This story is about 3 girls who grew up together. They were cousins, they were sisters, and they were best friends. Those three girls are Riana Yulianti, Nina A. Anissa and Amanta Shakina. They were really close. As cousins they were not that different in age. Riana the oldest among the 3 was born in 1983 as for Nina and Amanta they were born in 1984. They always go everywhere together every time they could; they share stories, games, gossip, love, hug and tears with each other. Even the whole family was aware of their closeness and it was proved by their grandmother always made them 3 same dresses when they were kids.
Riana Yulianti, She love cats. She lives not far from Amanta house. She was a strong girl, she was wise, and she was brave. She was caring, she was fun, and she was funny. She had many colors in life and she shares those colors of her to everyone’s that are around her, close to her.
Nina, she love to play softball and she is good at it. She grew up in Jakarta and then she move to Bandung when she got into college. She is the tomboy and sporty when they were young. She is the independent one. She is the one that is patient. She loves to draw, she is the creative one. She is the sweet one, she is the one that gave comfort.
The youngest one was Amanta and that is me.
This short story is about us, where our life of sisterhood dramatically change. This is the story where 3 could change into 2.
As we grew older, we started to build our own lives. But somehow, we always tried to spare a day or two or anytime we could, just to share what we had done, what we had experience. Stories about clothes, cartoons and games turns to young girls gossip about friends and boys.
One night when I was in High school, the phone at my house started to rang. A dark cloud filled my night as my aunt on the other side of the line told me that my cousin, Riana had an accident and she was laying unconscious in the hospital. Time passes by and she was ok. She went home and tried to live her life as normal as she could. Somehow her body turns weak. She got easily ill most of her times. Until almost a year ago my mom told me that she was laying again unconscious in the hospital. I believed she is a strong girl, which hopes she will be Ok and she was.
I went back to Indonesia in November 2007 for 2 weeks. The 3 of us were reunited for a short time; It was one lovely evening on 17th of November 2007. It was fun. We met again after 1 whole year living in different continents and usually shared our stories through e-mails. By that night it was face to face, it was lovely. Never thought that night was the last night we laugh with each other.
I had to leave for Holland again after those 2 short weeks. Times flies, we haven’t spoken with each other since that November night. It was cold January. The time showed 4 A.M in Holland when I was half asleep and my cell phone started to ring. As I said hello, it was my mother on the other side of the line. It was a blackout, it was a pause and it was an unbelievable sentence as I heard my mom share me words by words, my dear Riana, my dear sister has passed away.
My tears started to fall as I was pulling my self out of the shock and tried to ask my mom again and again for what she had said was true. My mom was assuring me again and again with patient leading me to face the reality. As I hung up the phone, all I can do was cry. I felt crushed and lonely. Suddenly it felt like oxygen was a rare thing. I feel sad that I was not there beside her, holding her hands and tell her that everything will be fine as she was fighting for her life. Sadly I was not there beside her as she left. Sadly I was not there with my family and sadly I was not there to see her for one last time. She had left.
My mind started to fly far to the past. The whole family trips, the laughter, the stories, the pranks, The fight, the arguments, the jokes, the games, the love, the tears, the hug, the memories and all the sisterhood treasure that we have.
It had been months since she passed away. It had been months since I want to write this story in words. But I never had the strength to type this story; I never have the strength to hold my tears when I see our pictures together. The sadness still chocked me. But it couldn't be ignored, it has to be faced. She was young and she is not around. Apparently age couldn't be hold as a guarantee in live. I never could believe that someone close to me could leave the earth in such a young age. I always believe that god will give me many chances to be with my cousins, brothers and sisters. But apparently it is something I should face. It is one from all of my greatest fear.
Until now, sometimes I still couldn't believe that 3 for 23 years all of the sudden turned into 2. But, sometimes you have to learn to let go for we know and hope that this is for the best.
Goodbye our beloved sister, you will always be love and miss. For we will always pray that you have the best place in heaven.
