Chapter 75 - Flashes Of Memory (1/2)

Standing in front of the window, she saw the dark black ominous clouds in the sky. The wind had picked up howling like a wolf into the night. The first crack of thunder rent the air and within seconds the rolling boom of thunder reverberated overhead.

Xiu silently watched the flashes of thunder and mumbled, ”He was right. It really is a stormy night.”

In between the long low rumbles of thunder came the downpour and rain lashed out in a torrential and unforgiving way. That streak of hot silver splitting the sky looked fascinating to her. The scent of rain was dark and heady that night.

Xiu's heart was feeling heavy as she watched the crazy cut zig-zags of lightning drawing a new pattern of white each time on the black canvas of the night sky. She wondered if any of those zig-zag paths led to heaven. But she wasn't scared of this stormy night. In a way, it was actually comforting to know that her heart was not the only one screaming and howling in pain. Even the sky was tired of keeping silent.

The white flashes of lightning in the dark sky were like camera flashes that painted images on a dark film. And each flash reminded her of a memory; A flashback that led her back in time.

*Flashback*

A lone figure was leaning against the wooden door. She was wearing a soft pink colored dress which had lost all its shine just like her eyes that had lost its twinkle. Tears had been flowing down her face like rain.

With her dainty hands, she knocked on the door again, ”Mom, please open the door! Let's talk about it.” Her voice was barely audible that's how hoarse it had become after crying for so long. The lightning flashed in the dark sky and pushed its inverted limbs down.

The continuous booms of lightning struck dreadfully close to the porch where she was sitting outside the main door. Her small figure cowered back as she closed her ears with her hands and screamed out. She had always been scared of thunderstorms.

”Mom!” She screamed out while slamming the door with both her hands. She used so much force that her skin broke and the blood oozed out of her hands. But her fear of thunderstorm had overwhelmed her senses of pain. ”I won't do it again. Please, let me in!”

With a click, the door opened and Xiu looked up at her mother. She touched Xiu's head and said, ”Why are you here now? Didn't you say that you're old enough to make your own choices? Then why are you looking for this old and senile mother of yours?”

”I still need you in my life. I never meant to hurt you.” Xiu replied in hoarseness.

”Xiu, why don't you understand? You're hurting me even when I'm trying to do everything just for your sake. Why do you want to ruin the image that you had made for all those years? You're only 21 and dating that new CEO of the company will only bring you scorn. Nothing else.” Her mother nagged at her while pulling her inside the house.

She settled Xiu on the couch and gave her a blanket. She pulled out medicine box and cleaned the small cuts on her hands.

Xiu's body was trembling because of being outside in the cold weather for an hour. Her body was weak and frail. She had no energy left in her to argue. But she still tried, ”But I love him.”