The Brightest Luna

Sarah Wijaya was a 19 years old. She was a beautiful lady who came from a rich family. Her father, Alex Wijaya, was a famous lawyer in her city. She had many friends and there were many men want to be her boy friend. She could buy everything that she wants to. Her life almost perfect and made the other ladies jealous of her. But Sarah was a kind lady. She liked help the other people. Every month, she came to home and gave the children many kinds of toys, books, and clothes. Sarah loved children so much, and the children love Sarah, too.

One day, Sarah came to a street minstrel community to give them some gifts. She talked with the minstrel, singing together, and listens to their stories and experiences. But she got an odd feeling when she saw a handsome minstrel named Lucky. Lucky was a young minstrel who had melodious voice. But his life wasn’t lucky as his name. His father death when he was two years old. His mother got married with a rich man and left him with his grandmother when he was five years old. His life is very hard and difficult. He sang in the bus for living since he was five years old. Sarah is falling in love with Lucky at the first sight because Lucky was so charming and his voice as sweetly as a host. Deep inside in his heart, Lucky was also falling in love with Sarah, but he realized that he wasn’t proper for Sarah. It’s like to build castle in the air.

Day by day, they were getting closer each other. They could not hide their feeling. About two months later, they became a couple. Sarah and Lucky were so happy and they were not indivisible. Sarah often accompanied Lucky when he sang in the bus or on the wayside. But unfortunately, Sarah’s father saw them and knew what Sarah did. He was very angry. When he arrived at home in the evening, he talked to her daughter angrily.

“What are you doing with that poor minstrel? Who is he?” asked her father. Sarah shocks and confuses why her father can know what she does.

“Mmmm… He is…  He is my….”

“Who is he? I ask you, Sarah.” her father shouted.

“He is my boyfriend dad” she said.

“What you say? He is your boyfriend? Are sure?”

Her father was so angry and he asked Sarah to leave Lucky because Lucky is not proper for Sarah. But Sarah really loved Lucky. She wanted to live her life together with Lucky forever and after. Sarah went to Lucky’s home and told him about her father’s said. Lucky couldn’t say anything because he realized that what Sarah father has said is the fact and it is true. But Sarah wanted Lucky to be her husband and she would do everything to fight for their love. And to show her love, she asked Lucky to making love with her.

On the following day, Sarah’s father came to Lucky’s home and took Sarah home forcible. She was crying and begging to her father, hoped her father will gave bless for her. But Alex Wijaya was a stubborn person. He would not change his decision whatever will happen soon. Lucky also tried to talk with him, but Alex very angry and did not want to listen to Lucky.

“Please, don’t punish Sarah. This is my fault. If you want, you can punish me.” begged Lucky to Alex.

“Don’t poke nose into my personal affair! Who are you? You’re not better than a rat which wants to enjoy my wealth!” replied Alex angrily. Alex has separated Sarah’s love. Sarah was very sad and she could not meet Lucky anymore because her father forbids her to go out from their home.

Two weeks later, Sarah became sick. She felt nauseous and thrown up her food. When her father took her to the doctor, her father became more angrily. Sarah was pregnant. That was Lucky’s baby. Alex forced Sarah to abort her pregnancy but Sarah refused it. She did not want to kill her baby and she would save her baby whatever her father will do. Now, Alex listened go to her daughter willing, but he had the other plan for her daughter when the baby has born.

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            Nine months later, Sarah had a female infant. Alex lay to Sarah. He said that her daughter death because she has heart dysfunction and the baby couldn’t survive. Sarah was so sad when she knew the baby wasn’t staying alive. Meanwhile, Alex was throwing the baby in a hut.

“I’m sorry for throw you here. But you are not proper to be my family member. Your place is here, like your father.” said Alex before he left the baby alone.

            When Lucky returned home after he sang, the rain felt in torrents. He stopped in the hut which Alex has thrown the baby. Lucky saw the baby and took her home. At home, he took the baby care and gave her a name. Luna Rainyta. That was the baby’s name. Luna means moon because her face was bright and beautiful like a full moon, and Rainyta reflected the condition when Lucky found the baby. Lucky loved the baby very much like his own baby. He promised to take care of that baby, so he would not get married anymore.

            Day by day Luna grows to be a smart and beautiful girl like her mother. Her lip as red as a cherry, her hair as black as coal, and her voice is sweetly as her father. Now she is 22 years old. She gets scholarship to continue her study in a Nurse Academy. Lucky is so proud of Luna. He always taught and educated Luna to be an honest girl and could stand alone although she become from poor family. After Luna has finished her study, she worked in a hospital. This hospital brought her to her life’s truth and her real family.

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            Alex Wijaya must check up once a week to the hospital because he has suffered by liver since 5 years ago. He got operation 3 times and he hasn’t recovered again. Sarah always took care of her father everyday. She always feed her father, took her father go around, and amused her father. Her life was only for her father. She was not vindictive to her father although her father ever made her very sad. Sarah had forgotten her sadness. And now, in the hospital, Sarah accompanied her father. In this place, she also would remember about her past.

            Luna entered Alex’s room because in that day was her turn to control Alex’s condition. In that time, Sarah was not being there because she went to dispensary to buy some medicines for her father. When Alex saw Luna’s face, he felt something odd. He felt that he has known Luna before because her face was resembled with Sarah. Luna has finished her duty to check Alex’s condition. But before she left Alex’s room, she talked a few with Alex. The way Luna talking made Alex felt comfort and calm. Luna’s smile made him remember of his granddaughter whom he had thrown 22 yeas ago.

