We ran under the half-moon with its dim light. We did not even cease although the cold weather bit our skin viciously. Our destination was Mrs. Ali’s house. We did not have money to take public transportation. Reno used his money to pay for the taxi to get to my house. The only ten thousand rupiahs I owned had been run out. Hiring Mrs. Ali’s motorcycle was the only choice to save Vera. We could think of the rent charge later. Vera was our number one concern.

I played back the memory when Reno got a phone call from Vera. Questions came up. Why did Vera say about her aunt...