In a quiet little neighborhood lived a woman named Ratna. She was a widow. Her late husband had been a civil servant, and after his passing, Ratna received a widow’s pension that allowed her to live comfortably without having to work too hard.
One day, her neighbor, Budi—a widower himself—started to get closer to her. Their bond grew slowly but warmly. They were often seen chatting on the porch in the late afternoon, sipping coffee together. Yet, one thing kept Ratna from taking the next step: the widow’s pension.
She knew that if she remarried, she would lose that pension. Ratna hesitated. Should she hold on to her financial security, or should she risk it all for love? That question lingered in her heart for years.
But who can resist the call of love? Eventually, Ratna chose to marry Budi, even though it meant giving up the pension that had supported her all this time. She believed happiness could not be measured by money alone.
Their first months of marriage were filled with laughter and joy. But fate had another plan. Just a year after their wedding, Budi suddenly passed away from an illness. Ratna found herself a widow once more—this time without her pension and without a husband.
Though it was heartbreaking, her story became a lesson for many in the neighborhood. Life is full of choices and risks. Sometimes we hold on, sometimes we let go, and sometimes God tests us in ways we never expect.
Still, with a bittersweet smile, Ratna said,
“At least I was given the chance to feel happiness, even if only for a short while.”
Photo by Fernanda Nuso on Unsplash
