Ulysses - Chapter 18
Ulysses - Bab 18
Stephen declined Bloom's offer to stay the night. He thanked the older man for his kindness but said he needed to go. There was something he had to do, somewhere he had to be. Bloom didn't press him, understanding that Stephen needed his independence.
Stephen menolak tawaran Bloom untuk bermalam. Dia berterima kasih atas kebaikan pria tua itu, tetapi mengatakan bahwa dia harus pergi. Ada hal-hal yang harus dilakukan, tempat-tempat yang harus dituju. Bloom tidak memaksa, mengerti bahwa Stephen butuh kemandirian.
They stood in the garden, looking up at the stars one last time. The universe stretched above them, infinite and indifferent. Two men, strangers until today, connected briefly before parting ways.
Mereka berdiri di taman, menatap bintang-bintang untuk terakhir kalinya. Alam semesta terbentang di atas mereka, tak terbatas dan acuh tak acuh. Dua pria asing sampai hari ini telah terhubung sesaat sebelum berpisah.
"Will I see you again?" Bloom asked.
"Apakah kita akan bertemu lagi?" tanya Bloom.
Stephen shrugged. "Perhaps. Dublin is a small city."
Stephen mengangkat bahu. "Mungkin. Dublin adalah kota kecil."
They shook hands, and Stephen walked away into the darkness. Bloom watched him go, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and sadness. He had helped someone today, had made a genuine connection. But he also felt the loss of what might have been, the friendship that would probably never develop.
Mereka berjabat tangan, dan Stephen berjalan ke dalam kegelapan. Bloom melihatnya pergi, merasakan campuran kepuasan dan kesedihan. Hari ini dia telah membantu seseorang, telah menciptakan hubungan nyata. Tapi dia juga merasakan kehilangan akan apa yang mungkin terjadi, persahabatan yang mungkin tidak akan pernah berkembang.
Bloom returned to his house, locking the door behind him. The day was finally ending, his odyssey through Dublin complete. He had witnessed birth and death, had confronted his fears and desires, had reached out to another human being in need.
Bloom kembali ke rumah dan mengunci pintu. Hari akhirnya berakhir. Perjalanannya melalui Dublin telah selesai. Dia telah menyaksikan kelahiran dan kematian, menghadapi ketakutan dan keinginan, mengulurkan tangan untuk membantu sesama.
He thought about the day's events as he prepared for bed. So much had happened, so many encounters and revelations. Yet tomorrow would bring another day, another round of ordinary tasks and small dramas.
Saat bersiap untuk tidur, dia merenungkan peristiwa hari itu. Begitu banyak cerita terjadi, begitu banyak pertemuan dan pengungkapan. Tapi besok akan menjadi hari lain, pengulangan tugas-tugas membosankan dan drama kehidupan kecil.
Bloom climbed the stairs quietly, not wanting to wake Molly. He knew she had been with Boylan, knew his bed had been defiled. But he also knew he would accept it, would continue their life together despite everything.
Bloom naik tangga dengan tenang agar tidak membangunkan Molly. Dia tahu dia telah bersama Boylan, tahu tempat tidurnya telah ternoda. Tapi dia juga tahu dia akan menerimanya dan melanjutkan kehidupan pernikahannya, tidak peduli apa.
What choice did he have? Love was complicated, marriage was imperfect, and life went on regardless. He would endure, as he always had, finding small pleasures and moments of connection amid the disappointments.
Apa pilihan yang dia miliki? Cinta itu rumit, pernikahan tidak sempurna, dan hidup terus berjalan. Dia akan bertahan, seperti yang selalu dia lakukan, mencari kegembiraan kecil dan momen hubungan di tengah kekecewaan.