By :
Tina Harianti
The girl was sitting on the soft grass with her knees folded. He is 17 years old. He still held his head up. Staring at the night sky decorated with a golden full moon that danced in his eyelids. The constellations that circled the moon danced to form a pattern as if to comfort his restless heart.
Every night in the courtyard next to the rice shop which is not so wide. The girl always took the time to look up at the sky and the moon. Speaking through the eyes, penetrated the deepest heart to form the harmonization of the moon dance.
“Go into the room again, son. It’s time for bed. It’s not good for a girl to sit out alone this late.” Mother’s head poked out from behind the rice shop window. He had closed the window of the shop which was made of wire with old banners that were no longer clearly written.
“Come here, mother. Accompany your child to dance with the full moon. Didn’t the mother who taught me since childhood, before going to bed we both always stare at the sky and the moon? It seems that my mother has been struggling with the outside world for a long time. Until I no longer think about the voice of the heart. ” Nabila persuaded softly.
Mother took a deep breath. Without thinking he closed the door of the rice shop and sat down with his knees folded beside Nabila. They sat side by side staring at the full moon which was getting more and more solemn to show its dance moves.
“What a beautiful golden month, Nabila. It’s been a long time since my mother left the full moon in the sky, busy helping Bu Sumi sell rice. See Nabila, the moon swinging her legs and nodding her head following the rhythm. He..he .. ”Mother shouted pointing at the sky. He laughed softly.
“Look at his legs swerving to the right and to the left. Her hands swaying like waves curling her graceful fingers. His body swayed in the direction of the swinging hand. Every now and then it rotates to the rhythm of the increasingly loud percussion. The constellations that surround it also follow the rhythm. They don’t want to be left behind. I have never seen a dance as beautiful as this. Hahaha ..” Nabila laughed out loud showing a row of neat teeth in the moonlight.
“Gosh, the rhythm and the dance are exactly the same as …” shouted the mother, widening her eyes as if she had just woken up. Instantly his face turned red. “Enough..enough..the rhythm of the dance is getting deafening” the mother covered her ears. His eyes started to heat up. He hastily hid his face behind his knees.
“What’s wrong Mom? Is there something wrong with that moon dance? ” Nabila asked softly.
“Not”
“Then why hide your face from me, Mother? Isn’t it always just the two of us watching the full moon dance? I’m an adult and there’s nothing to hide from me.” Nabila hugged her mother tightly. Trying to provide warmth from the howling of the night wind that is getting pierced.
Mother lifted her head, looked at the face of the only girl Nabila. The streaks of fate were clearly visible in the corners of his wet eyes. The girl’s words were true. There’s nothing to hide and keep secret anymore. Isn’t Nabila an adult now? Can you tell what’s good and what’s bad?
Mother returned the hug of her daughter tightly. He stroked Nabila’s waist-length hair. He buried his face in the young boy’s shoulder. He could cry as much as he wanted now. Without having to hide anything from Nabila anymore.
The dance of the full moon in the sky is getting more violent. The movement of the twisted legs is getting faster. The swinging hands got tighter. Fingers flick faster. The head nodded the faster the tempo. The constellations that orbit the moon rotate rapidly. They rotate in one direction the longer the faster forming a dense circle with a deafening and heartbreaking rhythm.
The middle-aged mother wiped her wet eyes then raised her hand and pointed at the still dancing full moon. “Look my son, the moon is exactly the same as the full moon 10 years ago. When you were 7 years old. I still remember the time when mom and you no longer had a place in your father’s eyes. Your father prefers the seductress. Only the rhythm and dance of the full moon up there accompany the two of us. Faithfully listening to the screams of your mother’s heart for your father’s harsh treatment. Don’t you remember Nabila, when you last left your mark in that big house?”
“Yes, mom. The incident is still etched in my mind. After dad spit out the swear words, mom stomped down the street flailing in the moonlight. I held you close and hid behind your fragile body. Screaming with your mouth clenched trying to understand the meaning of your tears, Mother.”
Mother is still pointing towards the sky. His eyes were sharp watching the dance of the full moon which was spinning faster and then rounded towards one point. “At that time he came with a rhythm that sounded faint from a distance. The longer it gets louder in the ear. Accompanied by the light of the full moon which is getting brighter and brighter bathing both of our bodies. The full moon brought you who fell asleep in mother’s arms. We soar high into the sky.” Mother lowered her hand. His lips felt numb. Sadness was still on his face.
“The moon smiled welcomingly, then held her mother’s hand gently. The golden light flows into the pores of the body and then refracts to emit light throughout the body. Mother’s body vibrated violently, feeling that there was a tremendous energy rushing to invite her to dance. United in one body, bend the legs to the right and to the left, swing the hands like waves and twist the fingers to follow the syahdu rhythm. ”
“The rhythm of the dance is getting more and more lulled to the throne. All the walls are made of glass. Mother dances in a very wide room. The fingertip dances like waves refracting across the glass. For a moment mother’s feet stopped when her eyes met with your father’s eyes. He was sitting with another woman in a prison in the corner of the room. Their feet were shackled by big sticks and their hands were tied behind their backs. Your father gave a long cry when a man in a golden headdress whipped his body with a whip.”
“Your father pleaded for forgiveness to a beautiful woman who was sitting on a large throne. A majestic golden throne in the center of the room. The woman looked very graceful. Her hair gave off a golden glow and was so long that it dragged the floor. A golden crown perched on top of his head. Her body was clad in a long gold beaded dress shining brightly. His hands held a rhythm. Yes, it was this beautiful woman who had hit the rhythm. The rhythm was getting louder and louder until it penetrated into the heart to form a dance that was not easy for my mother to understand. Mother’s feet danced more and more to the rhythm”
“Until one day, a woman with golden hair whispered so that my mother would not approach the prison. Mother is still dancing with the occasional search for your father’s eyes. Unintentionally, mother’s legs suddenly stopped twisting and slipped so that her body touched the prison door. Quickly, the mother opened the door and took the whip and then whipped the guard with the golden headgear. Mother’s body was shaking violently but her hands, feet and head were still dancing to the beat.”
“The golden-haired beauty was furious and started beating faster and faster. The floor of the room turned red instantly. The rhythm of the serene dance turned deafening. The dance is getting faster and faster. The head, hands and feet danced louder and then merged at one point. Exactly like the dance of the moon in the sky,” said the fierce mother, pointing again at the sky. His mouth trembled.
“The full moon hit the mother to the ground violently. The smile disappeared instantly. Mother stumbled and fell in a position not far from this rice shop. With her legs clenched, my mother asked for help from anyone who passed by, but no one cared. Fortunately, there is Mrs. Sumi, the owner of this rice shop is kind enough to help and provide a room for both of us on the condition of helping her sell. ”
“I’m willing to be paid any amount as long as we can get shelter and can eat.”
“Then what about the man who came two days ago?”
“Ouh, that old man? The man is just a rhythm beat and remains chained in a full moon prison. ”
“Does mother hate the full moon?”
“Not”
“Doesn’t the old man want to dance the full moon dance with you, Mother?”
Mother did not answer anything. His eyes looked sharp at the full moon. Up above, the sky was turning red and bleeding. Radiate anger on fragile souls.
About the Author :
Tina Harianti was born in Padangsidempuan, 1981. After completing her education at the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Riau University. He has served as a teacher in Pekanbaru City until now. His published books are an anthology of poetry, Dersik Korona in 2020 and an anthology of short stories, The Dreamer in 2021.
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