SILENCE MORNING

The sun begins to emerge behind Malangbong Mountain at about 5.30 am. Watching the sunrise from the hydroponic garden on the 3rd floor is Hira's favorite moment in the morning. The scenery reminded her of drawing lessons she always created in elementary school, the sun rising between two mountains. This nature painting has mountains as far as the eye can see longitudinally from end to end, many peaks, and sometimes they seem to disappear depending on the weather.

How a gorgeous painting.

The clouds are also more diverse in shape. Sometimes it is spread as wide as the sky, as far as the eye can see. Sometimes it is only partially visible with funny profiles. Very often the sky is clear without clouds. The view will become more exotic when the sun rises, its rays illuminate the garden full of fresh vegetables, and the leaves sway quietly in the cool breeze.

It's a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Hira took a deep breath. Filling her chest cavity with fresh air, then exhaled slowly—so content and abundant life she experienced.

***

Hira looked down from the 3rd floor and saw a woman cleaning the trash bin in the left corner of the building. The trash bin measuring 1.5 square meters accommodates all the garbage from the boarding house residents.

A thin woman seemed to clean the inside of the bin. She carefully swept the corners of the compartment so that no single piece of trash was left behind. Once she paused, wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Outside the trash can, stands a small boy whining and crying incessantly. Sure the woman is the mother's child. Hira came down to meet the woman who had just come out of the trash and said hello.

"Why is he crying, teh*? Pointing Hira to the boy, "What he asks for?"

"Just a snack, bu... as usual."

"Has he had breakfast yet?" Hira asked again.

The woman didn't answer but suddenly burst into tears. It seems that she has been holding that burden for a long time, so it just spills out when she gets little attention from strangers she just knows.

"There's no rice at home, bu." She answers with a low voice.

The thin girl doesn't know why she finds it easy to reveal her feelings to the woman in front of her. The woman she had just met at that time, but she felt safe. Just that one sentence, and then she wiped her tears with a more relieved face.

Hira threw a glance out to neutralize the mood that suddenly changed. She saw luxurious multi-story houses lining the hills in silence. The contrasting condition between the immigrant and residents is so much disturbing. She went into her room and took the rest of the toast she bought from GoFood*) last night and gave it to the little boy.

"Where's your husband?" Hira asked again as the boy was silent.

"Taking care of our children. It will come soon after all this garbage has been collected completely. He will push this cart and throw it in a public garbage dump."

So, this husband and wife profession is environmental cleaner. They get wages from houses cleaned once a week, which is far from enough to meet his family's needs with four children under five.

"How long has your husband been picking up trash?"

"It's been long ago. We don't have any choice."

"Doesn't he try to find another job, like an ojol*) driver?"

"My husband can't ride a motorbike and doesn't have one. He used to live in an orphanage. My husband has been an orphan since childhood. "

And now, he has to support his family, his wife, and four children, all of whom are not yet in school.

Hira sighed again.

Then teh Riri, the woman's name, asks permission to leave, meet her husband, and take care of their children.

Hira went in, took the cash in her wallet, and then handed it over to the skinny woman in front of her. "This is it. Hopefully enough to help. You can buy vegetables or spices for your daily needs at the market, then sell them apart to the people in the complex door to door. If you can save, that's great."

The Riri cried again, about to kiss Hira's hand. But Hira hastily pulled her away. "It's okay. My blessing too, to have met you this morning, teh. I hope things going well."

The woman repeatedly thanked her while wiping her tears before her frail body left Yulia's parking lot. A pile of trash was ready, waiting to be transported by her husband, a silent witness to the husband and wife's struggle.

The sun had risen to leave a sliver of meaningful momentum for a morning.

***

*)Teteh, teh; greet for sister in Sundanese

*)Go food; 24-hour online food delivery app

*)Ojol; online motor-taxi driver