Page 97 - B. Ing_Antologi Cerpen Xl-6

Forever, Margaretha

By: Nabila Aulia Putri

In a village on the coast of Java, there lived a
Dutch girl named Margaretha. She was the only child of

a wealthy merchant who had come to the Dutch East

Indies to expand his business. Margaretha grew up in a
world full of luxury, separated from the simple life of the

villagers. Yet, despite the opulence surrounding her, she
felt lonely. Her father, busy with his business, and her

mother, who always kept a distance, made her feel
isolated. Her social life was confined to European circles,

even though her heart was drawn to the native culture so

much simpler and warmer.

One hot afternoon, Margaretha decided to take a
walk through the village market. The lively market, filled

with merchants, buyers, and children running around,
seemed like a different world from the one she knew.

Unconsciously, her steps led her to a quieter corner of the

market, where a young man was carrying a sack of rice.

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