Timeline
Chapter 2

The rain did not hinder Anne's spirit to keep selling. Despite the school holidays, Sundays are a great time to help her mother find sustenance. The bike pedal he pedals. His sweat drops were wiped away by the raindrops that drenched the city.

Apparently the rain is getting worse. Anne could not continue selling. Seen as a result of lightning, followed by the sound of terrible thunder. Anne put her bike away in a place that was enough for her to take shelter.

The rain did not stop. Lightning also still rumbled in the pitch-black sky. Anne's trapped. For hours Anne had been sitting on the outskirts of a closed bakery.

"Duh, how is this, the trade has not sold, I can not go home. May there be a way at least I can go home safely" she said.

Soon, stop the black luxury car in front of the bakery. A woman got out of the car and immediately spread a pink umbrella. The veiled woman with the cross-face then asked Anne.

"Excuse me, sir, ask. What time does the shop open? It usually opens at this time."

"Sorry Mom, I don't know. I'm just here shady. From the beginning I was here, the shop was closed."

"Oh, yes, I have. Thank you, brother" said the woman.

"Sorry, Mom. You looking for bread?"

"Yes, Brother. I have a guest. My niece from out of town came. He likes donuts. To me, the doughnuts in this store are the most delicious."

"I sell donuts, Mom. You can try it first, for free. If you like it, you can buy it at my place."

The woman agreed with Anne's offer. Before buying, the woman tasted her wares donuts first. Once it felt right, the woman bought all the doughnuts that Anne brought.

"Your doughnuts are quite good, not much different from the bakery," said the woman while paying for the donuts she bought.

"Mom, I don't have any change, and then Mom bought my merchandise. Do you have the money?"

"Nothing, Sister. Gini only, you trade I buy all, calculated how much total."

Hearing the woman's words, Anne was shocked. How not, the trade immediately ludes just a moment. Anne felt very grateful for the provision given by God. Perhaps this is the reward for those who are patient and sincere.

The woman then returned to her car and drove away from the place, while Anne was still sitting quietly in the bakery's role. He waited for the rain to subside, at least after the lightning did not strike. Only a little dhikr can calm his heart when fear haunts him.

After a few hours of waiting, the rain stopped. Anne had to hurry back home before it rained again. Mother welcomed. A cup of hot tea and a plate of fried bananas were served at the dinner table.

Anne handed over the money to Mom.

"Mom, the trade was immediately bought out."

"Thank God, An. Here, the tea is drunk first."

Anne sipped a cup of hot tea made by Mom. Anne told me about her experience selling. Next, Mother gave a response.

"An, you're already in 3rd grade, you have to think about where you want to go to college."

Anne took a piece of fried banana and chewed it.

"Next week you do not need to sell yes," said Mother back.

Anne stopped chewing.

"Where do we get the extra money, ma'am? If Anne doesn't sell, we're just relying on the sale of fruit salads and pastries, ma'am."

"You're selling cakes and hawker markets like that, too, aren't you? The sustenance is arranged. Later if we need, there's got to be."

***

In the room, Anne was alone. He imagined a timeline. He was reminded of the past, of the first love of a friend that was hard to forget, then the timeline continues to deliver it to the present point. Now he has forgotten what it feels like to love. To love only makes him want to be loved. When his feelings are unrequited, only the heart is hurt. Fortunately he had a God who always loved him even though sometimes he was not perfect faith. God has sent an angel without wings that is the mother who always gives peerless affection. In the past, God has also presented a wise father figure, but maybe this is the way God loves the Anne family. Father has gone before the Creator. God wanted Anne and Mother to be patient and struggle together to face the rigors of life.

So what will happen in the future? Either way, timelines often come as a surprise. Not infrequently also the timeline presents a joke about life. A long time ago, the day before Dad left, Dad looked fine. She takes Anne and Mom on vacation to Paris for days, but things just change. On the way to one of the airports in France, Dad was sound asleep sitting in the car. Arriving at the airport, Mom wakes Dad up, but Dad doesn't give a response. After checking, it shows no sign of life to me. Anne and I panicked and took Dad to the nearest hospital. Just imagine, in a few hours the plane was about to take off. However, Anne's family had to delay her return. The truth is, the medical team made sure that Dad really left Anne and Mom.

This mortal world is indeed sometimes as joking as that. However, everything that happened was destined for God for sure. Let destiny work, ushering one to the destination points above the life line until one reaches the end of life which then continues on the eternal world.

Too complicated to think about. Anne can only do good when she steps above the life line. He has to fix himself. He must be better at relating to the Creator and His created beings. That's all Anne can do. Anne will keep walking to find that meeting point. I don't know, what surprises will happen?