2 An Ending, A Beginning (1/2)
Watching the man's figure disappear into the smothering darkness, the girl released a sigh of relief. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the chilled concrete ground, falling into a restless sleep.
Drifting between the thin barrier of consciousness, several hours were spent with the girl tossing around, huddling and bringing her body together to retain warmth.
Plink.
Another drop of water fell into the raging current below, the soft splash causing the girl to jolt awake. Lightly rubbing her injured thigh and grimacing at the spike of pain, the girl revealed a bitter smile.
Looking around in all directions to be greeted by the dim lighting restraining the cold darkness' approaches, she couldn't help but fall into a daze, her mind drifting to a memory. One she had deeply cherished, but didn't know if the sentiment she had felt back then truly lingered.
-
An old man lay upon a bed with soft linen sheets, dressed in a grey scholar's robe. Protruding from his wrist was a series of transparent tubes transferring various chemicals and medicines into his body, some flowing out.
The old man's eyes were closed, his expression light and airy as if experiencing a pleasant dream. The room was a monochrome white, lacking in furnishing or decorations excluding the old man, the bed, and a metallic stand supporting fluid bags.
Perhaps, unless one looked closely, the elderly figure could merge with his plain surroundings, his demeanor inconspicuous and reserved.
”Grandfather, you called?”
Suddenly, the door warding the room slid open, a young girl intruding. Dressed in a light cotton shirt, denim jeans, and a linen coat, black hair flowing to her waist, the girl silently strode over to the bed, kneeling next to the elder.
Hearing her voice, the old man raised his eyes, countless vicissitudes flowing within before returning to a peaceful calm.
”Fei'er. You're here.” His voice was hoarse, barely perceptible to the ear, unable to differentiate between emotions.
”Mhm. Grandfather, did you need something?”
The girl gently nodded, her soft voice complementing the elder's whisper. Hearing her speak, the old man faintly smiled.
”You're just like your mother, that soft voice that soothes one's soul,” he spoke. Reaching out with his left hand to gently pat her hair, he continued.
”Don't take to heart what your parents always declare. Never forget, you are my, An Xiang Yang's granddaughter!”
”En.”
”Alright, alright, don't get so emotional,” the elder consoled.
Though he remained on the bed, he continued to comfort the girl, his other hand reaching into the depths of his robe's pockets.
”It's your sixteenth birthday today, no?” he spoke.
His fingers grasping onto the metallic surface of a familiar object, his eyes brightened. His fingers trembling from both fatigue and emotional reminiscence, the elder felt a lifetime of memories span across a single moment as he presented the object to the girl. ”Fei'er, Fei'er, don't be sad! Grandfather has a gift for you.”
”Thank you…a mirror?”
Receiving the old man's gift, a burst of warmth ignited within the girl's chest, triggering forth another wave of muted tears. Looking over the object, she discovered it to be a small mirror, no bigger than the palm of her hand.
The reflective surface was of embossed platinum, the back of smooth cobalt. When she stared at her reflection on the small surface, she found her vision threaten to blur yet again.
”Hehe, don't think of it as a plain mirror!” The old man assured.
”It will change everything for you, straight to your core. Think of it as a belayed compensation for everything you've suffered.”
”Change everything?” the girl questioned, bewilderment evident in her voice. ”Grandfather, it's just a mirror, ah! How will it change everything?”
”You will see,” the elder responded, adopting a mysterious tone. Firmly petting her hair, he repeated once more. ”You will see. Perhaps not now, nor in the future, but you will see.”
Finished saying his piece, the elder returned to sleep with a contented smile. Given that he refused to wake regardless of her wheedling, the girl gave up. With a light sigh, she bowed once more, before departing from the room.
The mirror lay secure in her pocket, later recast as a pendant.
-
”You've had these days rather rough.”
An aged voice cut through her reminiscence, forcefully dragging the girl back to reality. Raising her head towards its source, she discovered an aged man standing not far away from her.