"All for the Leaving Lover"


I was sitting in this bus and seeing through the window.
I had finally arrived in Brighton.
Six months ago the love of my life said that he would go back to Brighton for me.
He didn't make his promise come true.


I had the best partner in travelling, and he turned to be the love of my life.
We had been travelling in the UK and Europe together along this year.
But, six months ago, I woke up later and our travel agent left me.
He went to Brighton without me, then he promised that he would visit this beach once again, with me.
Now he had gone back to Indonesia, and I was staying in England.


I didn't know that his decision to leave England earlier would hurt me this much.
I hadn't had the chance to really say that I love him.
I didn't mean to love him this deep at the first place.
He was just the only person who would go travelling far away with me.
Now it felt weird to not have him in my journey.


Brighton was so hot.
I put my sunglasses on and walked out of the bus.
The famous pier was located across the bus stop, thus I directly aimed there.
I was standing on the pier and staring at the sea in front of me, when this guy came closer.

Are you Indonesian? He asked.
Yeah, I glanced back at him.
I'm Indonesian, too! He shouted, cheerfully.
Yeah, I can see that, I said.
Are you alone? He asked.
Yeah. I obviously seemed not interested at this silly guy.
Would you join me and my friends? He pointed at a group of multi-cultured youngsters behind him.
No, thank you, I responded.
It's so rare that an Indonesian would go alone to this beach, he said.
It's like you know a lot about Indonesian tourists here, I said.
I am! I'm studying in Sussex and I come here often. This beach is like my favourite hangout place. If you need anything, here's my number.
I was confusedly staring at this silly guy, but I saved his number anyway.


The hostel I'd booked was placed two kilometers away from the pier.
At first I enjoyed walking there, but then I arrived in deep tiredness.
For the cheaper cost, I rented a bed in a 18-bed mixed dorm.
I'd got the bed number 5, it was in the middle of a triple bunk bed.
I didn't plan to go out again this afternoon, for I felt so tired.
I just wanted to lie down on this bed, and gain my power to take a bath.

One old man came into the room and saw my bare legs.
I was wearing shorts and it was normal in a beach city like this.
But that creepy old man was babbling about my legs, and I was uncomfortable.
I decided to leave the hostel, even though I was tired and sleepy so bad.

I walked out of the hostel, carrying my plump backpack.
I didn't know where to go, and renting another room all of sudden like this would raise the cost.
I took my phone and called him, that silly guy.

He told me to come to his friend's beach house not so far from the hostel.
I found the house, walked on its front stairs, and pushed the bell.
He opened the door and welcomed me warmly.
He introduced me to all his friends, and showed me one bedroom that had been prepared for me.
I was so tired, so I told him that I needed to sleep, but I promised that I would join their party tonight.
Take your time, he smiled. Sleep tight.


They prepared so much seafood and drinks for tonight.
I are a lot, and I drank at the corner while laughing at these guys.
They were partying so wild and doing crazy things.
I laughed at his silly dance.
He suddenly asked for my hand and we danced on the carpet in this living room.

Why did you come alone? He asked when we were going out to the balcony.
Well, I was supposed to come here with someone, I said, leaning on the balcony while holding my glass.
Who? He asked.
Thus I told him about my travelling partner who had just moved back to Indonesia for good.
He has graduated like you? What's his name? He was curious.
I mentioned his name.
He promised to take you here after you skipped your first plan, but he left you. He summarised my story.
Yeah, now I'm alone in London, and coming to Brighton alone.
I was laughing, and we were cheering for this hot night.


London to Brighton was easy to reach, so did for the return.
I came to the famous beach often after my first encounter with this silly guy.
We would bring a picnic basket and lay on the beach to hear the sea sound.
He came to the capital city more often, just to spend some days with me.

I'm going back home for holiday, he said when we hung out at Hackney one night.
Then I promised that I would come to Brighton later when he had come back to England.
He was nodding. See you at the pier, he said.
I took him to the airport, and kissed him.
Thank you for meeting me in my life, I said. I'm going to wait for you to come back.


Hey, I've come back in England.
He finally texted me after the holiday season had finished.
What have you done all this time? I miss you so much! I'm going to Brighton now! I replied.
He didn't text me much when he was in Indonesia, thus I packed my bag right away and hopped on the earliest bus to Brighton.
I was jumping out of the bus after it had arrived in the beach city, and ran to the pier.

I was walking on the Brighton Pier while enthusiastically looking around.
I was searching for him, my silly guy.
The one whom I firstly met on this pier.
The one who actually was here with me in Brighton.
The one who had made me fall in love and buried the hope of my lost travelling partner.

Not until I saw a guy who was standing in front of me.
Hey, he was smiling at me. The long-lost smile that I had already forgotten how to miss it.
How are you? My former travelling partner was standing here for real.
You... I was shivering. What are you doing here?
Look, I'm so sorry, said my long-lost partner. I had to move to Indonesia soon and I didn't make my promise to you come true. But I'm here now. We're in Brighton.

I was looking around, searching for my beloved silly guy.
No, I'm looking for someone else, I said.
My brother's not here, he said.
I was staring at him in surprise. Your brother?
The one you met here. He was studying in Sussex, he said. He came home to remind me about my promise to you. He was the one who made me coming here. Look, I'm really sorry, if there's anything I can do for you.
Then just leave me alone, like you did before, I said. Where is he?

He sighed. My brother has finished his study, and he wouldn't come back to England. Please hear me, I feel so guilty over you since I moved to Indonesia without telling you. I was afraid to meet you, thus I'd never come back before now. But my brother has made me sure that I'm in love with you.

The sparkling sun set beside me and I was crying.
Why would everybody I loved leave me?
Please don't say that you love me. I don't want you anymore.
My love had gone after you were gone.