Young Boy Struggles to Grasp Devastation of House Fire
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The aftermath of a devastating fire in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, has left a young boy emotionally scarred. Arum, the boy’s mother, shared the heartbreaking reality of her son’s struggle to comprehend the sudden loss of thier home.
“Yes, it’s all gone, there’s nothing left. Where do we live now? He’s definitely confused,” Arum confided to reporters at a temporary shelter on Saturday,December 14,2024.
The fire erupted while Arum was working as a laundry worker in an apartment. Upon receiving news of the blaze, she rushed home only to find her house engulfed in flames and her son in tears.
” I called, arrived, and the house was already gone. Thank God the children were rescued,just like Bude,” Arum recalled.
The third-grade elementary student, whose name has been withheld, repeatedly asked about his belongings destroyed in the fire.
“‘Mom, the house is gone,’ ‘How about Ata’s shirt, his uniform, think about it, same with the books,’ he cried,” Arum recounted, her voice thick with emotion.
The boy’s reluctance to accept the situation is evident in his constant requests to return home. The unfamiliarity of the shelter and the absence of familiar comforts have made the situation even more challenging.
“‘I don’t want to be here (in a tent), people usually sleep at home, it’s nice. (Now) people sleep like this, there are no fans anymore,'” he would say, according to Arum.
Loss of Childhood Innocence
The fire has robbed the young boy not only of his home but also of his youthful innocence. Arum observed that her son is no longer his cheerful self. He spends most of his time lost in thought, occasionally breaking down in tears.
“Since yesterday he has been acting like he usually plays, he runs around, but from yesterday he’s been sleeping since the afternoon.He’s still healthy. he’s just quiet, (not cheerful),” Arum explained.
While Arum tries to explain the situation to her son,he finds it difficult to grasp the reality of the loss. Arum decided to take him to see their former home, hoping it would help him understand the extent of the damage. “I told him about the condition of the house. whether he wants to or not, he has to follow me wherever I go,” she said.
As the family navigates the difficult process of recovery, the young boy’s story highlights the enduring emotional impact of such tragedies, particularly on children.
## Interview: Trauma of House fire Through a Child’s Eyes
**Q:** Arum, can you describe what happened when you arrived at your home after hearing about the fire?
**A:** I rushed home from work, frantic with worry. When I got there, the whole house was engulfed in flames. It was terrifying. Thank God my children, including my son **Ata**, were rescued.
**Q:** How is Ata coping with the loss of your home?
**A:** He’s heartbroken. He keeps asking about his belongings – his uniforms, his books, his favorite shirt. it’s hard for him too understand that everything is gone.
**Q:** What are some of the things Ata has said that show how deeply this loss has affected him?
**A:** He’ll say things like, “‘Mom,the house is gone,’ ‘How about Ata’s shirt,his uniform,think about it,same with the books,’ he cried.” He also refuses to stay in the shelter. He keeps asking to go home, even though he knows there’s nothing left.
**Q:** Is Ata showing any signs of trauma beyond the verbal expressions?
**A:** Yes. He’s withdrawn, vrey quiet.He used to be so cheerful, always running around playing, but now he spends most of his time sleeping or just staring off into space.
**Q:** What have you done to try and help Ata understand and cope with this situation?
**A:** I’ve tried to explain what happened, but he’s so young, it’s hard for him to grasp the reality of it. I took him to see the wreckage of our old house, hoping that seeing the damage might help him come to terms with the loss.
**Q:** What worries you the most about Ata going forward?
**A:** I’m worried about the lasting impact this will have on him. This is a terrible trauma for a young child to experience, and I just want him to be okay.