CH 10 A LETTER FROM HEAVEN

Tesa was shocked to hear Gin's words.

"Like most disabled kids, I was avoided by other children. No one wanted to play with a blind kid like me. My dad was busy working day and night to support me and my mom. So, practically, my mom was the only one who kept me company every day."

"My mom was a mother who truly loved her child. At the same time, she was also a friend who could always cheer me up. She created games for us to play together. She was my only friend every day."

"My mom always said, 'God takes away one gift from us, but He gives us something else in return.' And I realized that. My four senses were much sharper than normal people's. I could hear the smallest sounds—even a heartbeat or the flow of blood—without touching or using any tools."

"The same went for my sense of smell, taste, and touch. I told you before, I could do all those things. And at the special needs school, I learned a lot. Thanks to my heightened senses, I could ride a motorcycle even though I was blind, practice martial arts, and do many other things."

Tesa watched Gin as he spoke about his childhood. She felt sympathy, imagining everything he had gone through.

"I loved staying up late because I enjoyed listening to radio dramas and the music they played at midnight. But over time, it took a toll on my health, and I fell sick. Normally, before going to school, I would take my mom to the market. But that morning, I was too sick to go, so she had to take an ojek by herself."

"And that was when, six months ago, I lost my mom. The motorcycle she was riding got into an accident. She suffered severe bleeding and was unconscious for a week. When she finally woke up, my dad thought she was getting better, but she wasn't. She woke up only to leave me something and write me a letter. After that, she passed away."

Gin stood up and walked to his room. A moment later, he returned with a piece of paper in his hand and sat back down beside Tesa.

"This is the letter my mom wrote for me. Back then, I couldn't read the alphabet, so it took me a month to finally understand what it said," Gin said, handing the letter to Tesa.

Tesa opened it and read the words written by Gin's mother.

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My dearest Gin,

Mama has to go now. I know you will feel lonely without me. There will be no one to play with you anymore. But I have something for you—my eyes. So that you can see, and so that you can have as many friends as possible. That way, you won't feel lonely anymore.

You must be independent, okay? Don't trouble Papa too much. He's already working so hard day and night. Eat whatever Papa gives you, don't be picky. If Mama were still here, it would be fine—I would cook whatever you wanted. But now Mama is gone, and Papa can't cook.

Gin, you once said that if you could see, you wanted to go to the beach with Mama. Now, you have Mama's eyes. So go to the beach, and with Mama's eyes, we can see the beautiful ocean together. We can watch the sunset, Gin. That would make you happy, wouldn't it? Don't forget to bring your friends along.

Gin, all this time you've been reading and writing in Braille. I've asked Papa to teach you the alphabet so you can read this letter. And so that you can go to a regular school. Papa will make it happen, and you will have many friends there.

Please don't stay up late anymore. Get plenty of sleep so you stay healthy. Mama never used these eyes to stay up late, so take good care of them, okay?

Forgive Mama, Gin, for not being able to stay by your side any longer.

With all my love, hugs, and kisses,

Your Mama.

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Without realizing it, tears streamed down Tesa's cheeks as she read the letter. She suddenly realized how much she had taken her mother's love for granted. She had always gotten angry whenever her mother couldn't fulfill her wishes.

"I always protect my mom's eyes with these goggles. I don't want anything to happen to them. I will take care of them the best I can," Gin said, showing the goggles hanging around his neck.

"Thank you, Gin," Tesa said as she hugged him tightly.

"For what?" Gin asked, confused.

"Thank you for the lesson you taught me today. Thank you for showing me what a mother's love really is. I love my mom… and I regret the way I treated her all this time," Tesa said, still holding onto him. Her voice trembled as fresh tears welled in her eyes.

"I used to think my mom would always be there, that she would always forgive me no matter what. But now, I realize how much I took her love for granted. I never truly appreciated her sacrifices. I wish I could turn back time and tell her how much she means to me," she whispered.