The Dandelions Field

Cause I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one that you'd be mine, mine

And I see forever in your eyes

I feel okay when I see you smile, smile

Wishing on dandelions all of the time

Praying to God that one day you'll be mine*

This afternoon is stunning; the golden sunset shines all around me. The wide field of dandelions looks so chic, adorning my sight. A man over there picking the dandelions is my grandfather. He knows how amazed I am by dandelions.

"Dinda! How many dandelions do you need?" he shouts from the distance, raising a fistful of dandelions in his hand.

"I think that is enough, Grandpa. You can come back now," I say loudly. With that, he approaches me, carrying a bunch of dandelions. I am ecstatically blithe. I take one and blow it. When the seeds fly, my heart feels like it’s blooming.

"Do you know, Dinda? You remind me of your grandma when I look at you like this," he enunciates softly, though his words are difficult for me to understand at first.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Your grandma really loved dandelions as well. When she was still alive, she always came here just to enjoy this dandelion field," he says, bringing back a picturesque memory of his wife, my grandma.

"How much did you love her?" I inquire.

"Very much. The universe would probably lose if there were a tool to weigh how much I loved her." His wrinkled skin seems to carve out his gaiety when he smiles. He is truly proud when he tells my grandma's story. He succeeds in keeping his reminiscence alive within his body and soul.

"Do I have many things in common with my grandma?" I question him.

"Yeah, when you were born, I saw her reflection in you," he declares bravely.

"Why do you say that? You make me more perplexed, and I need more of the story about my grandma," I state.

"Okay. I will tell you a simple story about your grandma. This story begins many years ago."

Many years ago...

At that juncture, your grandma was the most desirable lady in this village. She was a belle. Everyone loved her, including me. We always competed with each other to win your grandma's heart. One thing that I remember most is that she was genuinely fond of dandelions. She might have been here every day. One day, she was here alone. I approached her and expressed all my feelings. She only smiled, then nodded as a sign that she accepted me to be hers. I was incredibly happy.

Time went by, we got closer, and our relationship got stronger. I decided to marry her. Even after we were married, she always came here, and I accompanied her.

"Why do you like dandelions, Liana?" I inquired.

"I like dandelions because they are so beautiful. And you know what? There are many philosophies in this flower. It symbolizes courage and confidence. Imagine! When it is blown by the wind, it will fly in loneliness to several places. Then, the bits of the flower that fly will fall and grow again to create a new life."

She really knew so much about dandelions. She was a smart woman. When she was pregnant with your mother, she really took care of her pregnancy. She did not eat or drink carelessly. But, something that we did not hope for came out of the blue. After your mother was born, your grandma was diagnosed with cancer. She felt forlorn, and so did I.

Thereafter, I did not see her bliss anymore. She always daydreamed and cried. She was suffering. I tried to entertain her, but it was in vain. At last, she preferred to face God. She passed away when your mother was still three years old. I was broken when she was gone. She was my only love. Our story ended with a sad ending.

Subsequently, I only lived with your mother. Every day, we both visited your grandma's grave and her favorite place, the dandelion field. I tried to make our days better.

Your grandma once said that a dandelion will fly and grow again to create a new life. This convinced me that your grandma would also be born again in the next life. When your mother became an adult, she married and then conceived you. And when you were born, I saw your grandma's spirit in your body. Because of that, I believe that you are the reincarnation of your grandma.

"That is the story about your grandma," he smiles and looks into my eyes solemnly. "Dinda, listen to me! I am very sure that you are another form of your grandma. You both have many things in common. So, I will love you as I loved your grandma."

Then, an ephemeral loneliness undesignedly occurs between us, making the moment awkward. Some ravens seem to fly through the golden sky, becoming silhouettes up there. The dandelions blown by the wind look like they are waving, saying goodbye and see you tomorrow.

Lenteng, 31^st December 2022