Within The Pages

Round 3.1 Phases Of The Moon

A story written for "Gloves Up| A Multi-Genre Smackdown Contest", Round 3.1 (October 2022). Genre: Teen-fiction. Quote Used- "I'd always thought the world was a wish-granting factory." - from The Fault in our Stars by John Greene.

Story Word Count: 2982

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I'd always thought the world was a wish-granting factory.

And well, that was five years ago.

Growing up, as your body undergoes dynamic changes, so do your thoughts and notions. Rather childish ones, I'd say.

And I was no exception.

I'd had everything planned out. At the age of 12, when everyone around me was normally growing and acting like a normal soon-to-be adolescent. My tiny brain was just resurrecting old fantasies and compiling a lengthy bucket list. I recall sitting on the ranch ground, beneath the star-studded heavens, and constructing my own castles in the air. I'd lie there for hours, planning out my "unforeseen" future.

Sometimes, even Ibu (mother) would join me. She'd patiently listen to my fantasies and cheer me up with twinkling stars. Often narrating a tale or two about the "legends of her time," as she'd always quote. She'd go on and on about the beauty of our Indonesian culture for hours on end.

Until she joined the throng of tiny objects herself. Then followed my Nenek (granny). And remained me and my Bapak (father) in the picture.

With just the mere thought of him, I gazed at him. He sat in the landlord's meadow with children from the neighborhood clustered around him as he'd narrate to them legends and folk tales, the most famous one being The Legend of the Northland.

Other elderly people sat near him in circles under the moonlit sky as they discussed spiritual and religious matters. And when it comes to spirituality... well, let's just say, our community excels in that field meticulously. Spirituality ran in their veins. However, I'd say my mindset was rather on the extreme opposite side.

Perhaps once in life, long-long ago, when Ibu and Nenek were there, even I was included in the crowd. However, five years was enough to bring about the change. Within those years, it was precisely every day I felt my "staunch faith" wavering in Him. Gradually, I felt I no longer belonged to that crowd. Somehow, as the days went by, it became more obvious.

"Mawar! Fadhlan!" I called my siblings, who were curled up close to Bibi Indah (aunt), a Malaysian immigrant who was our next-door neighbor. Mawar and Fadhlan loved her dearly.

I got looks from everyone. I knew what it meant. I'd always known. The same sadness, pity, and phony concerns. As if I gave a shit!

"Kakak!" They exclaimed, running up to me. Bapak watched me, smiling softly. I flashed him a small smile, gesturing for him to join us soon.

The longer I stayed there, the more I felt I was suffocating. So, I silently took them and vanished from there.

"You should have joined us too today, Kak. (Sister)"

"Yes, Kakak, Bapak told us a very amazing story."

"Ah, really? What was the story about? "

"The moral lesson was love and true affection can change anyone's heart. It's just you have to give people a chance to prove it. "

"No-no! Ikhwan Fadhlan (brother), I'll tell Kak! "

"So, Kak, Bapak told us that we humans are like flowers. Delicate and beautiful. Flowers need the love of the light and the care of the water to be able to grow and live. If it lacks anyone, be it by placing it in darkness or by letting it go dry for weeks, it'd wilt away soon and die. Just like that, we humans need love, affection, and care to grow healthy. When we keep pushing people away, like not talking to anyone, avoiding everyone, not smiling, sitting alone for hours and thinking, crying alone, this makes a person dull from the inside. And one day, they'll too wilt away and their inner self will die. "