A story entitled "Listen!"

 Listen!

Like a nightmare that is put on a plate. It seemed not interesting and made her do not want to eat again this morning. The portion always contains the same food called fear. She did not want to remember. Yet, the hungry fear chewed on his mind mercilessly. The fear chewed her evenly. It swallowed her until it was full. Her mind began to mix. She should have gone down with the moon before morning so people would not be looking for her in the morning.

Miss Fanda had just entered the classroom with a red plastic folder and sheets of drawing paper. The students were curious, Naila was not. Miss Fanda greeted her students with good morning greetings with a cheerful smile and her students immediately responded with the same thing, Naila did not. Everyone enjoys Miss Fanda's never-boring lessons, Naila does not.

The woman shared the drawing paper to her students, each student gets one drawing paper. Then, she asked her students to draw anything related to their future on it. The students immediately rushed to their respective professions by thinking about what they should draw after the paper arrived in their hands, while Naila does not. In the back row, someone whispered to another student,

“What are you drawing? What is your future?”

On the right side, some laugh at the picture of their own friend’s drawing. In front of her, on the left side, on the corner, the students choose to focus and diligently drew their imagination that was in their heads. Everyone kept thinking and drawing happily but she did not.

The little girl just stared at her drawing paper which was still clean without any single pencil stroke, and the other students did not know what Naila was thinking either. They were used to Naila's habit of having a world of her own. Naila just kept frowning and seemed like she was deep in thought, but nothing came of it. Her hand was holding a pencil, but she could not describe the future that was in her mind. Until Miss Fanda stopped beside her and she felt compelled to speak to the little girl.

"Naila, are you okay?" asked Miss Fanda, lowering her voice near Naila's ear.

The girl was still silent. Keep quiet all the time. Naila did not look away or did not answer either. Miss Fanda is confused about how to respond to this child. Miss Fanda knew that the little girl was a new student. She had been here only for a few months, but she never spoke, except for the occasional nod, shake the head, and look away. The first time Naila came to this class she did not give any impression. She did not even want to introduce herself and when someone asked her question, she remains silent.

Her friends said that Naila is mute, but she is not. Others said Naila was a weirdo, but Naila did not feel that way even though she only spoke in her heart. Her sister, Fay said that Naila was not mute. The little girl is used to act like that, she is quiet and secretive. Naila had a hard time listening to other people. She is also difficult to be managed at home. She never answered when someone talks to her. Fay struggled to figure out why Naila never made any sound.

That is what Miss Fanda heard from Fay about her sister in the principal's office a few weeks ago when Fay tried to explain Naila's personality that made the teachers fail to educate her at school. Miss Fanda thought that there would be no irregularities if there were no problems. Maybe in Fay's attitude towards Naila, the past, or the problems within herself. The woman wanted to try to figure it out.

Miss Fanda rubbed Naila's back as lovingly as she rubbed the back of her own child. Naila was an orphan since the age of 6 years. Miss Fanda also heard that from Fay's story. The young woman only said that their parents were dead, then they lived with their mother’s sister until Fay graduated from college and she was able to work, Fay and Naila no longer lived together because she did not want to bother her aunt anymore. Naila often daydreaming and likes to be alone at home. She talks and laughs to herself when nobody around. This made Fay often cringe at her own sister.

Teaching and learning activities are over. Miss Fanda asked her students to come forward one by one to submit the drawings. She ordered students who are still lingering to submit it quickly. Until all the children have collected, Naila is still drawing. Miss Fanda had to come closer and take Naila's drawing paper because she knew that Naila would not answer her call and would not look at her at all.

“Naila, time is up. You have to collect it..." said Miss Fanda on her way to Naila's desk, about to get her drawing paper.

"Naila!" said Miss Fanda as she forcibly took Naila's drawing paper and saw what Naila drew because she did not pay attention to her.

Miss Fanda took a deep breath and glanced her eyes at Naila who was looking at her sharply. She tried to keep her role so that the other students would not be curious and asked with the sudden change in her expression. Fay was right, Naila also just made her cringe with her drawing Miss Fanda firmly believed that there was indeed something wrong with Naila.

After school, Miss Fanda kept Naila from going home for a moment. Miss Fanda wanted to talk to him one-on-one and Miss Fanda wanted Naila to explain what Naila's drawing meant in the counseling room. Miss Fanda put Naila's drawing paper on the table and faced it to Naila. The little girl drew a sad little girl in a school uniform and her eyes filled with tears. Then Naila made irregular shading around it and words like 'please' and 'I'm dead' at the end of the drawing.

"Naila, can you explain what your drawing means? I want to hear. You do not have to be afraid. Miss Fanda won't be angry with Naila. Miss Fanda just wants to help Naila," said Miss Fanda carefully. Naila still didn't answer and was still in the same position. Miss Fanda got up and sat down beside her. Miss Fanda hugged her and then she realized that Naila's body was shaking.

"Naila is scared..." Naila said very quietly and nervously.

"What scares Naila? Naila is afraid to be alone? Or does Naila have a bad friend? Miss Fanda will help Naila."

"They're all asking for help. They annoy Naila every day. I am scared! I want to go home!" She screamed and cried.

"Who's asking for help? Who's bothering Naila?"

“Them”

Naila quickly opened the doorknob and left the room. Fay was surprised to see Naila out of the room screaming and crying.

"What's wrong Miss Fanda?" Fay asked.

"Naila said earlier that she was afraid of those who asked for help and bothered Naila. But when I asked them who they were, Naila immediately screamed to go home. Maybe now is not the right time to continue talking. Naila should be brought home first. Tomorrow we will continue talking. " Miss Fanda said.

The next day, Naila didn't want to go to school. He wasn't sick though. Naila is afraid that Amira will come back to her at school and keeps asking for help with her horrible form. Amira is a dead girl who missed her mother and she asked Naila to help her. Finally, Fay made a letter of permission for Naila.

In the afternoon, Miss Fanda came to Naila's house to visit. Fay allowed Miss Fanda to visit, but of course Fay was always watching. Naila was surprised Miss Fanda came. Luckily Amira wasn't around. Miss Fanda came closer to Naila’s bed and rubbed the top of Naila’s head.

"Every time I see you, I miss my daughter. She is as big as you are now and should be in the same class as you. Every night I remember her looking and at her picture. She looks like you. Beautiful, quiet, does not talk much and only has one friend, but her friend could not take care of her. I am also sad and sorry for failing to be a good mother to her. So, every time I see you, I want to be someone who can help you."

Miss Fanda smiled and took out a picture inside her bag. She showed Naila the picture of her daughter. “Her name is Amira, she died because of an accident in school two years ago.” Miss Fanda said. Naila is shocked for a while and begins to tell the truth about her problem and Amira.

"Miss Fanda should not feel sorry. She loves Miss Fanda very much. Miss Fanda has been an amazing mother to her. Miss Fanda cannot be sad anymore.”

"Not yet. I have not been amazing to her." Miss Fanda shook her head.

"But she said that to Naila! Amira asked me to tell her mom that. Amira does not like seeing Miss Fanda sad and crying. Amira loves Miss Fanda very much. For Amira, Miss Fanda is an amazing mother. Miss Fanda must be sincere." Naila said firmly.

Now, she understands what is Naila's problem. She understood what was bothering Naila and frightening her. Miss Fanda hugged Naila's body tightly and realized that she had been wrong in lamenting her son too much and she decided to be sincere for her. While Naila was being hugged, she suddenly saw the figure of Amira standing behind Miss Fanda's body and smiled at her.

"Thanks, Naila... I am in peace now."