The house felt painfully quiet after the tahlil ended.
Just a few hours ago, it had been filled with prayers, footsteps, and the soft voices of guests reciting verses for Aiman.
Now…
only silence remained.
The old ceiling fan turned slowly above the living room while the scent of incense still lingered faintly in the air.
The only people left in the house were Aina, Farid, Alya, Nadia, and Pak Cik Malik.
Aina stood quietly in front of Aiman's bedroom door.
Her trembling fingers slowly reached for the doorknob before she finally stepped inside.
The room still smelled the same.
Books stacked neatly on the study table.
A folded jacket hanging beside the chair.
Everything looked as if Aiman would walk back in at any moment with that exhausted smile he always carried.
Tears slowly filled Aina's eyes.
On the table sat several files and a black diary.
Almost as if he had prepared everything before leaving.
Aina slowly opened the first file.
Her breathing stopped instantly.
An overseas medical university offer.
Dated five years ago.
"Oh God…"
Her voice cracked into a whisper.
Aiman once had the chance to chase his dream.
But he stayed.
He gave it up for his family.
For them.
Her shaking hands reached for another document.
A bank account book.
Under her name.
Monthly deposits.
Small amounts transferred consistently for years.
Even when Aiman himself barely had enough.
Suddenly, several papers slipped from the folder onto the floor.
Aina bent down to pick them up.
But her face immediately turned pale.
Medical reports.
Aiman's name printed clearly across the pages.
Her hands started trembling violently.
"No…"
She rushed out into the living room carrying the files.
"Pak cik…"
Her voice broke.
Farid immediately stood up while Pak Cik Malik slowly took the documents from her trembling hands.
His eyes scanned through the pages before freezing completely.
"Medical university… overseas?"
Farid quickly grabbed the letter from him.
His expression slowly collapsed.
"This was five years ago…"
Silence filled the house.
"He never went…"
Aina shook her head while holding back tears.
"Because he chose to stay with us."
Farid slowly sat down on the sofa.
For the first time…
he realized the man he always thought was strong had silently sacrificed his own future a long time ago.
Then Pak Cik Malik opened another page.
His hands stopped moving instantly.
Hospital reports.
Farid quickly took them and began reading.
The color drained from his face.
"He knew…?"
His voice almost disappeared.
"He knew he was sick all this time?"
Aina covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
No one knew.
Not once did Aiman ever tell them.
Pak Cik Malik slowly lowered himself onto the sofa.
His shoulders trembled as he stared at the diagnosis date.
It was the same week Aiman insisted on paying for the korban donation earlier than usual.
The old man wiped his tears roughly before speaking.
"I asked him why he paid so early."
His lips trembled badly.
"He just smiled and said…"
"I'm afraid I won't make it in time."
And that night…
the house finally broke into uncontrollable tears.
——
Before returning to her room, Aina found two envelopes inside Aiman's black diary.
One addressed to Alya.
One addressed to Nadia.
"He left these behind…"
Alya accepted the letter with trembling hands.
Nadia lowered her head silently, unable to speak.
——
The next night.
Alya sat alone in her room rereading Aiman's letter over and over again.
Yet somehow…
the pain never became lighter.
"Alya,
If this letter reaches you, it means I'm already gone.
I'm sorry for entering your life only to leave pain behind.
I once imagined growing old with you.
But maybe God only allowed me to stay for a little while."
Tears slowly fell onto the paper.
Her trembling fingers reached the final paragraph.
"If one day you start missing me… don't search for me at my grave.
Find me instead… in every kindness I left behind."
Alya broke down silently while holding the letter tightly against her chest.
Somewhere else…
Nadia was reading the same words alone inside her car.
And for the first time…
both of them finally understood.
They did not lose an ordinary man.
They lost someone who silently sacrificed his entire life for the people he loved.
——
Two weeks later.
Aina stood in front of Aiman's grave while gently placing white flowers beside the tombstone.
The evening wind moved softly around them.
"Aina."
She turned around.
Alya and Nadia stood behind her.
Farid was there too.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of rustling leaves filled the cemetery beneath the cloudy evening sky.
Aina stared at the gravestone for a long moment before finally whispering:
"I made my decision, abang."
Tears rolled down her cheeks again.
"I'll continue your dream."
Alya tightened her grip on the letter in her hands.
Nadia quietly lowered her head.
And for the first time…
they were no longer there searching for loss.
They were there to honor a sacrifice.
——
Epilogue
KLIA Airport.
Flight announcements echoed softly throughout the departure hall.
Aina stood there holding her passport tightly while looking at the people who came to send her off.
Pak Cik Malik.
Farid.
Alya.
Nadia.
All of them stood there with tearful eyes.
Pak Cik Malik gently held Aina's shoulder.
"Go."
"Finish the dream Aiman never got to complete."
Aina nodded while trying to hold back her tears.
Medicine.
The dream Aiman once sacrificed…
would now continue through her.
Before entering the departure gate, Aina turned back one last time.
And for the first time after Aiman's passing…
they all smiled through their tears.
Because finally…
they understood him.
Aiman never asked to be remembered.
He only wanted the people he loved to keep living happily…
even without him.