Short Story (An Injection of Energy from God).

An Injection of Energy from God

By: Siti Nur Qomariyah

Lily is a woman who is quite famous among her friend girls. She is about 155 centimeters. She has a snub nose, brownish skin, and dimples. When she smiles, her dimples will be clearly visible which makes everyone doesn’t want to turn to look at her. Since junior high school, she has been studying at an Islamic boarding school and then she continues her study at an Islamic boarding school again but it was different from the previous one.

The sun was still peering at the students and the speeding breeze softly wiped the veils of the students who had just come out of the dormitory. Their faces showed a burning spirit while carrying a large banner and cheering the name of Lily along the way to the hall of the Islamic boarding school. The state of the hall at that time was like a crowded market in the morning. All cheering in the name of the candidate promoted. Lily was the number five candidate for student council president from five candidate pairs. All prospective couples were guys except Lily.

When all candidates for student council had arrived, the campaign was started from number one. Alternately, they were welcomed to convey their vision and mission. At that time Lily looked nervous, but it seemed she still tried to cover it with several drinks and took a deep breath. Nobody knows what she was being reads, her lips muttering from the beginning she arrived in the hall. Actually, Lily did not initially want to run as a student council president, but her friends persuaded her to take part in this election. From previous years, there never have been any women who dare to nominate themselves as student council leaders. Usually, the highest position was only as a representative of the student council. Her friends were very confident that  Lily was capable of carrying out that mandate. They believed that lily could certainly make this boarding school better than before.

"Lily, we believe in you, you can definitely lead us. We believe you fully. "Said one of her friends

"The problem is not only that, girls…, you know that I'm not used to communicating with guys. Especially now if I have to lead them. It means, I should communicate with them. I swear I'm nervous when I see them. I can't. "Said, Lily

Several times Lily refused to register as student council president. Eventually, she realized that she might not be in a comfort zone. She must challenge her fear to find other knowledge and experience. She might not be in fear just to talk to guys.

After a long waiting, finally, Lily's name was called for the delivery of vision and mission. Lily's legs and arms were trembling when she began to convey her vision and mission, but the cheers and enthusiasm of her friends made her confident and speak fluently in front of the students. She didn’t think that she could do it easily. When she heard cheers from her friends she felt like she got an injection of energy from God.

After all the student council candidates conveyed their vision and mission, the next event was Q & A (Question and Answer). Just like the previous program, this session might also take turns. Because Lily got the last serial number, then she had to wait long for her turn. While waiting, her lips never stopped mumbling. Occasionally, her friends cheered to call Lily for encouragement and she always responded with a smile, although in fact, she was awkward. On the one hand, she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and tried a new thing. However, on the other hand, she was afraid that she couldn’t hold the mandates.

An hour later, she was called to Q & A. It was always her habit when she started something, she read the prayer first. Then she stood up to the front of the students. All the questions had been answered well. She breathed a sigh of relief because the committee said the time for Q & A was finished. She was very grateful because all questions were only from women. So she could answer it fluently.

However, in reality, it was different, when the committee would close the Q & A session. Suddenly, someone raised a hand to ask questions. At first, the committee did not allow the addition of time, but because the guy was forcing and there was also no guy who asked the lily, finally he was given extra time to ask.

"I want to ask about your actions when one of your members is not active in the student activity?”

For lily, this question was not really difficult to answer.

"Okay, thanks for the very good question. Of course, I will reprimand them and advise them first, but if they remain inactive in the student activities, they will be penalized."Lily said.

The guy's question turned out to not only be there. He continued to debate the types of sanctions and also asked if they were sanctioned but did not change. Lily's friends were very angry with this man. He asked questions that were not asked by other candidates for student council. Moreover, he asked when it was at the end of the Q & A session. Of course, this made the program, not on the schedule.

"So, friends, I will answer this question with an analogy. When friends are walking, then there is a dog that barks. In your opinion, what should you do to make the dog silent?”

All friends seemed surprised by the answer from Lily. Then Lily continued the words.

"Of course, to make the dog is silent, we must call the owner"

Instantly, everyone clapped and cheered Lily’s name. Then Lily continued her words again.

"Like me, I am nothing. What I can do is only struggle and prays. If I have tried maximally but still cannot change them for the better, the only thing that I can do is surrender them to who have created them. Let God realize them through my prayers ".Said, Lily

The guy looked satisfied with the answer given by Lily. Then, he joined loud cheering loudly to encourage Lily.

Finally, Q & A session finished, the next session was the students must queue to give their votes. While waiting the students gives the vote, she approached her friends who had given their voting rights. Her friends constantly gave enthusiasm to the lily. Her friends were very sure that Lily would be the student council president.

When Lily and her friends were chatting and joking, they occasionally heard the sound of a group of guys calling Lily. Lily tried to ignore them. Lily remained focused on her friends. However, because it lasted long enough, then she turned to the boys. It turned out that the boys were the men who had asked at the end of the session and friends. The guy was tall. He was wearing glasses. From a distance, he seemed to support Lily.

When all the students had finished giving their voting rights, the next session was the counting of ballots. The vote counting team was starting to prepare a board to count and open one-by-one ballot papers. From the beginning, the calculation of the name Lily was the one most often called.

"Okay, my friends, this is the last ballot paper, let's open ... lily ..." said one counting team.

Lily really didn't believe what she saw on the counting board. The expectation of Lily’s friend comes true. Her friends immediately stormed Lily to congratulate her. When Lily was busy with her friends, she could see the glass-eyed guy staring at Lily.

"Lily, she looked at you from earlier ..." said one of Lily's friends

"It is not an important thing to think about right now. Pray for me to be able to carry out this message. "

END…