I beg you to forgive me, Has, Sugeng was murmuring in his heart. I want to start all over again; I want to start clean again. If you’ll forgive me, I can face everything—whatever may happen. I won’t run away, I’ll be strong, if only you’ll go on loving me.
As though she’d heard the whispering in Sugeng’s heart, Hasnah opened her eyes and looked at him. Their eyes met, and Sugeng bent down and kissed her forehead. Then Hasnah closed her eyes again. Sugeng sat very still holding her hand, oblivious of everything that was going on around him beyond the bed where Hasnah lay, until a nurse came, tapped him on the shoulder, and said that it was time for him to leave.
January 20 was Pranoto’s birthday, and he’d invited his friends over to celebrate. That evening, in his room, he re-read the let
