierced her heart, especially when morning came. Morning was the time her mother always called, back then. Her mother's soft voice, like a soothing melody, always started Risa's day. However, it had been five years since that voice had disappeared. Five years since her mother left, and five years since Risa had borne the burden of regret that never faded.

Risa clearly remembered that day. A big fight on the night of her 20th birthday. Harsh words flew from her lips, like arrows piercing her mother's heart. "Mom always controls my life! I'm not a child anymore!" she snapped, tears of anger wetting her cheeks. Her mother, with teary eyes, remained silent. That night, her mother did not hug her as usual. That night was the last night they spoke from the heart.

The next day, her mother fell ill. The doctor diagnosed a heart attack. Risa felt like the world was collapsing at that moment. She blamed herself. Their fight must have been the trigger. The regret deepened when her mother took her last breath, without Risa having the chance to apologize, without her having the chance to say how much she loved her mother.

Since then, Risa's life changed. She left Bandar Lampung, looking for an escape in the hustle and bustle of Jakarta. She tried to bury the memories, but the shadow of her mother was always present in every corner of her life. In her quiet apartment, she often heard the echo of her mother's whisper, "Risa, don't be stubborn, son." The whisper always came when she faced problems, when she felt alone and fragile.

Her career in Jakarta was quite brilliant. She worked at a rising start-up company. However, career success could not fill the emptiness in her heart. She felt empty, like a part of her was missing. Her friends often invited her to have fun, but their laughter never reached her heart. She always felt alone in the crowd.

One night, Risa accidentally found an old box in the warehouse of her apartment. The box contained her mother's belongings that she had brought from Bandar Lampung. With trembling hands, she opened the box. Inside, she found childhood photos with her mother, her mother's love letters to her father, and a light blue diary.

The diary was her mother's diary. With a pounding heart, Risa began to read. Every page of the diary was filled with stories about her mother's love for Risa, about her hopes for Risa, and about her worries about the stubborn Risa. Risa discovered how great her mother's love was, a love that she had never fully realized when her mother was still around.

On the last page of the diary, Risa found an unfinished letter. The letter was addressed to Risa, written right before her mother fell ill.

"My dear Risa,

I know you're mad at me. I know I often annoy you. But, believe me, everything I do is because I love you very much. I want you to be happy, son. I want you to be a strong and independent woman, but I also want you to always remember to be gentle and loving. Don't be stubborn, Risa. Listen to your heart, and never regret your decisions. I always pray for the best for you, son. Forever.

From your mother who always loves you."

Risa's tears could not be held back anymore. She sobbed reading her mother's letter. The regret was increasingly painful. She regretted never truly understanding her mother's love, regretted hurting her mother's feelings, and regretted not having the chance to apologize.

That night, Risa decided to return to Bandar Lampung. She wanted to visit her mother's grave, she wanted to apologize, even though she knew her mother would never hear it. She wanted to find peace in her childhood home, a home full of memories with her mother.

When Risa arrived in Bandar Lampung, the city felt both foreign and familiar. Her childhood home still stood strong, but it felt quiet without her mother. She went to her mother's grave, bringing her mother's favorite white roses. In front of her mother's grave, Risa knelt down and cried.

"Mom, forgive Risa, Mom," she whispered softly. "Risa is sorry, Mom. Risa is very sorry."

The wind blew softly, like the touch of her mother's hand on her cheek. Risa felt peace envelop her heart. She knew that the regret would never completely disappear, but she promised herself to learn from her regret. She would try to be a better woman, a woman who lived up to her mother's expectations.

Since then, Risa often returns to Bandar Lampung. She takes care of her childhood home, she visits her mother's grave every week. She begins to learn to cook her mother's recipes, trying to revive the beautiful memories with her mother. The echo of her mother's whisper no longer feels painful, but becomes a reminder to always be gentle, loving, and not stubborn. The regret slowly turns into strength, the strength to live life better, to appreciate every moment, and to love the people around her with all my heart.

Time goes by, but the memories of her mother will always live in Risa's heart. The regret will always be there, but she learns to accept it, to make it a valuable lesson in her life. Because, the echo of her mother's whisper will always guide her, forever.

Disclaimer :

This story is purely fictional. If there are similarities in the names of characters, places of events or stories, it is purely coincidental and there is no element of intent. (Cerita ini hanya fiktif belaka. Jika ada kesamaan nama tokoh, tempat kejadian ataupun cerita, itu adalah kebetulan semata dan tidak ada unsur kesengajaan.)