Siren Song - 125 Waiting II

‘I’ll have to get Mom something else soon.’ After paying the man she entered inside the cold house carrying only the picture and a small wax of cash.

“Brr, it’s so cold in here! Even for November!” Lihua complained from the sofa. “Xiao Xie will you turn the furnace on and up?”

Chang nodded wordlessly, first draping a blanket over her that had been lying on the back of the sofa.

“Ah thank you sweetie.” Li Hua smiled sweetly at her daughter, her heart breaking to see the latter’s drawn and pained face. “I’m sure it will be OK?”

“Will it though? I wrote him a coded letter like I used to do with Dad, this little written word games in our notes. The more I think about it though Jian probably wouldn’t understand, I don’t remember if I even told him about that.I don’t quite remember what I wrote, I was so stressed but I think I said something like I don’t love you and some other mean stuff..

Big fat tears started to fall over and over. “Mom I don’t think I ever told him I love you, and I do. I love him very much. I’m still worried about him leaving, what if he never even reads it at all? What if he died already, and I’ll just never know?!”

“Come here, hey, calm down. You’re working yourself up.” Chang sat down by her mother, who tried to brush away her tears. “First off all, I highly doubt that he died, that boy is far too tenacious to be taken down so easily.

“Secondly I think he knows, but you should tell him that in person When you see him. And you will, after everything he’s done and been through, I highly doubt he would just let you walk away, even if he doesn’t understand your letter.

“He’s probably going to be pretty angry and hurt, if he doesn’t, and youll have to be prepared for that when you see him. You will see him again so stop worrying, you just need to be patient and wait right now.”

“Just how long will I have to wait?”

“I can’t tell you that sweetie, you’ll just have to be strong.”

Chang sniffed while holding her mom, “I’ll try mom.”

—-

Two weeks quickly passed by her even though every day seemed to drag. Every time the doorbell rang or the phone went off she would fly to it waiting for Jian.

Still there was no word.

Chang became really good at smiling even when she felt like falling apart and crying. Her mother’s strength of kindness inspired her to work harder to be better support for her mother.

‘He’ s not coming anymore, I just need to accept that and move on. For now I need to make the most of this time with mom.. ‘

The predicted date was quickly advancing on them whether they wished it or not. Chang could only watch as her mother slowly lost almost all of her functions and come to need assistance with everything.