The event wasn't even over yet, but Lina felt as though her entire world had collapsed. Her heart was shattered into pieces, worse than before. She went home with Mr. Kardi, who remained faithfully by her side even though the old man's heart ached just as much at the suffering Lina was enduring. They returned to the village with heavy hearts. Lina could only sit silently in the car, her eyes vacant as she stared aimlessly out the window.
Mr. Kardi glanced at her from time to time, seeing how she seemed to have lost all will to live. "Lina, you have to be strong. You still have a baby in your belly. Don't let yourself sink this low," Mr. Kardi said softly, trying to comfort her even though he knew his words couldn't erase Lina's sorrow.
When they arrived home, Lina could no longer hide the pain in her heart. She went into her room, slammed the door shut, and cried soundlessly. Her tears flowed freely, as if releasing all the feelings she had kept buried for so long. She felt utterly betrayed and no longer knew what to do. Bayu, the husband she had once trusted completely, had now turned his back on her and abandoned her just like that. There wasn't a word of regret or compassion from him.
Auntie Surti heard the news from Mr. Kardi and immediately went to Lina's house to comfort her. The elderly woman had never imagined Bayu would act this way.
"Lina..." Auntie Surti approached Lina's bed. The moment she saw Auntie Surti, Lina hugged her and sobbed, pouring out the pain she was feeling.
"Be patient, sweetheart. Do it for the baby you're carrying," Auntie Surti said as she stroked Lina's hair.
Lina continued crying, releasing all the pain she felt. Before she realized it, she finally fell asleep, exhausted from sobbing.
Auntie Surti left Lina's room and went to the kitchen to cook her some porridge. Mr. Kardi had said that Lina hadn't wanted to eat anything at all on the way home, even though he had tried to coax her. But there was only so much he could do. He understood what Lina was going through.
Day after day passed painfully slowly for Lina. Her heart felt emptier and emptier. She wanted to tell Bayu about her pregnancy, that the baby in her belly had grown so much and that she needed his support. But it was all pointless. Bayu never contacted her and didn't care what happened to her.
Lina tried calling Bayu again and again. She wrote messages full of hope, asking for just a little attention, even if it was only to hear from him. But none of the messages she sent were ever answered. Every call she made ended with an automated voice informing her that Bayu couldn't be reached. She began to lose hope.
Lina let out a sigh as she caressed her very pregnant belly. "Sweetheart, Mommy will do her very best for you," she whispered sadly.
"How is it, Lina? Can you still not reach Bayu?" Auntie Surti asked as she appeared.
Lina shook her head weakly. By then, all her money was gone, spent little by little on the baby's necessities that she bought with the money she earned from selling things. Bayu had taken her savings when he came home the other day.
"Don't worry about it anymore. Auntie will take care of you. Oh, is there anything you're still missing for the delivery preparations?" Auntie Surti asked.
Lina fell silent again. She was embarrassed, especially since Auntie Surti had already been burdened with so much because of her. The elderly woman seemed to understand.
"You don't have any money set aside for the delivery?" Auntie Surti asked.
"Mr. Bayu asked for all our savings when he came home," Lina said sadly.
"All right, all right, don't worry about it. Auntie has savings. Just use that." Lina began crying again and hugged Auntie Surti.
"Lina, you have to be strong. Auntie is here. After you give birth, just stay with Auntie so you won't have to worry about paying rent."
"Okay, Auntie. Thank you."
One night, as Lina lay in bed, her body felt exhausted and tight with discomfort. She felt a small movement inside her belly. The baby, still growing inside her, seemed to remind Lina of the immense role she would have as a mother. But it was so painful to feel utterly alone, even in the face of something so momentous and full of hope. Bayu was gone, and Lina felt her husband's departure more deeply than anything else.
Mr. Kardi and Auntie Surti, who were always by Lina's side, tried to encourage her, but they both knew that no words could heal Lina's sorrow. "Lina, you're not alone. We're all here, even though Bayu has turned his back on you," Mr. Kardi said when he came to visit her.
But Lina felt empty, trapped in thoughts about how her life would go on without Bayu. She felt as though she had lost everything. Her days were so silent, accompanied only by the ticking of the clock slowly reminding her that time continued to pass.
In that loneliness, Lina knew she had to face the reality that Bayu would not return. Even so, she was tangled in a longing that grew stronger by the day, especially for the relationship they had once shared, which had been so beautiful. Lina's heart rebelled, wanting to know what had happened to Bayu—how could her husband be cruel enough to abandon her just like that?
Mr. Kardi saw how much Lina had changed. She had once been cheerful and full of hope, but now she had become someone who had lost her zest for life. "Lina, you have to stay strong. Remember, you're not alone. There's a baby who desperately needs your love. Don't let this sadness destroy you any further," Mr. Kardi said again, full of concern.
Yet despite Mr. Kardi's efforts to encourage her, Lina still felt crushed. She thought about her child's future, about how the baby would enter the world without a father by their side. Bayu had chosen his path, and Lina had to accept that bitter reality. She knew that even if Bayu would never return, she had to remain strong for the child who was about to be born.
As time continued to pass, Lina slowly began learning how to face it. Though her heart was still covered in wounds, she was determined to give her baby the very best. Bayu might not be there, but Lina knew she would face every challenge on her own. She promised herself she would never give up, even if the world felt unbearably cruel.
Ouch...
Lina clutched her belly as pain shot through it. Thankfully, Auntie Surti was often there to keep her company. Auntie Surti put down what she was doing and hurried over to Lina.
"What's wrong, Lina?"
"Auntie, Lina's stomach hurts."
"Wait here. Auntie will find Mr. Kardi." Auntie Surti hurried off to get Mr. Kardi's help.
"What's wrong, Auntie?"
"Mr. Kardi, help Lina. I think she's about to give birth."
"Come on, Auntie. I'll help." Mr. Kardi followed Auntie Surti, bringing his pickup truck.
Mr. Kardi helped Lina into the truck.
"Let's go straight to the hospital. The midwife is at an event in the city."
"Okay, Auntie."
Auntie Surti climbed into the truck as well.
"Mr. Kardi, can I borrow your phone? I want to call Bayu."
As it happened, Mr. Kardi had Bayu's number.
"Mr. Kardi, what's wrong?" Bayu's voice came through the phone to Auntie Surti's ear.
"Bayu, your wife is about to give birth. Get to the hospital, now."