âI donât have such a high state of mind,â Emmeline said with melancholy, looking up at the sky. âI just want to be with Abel, whether itâs in this world or another.â
That night, Emmeline had a dream.
She dreamt that she was beneath a deep mountain cliff, with no one around for miles, The sky was vast and distant, and her cries echoed only within her hearing. She was filled with fear, took out her phone, and tried to dial Abelâs number, but she couldnât make the callâ¦
She woke up in fright from the dream, her body covered in cold sweat.
She couldnât help feeling that the cliff was a place that existed in real life.
The next dayâ¦
Morning exercise was part of Emmelineâs routine.
After completing four laps of a five-hundred-meter run, her T-shirt was soaked with sweat.
âOh, to be young,â an older lady who was going about her morning exercise said with envy.
Emmeline jogged back home and found a bowl of oat porridge, a hard-boiled egg, and a bun her mother had prepared for her on the table.
Were eggs considered vegetarian or non-vegetarian?
Regardless, Emmeline didnât mind, so her mother insisted that she eat two every day.
âMom, Iâm heading to work.â
After having her fill, Emmeline went to the balcony and handed her mother a cup of freshly brewed tea.
There were tears in her motherâs eyes; she had been crying.
âMom, what happened? Itâs only early in the morning. Emmelineâs mind was suddenly clouded with worry.
âMy coworkers were talking about me behind my back, and it hurt my feelings,â Kimberly sobbed.
Emmeline was confused. âYouâve all been retired for two or three years now. Who has the time for such nonsense?â
âI knew you wouldnât believe me,â her mother said, wiping away her tears.
âIt was that year in the changing room when Jessicaâs wallet went missing, and the next day, they all looked at me strangely, suspecting me of being a thief,â Kimberly said seriously.
A sense of panic washed over Emmeline. Has Momâs depression hit her again and worsened at that?
She kneeled down in front of her mother, holding her knees.
âMom, itâs been many years since that incident. Those who are innocent have nothing to worry about.
Why are you blaming yourself for something that happened so long ago?â
âYou and your father are just the same, never really listening to what I have to say!â
âMom, you canât allow people to converse. Itâs been so many years that everyone has practically forgotten about it! Donât dwell on these things, please.â
âI knew you wouldnât believe me! You also think I stole that wallet, donât you?!â
Emmeline was stunned, and she dared not speak further. She realized that her motherâs depression had worsened, and her mental state was severely affected.
âMom, what do you want me to do?â After a pause, she asked cautiously, âShould I take you to the hospital?â
âYou silly child. Iâm completely fine. Why go to the hospital?â Her mother gently ruffled her head. âItâs time for you to go to school.â
âMom, did you have trouble sleeping again last night?â
âI donât know what itâs like to feel sleepy anymore,â her mother said. âMy eyelids just wonât close together.â
âWhy donât you lie down for a while now and take a rest?â
Emmeline noticed the dark circles and deep hollows under her motherâs eyes.
âOkay, Iâll rest when you leave for work, her mother agreed.
âAlright.â Emmeline stood up to leave but couldnât help worrying. âMom, for lunch, Iâd like vegetarian taquitos. Can you make them at home? Donât go anywhere.â
âSure. her mother nodded. âYou can have vegetarian ones, and your dad can have beef taquitos.
âWe agreed. No going out anywhere, okay?â
âYes!â Her mother smiled and nodded.
Emmeline finally left for school.
Emmelineâs desk was right across Ysabelâs. Ysabel was in her early thirties, very beautiful, with golden-
brown curly hair and a captivating presence.
When Emmeline returned from a business trip to Sandwell, she had given Ysabel a dress, which seemed to have alleviated the awkwardness between them.
As the bell for class rang, Ysabel hastily left with her teaching materials. In the teacherâs office, only Emmeline remained.
âYsabel Hemmings! You witch, get out here!â Someone called from the corridor, and then a large woman stormed in like a whirlwind.
Ysabel Hemmings! You shameless woman!â The woman lunged at Emmeline and slapped her.