Arriving at the airport, I quickly checked in and made my way to the gate, my thoughts swirling as I boarded the plane. Home, here I come.
The flight was long, almost nine hours, and by the time I touched down, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold as it kissed the earth goodbye. I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment when I scanned the arrivals area and realized that no one had come to pick me up. But, to be honest, I was already used to being forgotten.
It stung, yes, but over the years, I'd grown accustomed to it. My family was always so busy, wrapped up in their own worlds, and I had long since accepted that. The thought of their hectic schedules was an excuse, but one I clung to, as painful as it was. Maybe they just couldn't make it. They're busy, after all.
Still, I wished it had been different. I remembered the small family we once were—just my mother and me. It had been tough, no doubt, but at least I had her by my side. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. Now, the warmth of that bond felt like a distant memory, and a hollow ache settled in my chest. Why couldn't things go back to how they were?
Truth be told, I already knew no one would come for me. I had known it deep down, but a part of me had held on to that fleeting hope, foolishly thinking that maybe this time would be different. But as the hours ticked by and I stood in the bustling terminal, I realized my dream of a family waiting for me was just that—a dream.
I sighed, shaking my head, and made my way out of the airport. There was no point in hanging around any longer. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally, and the only thing that mattered now was getting some rest. I took a cab to the Yang mansion, and as soon as I mentioned the name, the driver didn't need any further direction. The Yangs were one of the most influential families in the area, second only to the richest, and the name carried weight.
It took about two hours to get to the mansion. By the time I arrived, the sky had fully darkened, the stars twinkling faintly above. I paid the driver, waved him off, and dragged my suitcase toward the grand entrance of the mansion. The massive structure loomed before me, silent and imposing, its lights casting long shadows across the grounds.
I rang the doorbell several times, my hand growing sore from the repetition. After what felt like an eternity, I was about to give up when I heard the sound of the door unlocking. It creaked open slowly, revealing a familiar, welcoming face.
Nanny Lin Lan.
She had been the one to raise me when I first arrived at the Yang mansion, only five years old at the time. Nanny Lan was the only one who ever truly understood me, especially when my mother became consumed with family obligations and business. I hadn't seen her in five years, but she had never once forgotten me, and her face lit up with pure joy when she saw me standing there.
For a moment, Nanny Lan just stood there, frozen in disbelief, her eyes searching me up and down. She blinked rapidly, wiping away a few stray tears that threatened to fall. It was as if she couldn't believe I was standing there, back at the place I had once called home.
She stepped forward, her arms wide open, as if she wanted to envelop me in a warm embrace but held back. "You've grown into such a fine woman," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "And look at you—you've grown some bumps—and what? Your hips! You can't hide them anymore!"
I blinked, unsure of how to respond, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment. Did I really grow up that much? I remembered clearly finishing high school, looking nothing like the other girls. My chest had remained flat, and while my face had matured, I still wore jeans and sneakers—more of a tomboy than a girl in the traditional sense. If it weren't for my skin, pale and smooth like jade, I might have been mistaken for a boy.
I cleared my throat, trying to deflect the attention from myself. "Uh...I guess I have grown a bit, huh?" I said with a weak smile, feeling a little awkward.
Nanny Lan chuckled softly, still wiping away her tears. "You've grown into such a beautiful young woman. I remember when you first came here, so small and quiet. Look at you now."
Her words were a balm to my tired soul. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of belonging. She might have been the only constant in my life, but in that moment, she was all the family I needed.