Chapter 189 Empty (2/2)
”Go ahead, Miss. I won't go anywhere.”
The old man waved his hand and assured Yue Ling.She smiles at him and enters the flower shop as the fresh floral scent enter her nose.
”Hello, what can I do for you today?”
A young girl around the age of twenty greets Yue Ling, but her expression froze in surprise. Never has there been anyone like this woman that comes to the shop.
Yue Ling looks around the flower shop. Turning to look at the girl, she smiles faintly.
”Do you have any astilbe and yarrow flowers?”
”Astilbe and yarrow?”
The girl tilt her head in confusion. Wouldn't someone buy beautiful flowers like tulips or roses? Why would this woman want astilbe and yarrow?
Remembering something, the girl shook her head.
”I'm sorry, but we don't have any, only—”
Before the girl could finish her words, an old voice interrupts her.
”We have some.”
Yue Ling turned to look at the person. It was an old lady in her sixties with white hair. She held a walking cane for support.
She smiles at the old lady, ”Thank you, can you please bundle it for me.”
”Right away.”
The girl quickly ran to the back of the shop and process Yue Ling's order.
It didn't take long before Yue Ling paid for her flowers and thanked the old lady and girl again. She then leaves the flower shop and gets inside the cab.
The girl stood behind the counter and pout her lip. She couldn't help but wonder about the bundle of flowers Yue Ling just bought. Curious, she looks at the old lady, who has been standing by the door since Yue Ling left.
”Grandma, why did you sell the astilbe and yarrow? I thought those flowers were meant for your friends?”
The old lady stood in silence for a long minute before she finally spoke.
Old lady: ”Remember the stories I used to tell you?”
Girl: ”The ones when you worked for a nice family? What about it? Don't you bring those flowers to their grave every month?”
Old lady: ”That woman just now, she is the daughter of that family.”
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Reaching City Z cemetery, Yue Ling steps out of the cab. In her hand was the bundle of astilbe and yarrow flowers nicely coordinated together.
”Miss, do you want me to wait here for you?”
Turning to look at the old man, she smiles, ”Thank you. I won't be long.”
Turning back to face the cemetery, she steadily walked forward. As she pass each tombstone, she could remember her ten year old self. The little her who didn't know anything.
Before she knew it, her feet stops in front of a tall gray tombstone. In the center was a portrait of a couple. The man sat in a chair, while the woman stood behind and her hands place on the man's shoulder.
If one was to see this picture, one would see the resemblance Yue Ling has to the couple.
Staring at the picture, Yue Ling squat down and place the bundle of flowers down. Shifting her position, she sat on her knees.
Lifting her hands, she place one on top of the other and kowtow once, then the second time and third.
Sitting back up, she takes her sunglasses off, and caress the picture. Slowly, she trace her finger on the nicely engraved calligraphy; Han Min Joon and Ji An Ling.
”Dad... mom... How are you doing?”
She stare at the picture in silence for a long time, as if she was listening to her parents tell her how they are doing.
”Dad, mom... I have something to tell you...”
Lifting her hand, she place it on her stomach and caress it. Out of all the people in her life, the people she wants to tell first about her news would be her parents.
Her parents who gave life to her.
”Dad is going to be a grandpa and mom is going to be a grandma.”
Staring at the picture of her parents, she smiles faintly with watery eyes, ”I will tell my child the stories of my time with you both. I want my memories with my wonderful parents to be shared with my child. Be it now or in the future, your memories will live on...”
As she spoke her words, her lip tremble and her eyes looked to her mother.
”Ma... what should I eat and not eat? How should I prepare for this child? What do I do before I give birth? Does giving birth hurt?”
Moving her eyes to her father, a tear slowly slides down her cheek.
”Dad... what stories should I tell my child? How should I guide my child on the right path? Who will teach my child the things I can't...?
Lifting her trembling hand, she covers her mouth and sob. She didn't care about her image. In front of her parents, she is still a child.
A child who had to grow up because she couldn't let others look down on her...
A child who had to grow up without the love of a father and mother...
A child who had to learn about life the hard way...
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