A Footstep Of Gaza

Five Arrows

In the rose-pink light of dawn, Gaza is looking for his grandfather in each room of the first floor. But when he enters a library, he finds his grandpa is reading a book.

"Grandpa..."
"Finish your worship, we will go after this"
"Alright"

He feels there must be something bothers him. But he just keep on good thinking and stay silent.

(They both finish their daily routine)

Hisyam and Gaza are packing their needs inside suitcases as soon as possible. After having breakfast, they say goodbye to their employees for their departure within the next few days and entrust Egar for his business in Mysiq. The private driver takes them up to the airport. Their destination is at a mansion of Hisyam's son.

"May peace be upon you all" Hisyam greeted them.
"And may peace be upon you, papa"
"How's Jordan condition right now, Bryan?"

(Comes a man towards him while crying)

"Papa, big brother Jordan is in the emergency room this moment. But there's been no decisions yet from the hospital when we get allowed to visit"
"Bryan, just pray for the best for him"

(Bryan is still on his arms)

There he sees his another twenties guy is sitting pensively. He is crying in pain so Hisyam asks him to be in his arms.

"Grandpa, daddy...daddy is..."
"Ammar, be tough my man. Your daddy just fall asleep for a while, pray for him. Don't burden him by crying. He is my son, so he must be able to get through it all"

(He wipes away Ammar's tears)

"Papa, let me take you to the room to rest. Because you must be tired after a long trip" Bryan asked.
"I just can't take a rest without Jordan's latest news"
"The hospital will contact us for big brother's progress"
"Tell me where is the hospital I'll come there to visit him"

(Bryan just agrees with his father's request)

"Come with me, I'll show you your room" Ammar said.
"Gaza, come back soon. Cause you'll come with us, we go to the hospital together"

Gaza and Ammar are going upstairs and when they arrive at the door, he sees Ammar's eyes look sorrowful so he hugs him.

"Big brother, we can get through this. Grandpa is right, just pray for the good things may happen. And we hope for this storm will pass"
"Thanks Gaza, I just wanna express my feelings. Anyways, welcome to the Aladams Family"

(Gaza enters the room)

He tidies up the luggages and put them into the wardrobe. While bringing the black tunic, he goes downstairs to meet Hisyam and Bryan.

(He gives Hisyam the black tunic he brings)

"Papa, Gaza, let us go"

(By riding Bryan's car, they go to the exclusive hospital which is out of the town)

Gaza is in the back seat. He feels something great since he boards his uncle's car. Not only that, he is impressed by the view of many skyscrapers, the gardens, luxury cars are passing by. The sceneries he's never seen in his rural and he doesn't find any fruiterer nor the street vendors all the way road.

Out of the blue, a majestic car at high speed about to hit the car they are riding. The driver just leaves them with twice the horn which turns out they are actually friends.

Approximately thirty-minutes drive, they finally arrive at the hospital. Hisyam asks the teller where the room Jordan is placed in. After the teller tells them then they go straight to the room.

Thru the pane with a curtain a little bit open behind it, he sees his son lies on the hospital cot with nasal cannula on his nose. Like he doesn't believe in what he sees. It makes him enter the room to see him closer. Although Bryan has prevented him, but his father insists to enter the room.

(He sits down and holds Jordan's hand which wrapped in drip)

"My sweetheart, feel me, feel my presence. Papa is here. You're still the strongest fire. Get up son, I know you can hear me"

Seeing the electrocardiography still moves stable, he is helpless seeing his son lies calmly with a cast on his neck, accidentally he shed his tears. Hisyam is reading a prayer for Jordan by stroking his forehead which wrapped in bandage. He just keep believing in good things will happen. Few moments later, he sees Jordan's fingers are a little move.

He turns to be happy see the moment. He thinks that God has granted his prayers, so he goes out of the room to call the doctor.

"Good day, Mr. Hisyam. Based on our laboratory results, Mr. Jordan has experienced cerebral hemorrhage. In many cases, he can still do survive, but we can't make it sure for its recovery. So I suggest him to be hospitalized first" The doctor stated.

Hisyam agrees with the doctor's statement to be hospitalized Jordan in the hospital. Because of the accident, he has to be in a prolonged coma. But he just can't bear his son lies down peacefully like that.

That happens as well to Gaza. Whenever he sees his grandpa in pain, he is devastated by his tears. He really gets broken for his uncle's condition, he can't bear it.

"Gazaly, me and your uncle will take care of the administrative costs first. So stay here, we'll come back asap"

Something crossed his mind to wait for them inside his uncle's room. There he's just looking at his uncle lies down. A long time later he waits until he falls asleep.

(Sounds a soft voice calls out his name)

"Gaza, want to follow me home?"

(Then he looks for the voice. He wonders where the voice comes from)

In the depths of his heart, Gaza still feels sadness. Like he questioned himself, what can he do. He still gets emotional so he alienates himself to the back yard. He sits down on the bench. Then he gets close to the big tree which isn't far from him. At first, he draws a midpoint on the tree. He sharpens five thick tree branches and throws them one by one into the the big tree. A little bit of happiness he feels and he throws them stronger at the tree. He does it repeatedly. When he is about to throw eighteen times, he just realized there is a stab mark exact in the midpoint that he has drawn. But a question arise on his mind.

"Is my archery skill growing?"