The siblings finished their inventory and went up to the living room. Madam Li was in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the family. She had been feeling under the weather for the past couple of days but kept her silence, not wanting to worry her children.
'My age is probably catching up to me… who would have thought I'd witness the world coming to an end… and I fear that I am also nearing mine…' she thought as she portioned the remaining dry fried sichuan beef she cooked some days ago. She set the table and called her children.
"Hmm… smells good!" Li XinWen exclaimed as he made his way to the table. "Mom is absolutely the best! Coming up with this delicious food in spite of the situation."
"Aiya! My XinWen is praising me too much. Fine, fine, I'll let you have some more of mine," madam Li responded with a smile as she gave some of her portion to Li XinWen's plate.
"Mom! That's unfair, what about Ah'Xiao and myself?" Li JingHua protested affectionately, with Sun Xiao also looking at madam Li like an abandoned puppy, agreeing to Li JingHua's protest.
"Hahaha… my precious babies. Of course mom wouldn't be unfair to you two," madam Li responded and looked at her children with the gentlest eyes. She continued to give away her meal until she have a little left. When her three children saw this, they gave back her portion, saying that she also needs to eat more.
The familial exchange managed to brighten the dining room that was only illuminated by a single flickering candle. After dinner, Li JingHua, Li XinWen and Sun Xiao went through their daily routine of making sure that the doors were locked, and the windows tightly shut. Afterward, Sun Xiao, went directly to his bedroom after saying good night to his elder brother and sister. They may not be related by blood but their bond as siblings were stronger than others were.
Li JingHua and Li XinWen were in the living room reminiscing about their childhood with Li XinWen occasionally discussing the idea of Xue Rui and Li JingHua's vow ceremony. They were laughing and giggling like children and madam Li could hear them from her bedroom as she sat on her bed preparing to sleep.
'My babies are all grown up…' she thought with a sigh as she smiled to herself. 'I've done quite well in raising them to be strong and independent… they will survive…'
As Li XinWen and Li JingHua were about to head upstairs to their bedrooms, a loud thud was heard from madam Li's bedroom. The siblings exchanged glances and hurriedly ran to madam Li's bedroom.
"Mom?" Li XinWen called out, only to be answered with silence. "Mom are you okay?" Li XinWen called out once more, his heart started to race as unwanted thoughts started to surface in his mind.
"Mom!" Li JingHua repeated as she knocked on the door. She tried to turn the knob but found that it was locked.
"Mom… open the door…" Li XinWen pleaded his heart beating loudly in his chest. A sinking feeling slowly spreading at the pit of his stomach.
'Stay calm… stay calm… everything's okay,' he thought to himself. "Hua-jie…get the spare key to mom's bedroom," he told Li JingHua who was clearly distressed and worried. She looked at Li XinWen, her eyes watery and filled with fear, as if asking Li XinWen to reassure her that their mother was okay.
Li XinWen grabbed Li JingHua's shoulder and shook her, "Hua-jie, we do not have much time, stay calm and get the spare key for mom's bedroom."
"Okay… okay…" she responded with a cracked voice as she turned and ran to the study where they kept the spare keys. Hands trembling, Li JingHua rummaged through drawers and shelves, her mind racing as tears pooled in her eyes blurring her vision.
"Snap out of it JingHua… stay calm… focus…" she willed herself. After finding the spare key she hurried back to Li XinWen who was pounding loudly at madam Li's door. Sun Xiao was beside him, worried and close to tears, fidgeting with his pajama. He had heard the banging downstairs and decided to check wat was happening. Li JingHua handed the keys to Li XinWen and immediately ran over to Sun Xiao. She wiped her tears and mustered a brave face.
"It's okay Ah'Xiao… sshhh…" and she held the boy in an embrace.
Li XinWen managed to steady his hands and put the key into the keyhole. He glanced back at Li JingHua and Sun Xiao before turning the knob to open the door. It was dark inside the room and a candle flickered on top of the corner dresser by the window. Madam Li was nowhere in sight, at least that was what it looked like at first. Li XinWen ran to the other side of the bed and found her lying down on the floor.
"Mom!" he shouted as he dashed over to madam Li. Li JingHua and Sun Xiao followed him and stood at the foot of the bed with distress and worry on their faces.
"What happened to mom XinWen!?!" Li JingHua asked, her voice filled with panic.
Li XinWen looked at both of them wide-eyed, his expression filled with anxiety and fear.
"She's burning up…" he responded as he lifted madam Li's body onto the bed.
"JingHua… run to the bathroom and fill the tub with water… ice… we need ice…" he said as tears slowly ran down his face realizing that the taps had long since ran out of water and there was no electricity to make ice. He held madam Li's wrist and felt her pulse. It was so weak.
"Mom! Wake up! Wake up! Jing Hua, medicine! Find medicine for the fever… find something so we can lower down her temperature!" Li XinWen exclaimed, forgetting for a moment that he was addressing his elder sister. But the woman in question continued to stay rooted in her place.