            “If I hadn’t thrown my granddaughter, maybe she such this patient nurse.” murmured Alex in his heart. In his condition and his old age like today, he regrets his act 22 years ago. Deep inside in his heart, he wanted to look for his unfortunate granddaughter.

             “Would you to be my personal nurse and take care myself in my home when I discharge from here?” Alex asked Luna.

            “But Sir, I cannot leave this hospital. Many other patients wait for me. While, I must finish my contract in this hospital.” said Luna

            “I will pay you more than this hospital has paid to you.”

            “This is not about money, Sir. This is about responsibility and professionalism.”

            “Excuse me, Sir. I must control the other patient.” Luna went out from Alex’s room and she didn’t answer Alex’s question yet.

            At home, Luna talked to Lucky about her patient’s quest. Luna was so confuse. She wanted to help and took care of Alex, but she could not left the hospital.

            “It is up to you, Luna. All of your decision is the best way for you. I only can suggest you to follow your heart.” Lucky advised Luna.

            “But Dad, I feel so close with the man. I do not understand what I feel. I want to take care of that man. He is like my grandfather.” said Luna.

            In the following day, Luna took her decision. She decided to stay in the hospital because she wanted to help and cure the other people.

            “I cannot follow you and leave this hospital.”

            “But, please help my daughter to cure Me.” asked Alex.

            “Luna, could you help me to cure my father? He never begs for anything like this before. This is the first time.” Sarah tried to persuade Luna.

            “Actually I want to cure Mr. Alex, but I do not want to leave this hospital.” Luna said.

            “I cannot force you to go with us. It is your decision.”

            “I think I can come to your house sometimes. I will help you and control Mr. Alex’s health.”

            “Thank you so much, Luna. You are a kind woman.”

            Alex and Sarah left the hospital. As her promise, Luna would visit Alex. She visited Alex everyday after she worked at hospital. Alex was very happy and he was getting better everyday. Alex and Luna came closer. She considered Alex as her grandfather and Sarah as her mother. Luna told about her life and her lovely father. She said that her father was a wise and honest father. Although Lucky was not her father, she was happy live together with Lucky. Her story made Alex call in mind of his granddaughter and Sarah. Alex invited Luna and her father to dinner in his house. Luna agreed and promised to come.

            Luna told her father about the invitation. She asked her father to come tonight with her. Lucky agree so long as the dinner finished before 10 at night.

            “Do not worry, Dad. It is only invitation for us to dinner together and we talk a few with them.” Luna said.

            The next day, Luna and Lucky came to Alex’s house. How startled Lucky was, when he arrive there and saw the hosts’ faces. Two people from his past came back and remind him about his wound.

            “Sarah, is it you? How are you? Long time we no see.” Lucky greeted Sarah. They were so happy when they met again after along long time.

            “Lucky, nice to meet you again. I am so fine. Is Luna your daughter?”

            “Yes. But actually no. I had found her when she just born. Sir, nice to meet you again. How are you?”

            “I am fine. You are good father. You have made your daughter become a good people, too. I want to say sorry for my fault 23 years ago. I am so regret.” Alex said.

            Oh Sir. Don’t talk like that again. I have forgotten that matter. Maybe Sarah and I are not fated to be a couple.” Lucky answer wisely.

            “You are really wise. If I would not have separated you and Sarah, maybe you had lived happily with her. I am so sorry.”

            “Everything had happened and we could not return to the past. Just follow and live our life. Forget our past.”

            Then Alex and Lucky talked together when Sarah was telling Luna about her love story with Lucky. Alex asked Lucky about Luna’s mother and Lucky said that he had found Luna in a hut on May 23 1988. Alex more believed that Luna is her granddaughter. That made his condition was getting worse. Sarah, Lucky, and Luna brought Alex to the hospital immediately. In the hospital, doctors said that Alex must to get operation to make him better because his condition was very bad. He should get a heart donor because his heart was not function well. Sarah could not donor her heart because her blood type was different with Alex. When Luna knew that her blood type was same with Alex, she decided to donor her heart. But before that, she asked Lucky and Sarah and also asked for their blessing. Doctors explained about the consequences and the risks. Luna might be dying if her condition was not stable after the operation. Luna allowed and be ready to carry on all of the consequences.

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            After the operation, Alex was getting better even though his physic was not well yet. He could talk to everyone, except Luna.

            “Where is Luna? Why I don’t see her face?” Alex tried to seek where Luna is.

            Sarah and Lucky could not say anything. Sarah cried and went out from the room. Lucky tried to talk to Alex.

            “Mister, Luna... Luna… Luna had passed away. She cannot hold out after the operation.” Lucky told Alex what had happened with Luna.

            “My granddaughter, why is this happened to you? This is my fault. I had separated you with your parents, but now you give your life to save my life.” Alex cried.

            “She is your daughter, Lucky. She is Sarah’s daughter. I am so cruel and have broken your life. I of deep die.” Alex did not stop his tears.

            Alex had wrong sow by the ear with Luna. As a grandfather, he never made her daughter happy. In contrast, although Alex put a train on her, Luna still love her grandfather and decided to give her life for her grandfather.

THE END

By : Ni Putu Yeni Andriyani / 1012021042