“I heard she got divorced. No wonder she came back to her parents’ house,” one neighbor remarked with her sharp tongue.
“Any idea why they got divorced?” another asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
“That’s the thing. She hadn’t even finished college, rushed into marriage, and ended up divorced,” someone else added.
“It’s such a shame. Diandra is smart and accomplished,” praised a woman wearing a floral house dress.
“She is smart, but she sure doesn’t know how to pick a husband,” she continued.
The conversation among the women discussing Diandra’s divorce was interesting enough to keep going.
“Ladies, we shouldn’t judge people. We don’t know what really happened, so let that be Diandra’s business. Let’s just pray this truly is the best path for her,” said a woman in a hijab.
Everyone nodded slowly.
“What a shame, huh, ma’am? She’s beautiful and still young, yet she’s already a divorcee,” one of them said, watching Diandra walk by.
The whispers reached Diandra’s ears loud and clear. She lowered her head and tried to ignore them. But hearing the word divorcee made her blood boil, as if she wanted to let everything out.
Be patient, Di. Don’t respond to people with mouths like that, Diandra told herself as she walked on.
She let out a quiet breath, slowly exhaling. When she reached the women, she tried to smile.
“Oh, you’re back home now, Di?” one of them asked, though she was really just being nosy.
Diandra paused and looked closely at the women.
“Yes, ma’am,” Diandra replied with a smile.
“Alone?”
Diandra nodded slowly. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Where’s your husband?”
Diandra fell silent for a moment.
“He’s not my husband anymore, ma’am,” Diandra replied, trying to stay strong.
Several of them exchanged glances. So the rumors were true—Diandra really had divorced her husband.
“Oh, what a shame. She just got married and is already a divorcee,” one of them remarked.
The word divorcee brought Diandra to a stop. She drew a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
“My marital status has changed, ma’am. But that doesn’t give you the right to look down on me,” Diandra said firmly.
The neighbor shifted awkwardly.
“Hey, I was just saying—”
“I know, ma’am,” Diandra cut in firmly. “I am a divorcee, but you don’t need to keep pointing it out.”
“Di...” The women looked uncomfortable.
Diandra tried to offer a faint smile, though her heart was still in turmoil over the divorce.
“But I’m not in the mood to discuss my marriage,” Diandra continued pointedly.
She then continued walking. From inside the house, Mrs. Eli, who had been waiting all this time, quickly came out to meet her daughter.
“Diandra, my child...”
The moment she saw her daughter’s face, her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. Her mother’s hug made Diandra feel much better.
“Mom,” Diandra called from within her mother’s arms.
“My child...” Mrs. Eli gently stroked her daughter.
Mrs. Eli held her tightly as tears spilled down her cheeks. She never imagined her daughter’s marriage would last such a short time.
“My child, don’t think about the divorce anymore, okay? You’re home now, and you can start a new chapter...” Mrs. Eli gently caressed Diandra’s face.
Diandra’s tears slipped free.
“Mom...”
“It’s all right. You don’t need to regret anything. It’s already happened,” Mrs. Eli replied, understanding what Diandra was feeling.
Diandra finally couldn’t hold back her tears. She poured out all her feelings to Mrs. Eli.
“Mom...”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Everyone knows I got divorced.”
Her mother gently wiped Diandra’s face.
“Let them say whatever they want, my child,” Mrs. Eli replied wisely.
“They called me a divorcee.”
Mrs. Eli gave Diandra a faint smile, trying to comfort her.
“Does being a divorcee make you a lesser woman?” Mrs. Eli asked gently.
Diandra was silent for a moment.
“It doesn’t, does it?”
Diandra shook her head.
“Your worth isn’t determined by your marital status, my child. It’s determined by how you live your life,” Mrs. Eli told her daughter.
Diandra’s sobs grew louder. She could no longer speak.
“I just want to live in peace, Mom,” Diandra said, voicing her deepest wish.
“You will, my child...” Mrs. Eli gently stroked her shoulder. “Trust your mother.”
Her mother clasped Diandra’s hand tightly.
“From now on, don’t worry about what people say. You didn’t come home because you lost,” Mrs. Eli continued.
Diandra gazed intently at her mother.
“Then why did I come home, Mom?”
“Because you chose to save yourself.”
Diandra wiped away her tears. After telling her mother everything, the burden on her shoulders felt lighter.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“That’s enough, my child. Go inside and rest. I’ve cooked your favorite food,” Mrs. Eli said gently.
Diandra nodded. But just as she was about to enter the house, the neighbors’ whispers could once again be heard outside.
“Poor thing. She’s still young and already has to bear the status of a divorcee.”
Diandra stopped for a moment. This time, she didn’t turn around. She only smiled faintly. She was already too tired to deal with the neighbors’ comments.
Let them talk. The only ones who know the whole truth about my marriage are me, God, and the man who used to be my husband, Diandra thought.
From that moment on, Diandra promised herself that this status would never stop her from living her life.
“Don’t listen to what people say. Let them talk all they want. They’ll get tired eventually and fall silent on their own,” Mrs. Eli advised Diandra.
Diandra broke down in tears in front of both her parents. She lowered her head, then looked from one parent to the other.
“I’m sorry, Dad and Mom. I’ve brought shame on you,” Diandra said, overwhelmed by guilt.
Mr. Herman and Mrs. Eli slowly shook their heads.
“I would have felt even worse if you’d stayed with a husband like Romi,” Mr. Herman replied.
Diandra’s sobs grew heavier.
“If only we could turn back time, Dad,” Diandra continued, regretting everything that had happened.
Mr. Herman gently stroked his daughter’s shoulder.
“There’s no need to regret what’s already happened. I hope this experience can teach you something and lead to a much better future,” Mr. Herman said sincerely.
Diandra offered a faint smile.
“Now, keep moving forward with your life,” Mr. Herman continued.
Diandra’s heart felt calmer after sharing her pain and receiving advice from both her parents.
“So what are you going to do next?” Mrs. Eli asked seriously.
Diandra let out a rough breath and slowly exhaled.
“I want to continue working on my thesis, Mom...”