There was a flash of white light and I cracked my eyes open. I blinked, trying to clear my vision. The place suddenly came into a sharp focus.
It was nothing like my dark, cold inner core before. I was picturing giant Kylin would be awaiting me.
There was a certain comforting warmth hanging over everything. I looked down and realized I was sleeping on a cotton-like clouds. It was softer than any pillow that I could remember. I let my fingers running along it, feeling a slight bumpiness. Oh my, this was better than any nice quality mattress—even the one on Jie Moshu's mansion had been downgraded—and I could sleep here all day long!
Hang on.
Exactly how did I get onto here anyway?
I was silence for a moment. As I ran my thoughts, both of hands caressing the soft silky cotton under me, stimulating the juices in my brain. To be honest, I couldn't remember what brought me here. As I cast my mind back, I only recalled sitting on the pavilion with Baba, and then... what happened? Ugh! My head was throbbing in pain, prevented me from recalling further. But everything happened like a dream. Like I was having my head in the clouds.
Did Kylin actually summoned me here without my recognition? Then I was fainting, again? Dammit. This had happened so many times in this month. I felt like sickly woman that could go to face King Yama in any second.
"Kylin?" I said, "Are you there?"
Yeah, calling out probably the wrong way to do. What if this wasn't actually my inner core, but somewhere dark sinister place with good cotton pillows? There might also a possibility that I would have awakened eighteen inches beast with sharp-razor teeth. Or it could have gone worse. After experiencing so much, I could obviously make those interpretations—from a deathly octopus evil spirit or a hot husband.
Well, thinking that "kiss", that husband was a no-brainer opportunist.
But I was greeted with utter silence.
"Hello? Are you there, Kylin?" I asked again, and no answer really came to me.
Okay. I probably was alone in this place, and a sudden urge to sing "All by Myself". Stop it, Huayu, get a grip of yourself!
Anyway, even if this was pleasant to lie down, I couldn't identify the place. And, Kylin wasn't even beside me. I narrowed my eyes, looking around. This might be a close shave.
"Liu Huayu."
Heavens! I startled, my heart almost stopped.
I knew it things weren't as simple as they appeared. Now, who was looking for me again? A serpent? Octopus? Other beasts? Or another husband? I shook my head at the last question. One Jie Moshu was enough, and it was quite a burden alright—but I enjoyed it at some point. Never mind me.
I spun around, but nothing was there. Only I found there was a faintly glowing stone beside me. I wondered when did that stone appear. My hands reached for the stone, and running my fingers along it. This was unexpectedly a bit heavier than I thought. I lifted it, scrutinizing it between my fingers. Hmm? This feeling... It was as if I had seen it before, but how—where?
Ow! My other hand clutched my head. Dizzying waves spilled across me, flashing me images through my thoughts: Two women, a waterfall, a garden full of irises. My mind screamed against the onslaught as I dropped the stone.
What were those images? Were they sort of memories? I shook my head, getting over the painful twinges in my head.
"Ah, I see you have touched that memory stone."
Calm and soothing. I sensed a very familiar voice, and turned to see the owner. A shock realization zipped through me. Long black hair, bronze skin, black eyes. A woman was standing right in front of me. I could feel a weird buzz on my whole body. My mind was remembering my childhood memories. It was Mama—my late mother.
"Mama...?" I whispered in disbelief.
She giggled. "Yes, Huayu. It's me."
I didn't believe my eyes for a moment. But when Mama crouched down to touch my cheeks, her fingertips flooded my veins a warm sensation. That one moment, the sight of her in front of me, made it all clear. So blissfully clear. It was almost too good to be true. I felt she wasn't a figment of my imagination—she was real. My Mama had returned to me.
Hot tears welled up my eyes and trickled down my face. My heart warmed with love for her. I rushed forward and clung my hands to her with all my strength and joy. I was so happy that my head went spinning.
"Oh!" She stumbled back in surprise, and hugged me back, caressing me.
Happiness lit within me, making Mama looked as angelic as I could remember her. The smell of sweet vanilla was still the same as ever. This was no hallucination. Then, I realized that I missed her.
A lot.
A whole lot.
I thought that the hug thing was going to last longer, but Mama aggressively patted my shoulder. "Huayu, Mama... can't breathe."
"Ah." I pulled away, realizing that I must have hugged her so hard. I swiped away my tears and gave a small laugh. "Sorry about that."
She chuckled. "Well, since we're both souls now. I guess that can happen."
"Souls?" My whole body froze.
Okay. I admit it. I stopped and gaped even. The scene from horror movies suddenly sprang up on my mind—ghosts without legs. Those kind of ghastly people hovering in midair with blank expressions, panda-like eyes, and pale to white skin. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck rose on the end. Somehow meeting her dark, glittering eyes made fear slipping to my chest.
Mama couldn't be a vengeful spirit, right? I was still her daughter by blood. She wouldn't possibly —I gulped hard —do anything like sucking my soul out of my body, right?
My eyes moved to her legs, incredulously. Please do have legs, please do... Once my eyes saw her long slim legs with little toes attached, I expelled an internal sigh of relief. Thank goodness, it was all my mind playing tricks on me.
Mama chuckled as if she had realized what I was thinking—or she had just read my thoughts. "Huayu, I'm not a vengeful spirit nor I'm a demon. I wouldn't possibly take your soul. I'm just a living piece of your memory."
"A memory?" I asked in confusion, "What do you mean? Are you not even real?"
"Not exactly. Honestly speaking, I'm a soul now. Since you've come, I want to show you something, and you'll understand better." Her lips spread into a knowing smile, and she winked at me. "No worry, there'll be no ghosts or anything dreadful here."
Ouch. How embarrassing. I shot Mama a smirk, using it to cover my embarrassment at being overheard.
Her gaze settled on me, "Now, shall we?"
Mama offered me her hand, and I took it. She walked me passing over a bridge made from clouds and mist. The place was so dreamy like a fictitious fantasy land.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"You'll see," she said.
I thought I would have asked her so many questions. But as soon as I met her, my mind just went blank. The happiness itself overcame my bewilderment.
We stopped near a glittering waterfall. The movement was soundless, without even a hint of drizzling. Birds chirping everywhere, almost possible to believe spring might be coming to this place. A glimpse of trees and shrubs surrounded the area here and there. Like the place was the perfect name for a secret garden itself. As we went closer, a pleasant aroma of sweet flowers spilled out.
Soon I could see three different shapes of stones awaited our presence near the waterfall, like a table with two chairs. A teapot and two cups with the same style of ceramic settled on the rock table. It was as if the place was expecting a guest to come.
Oddly, a familiar surge of comfort crept inside my heart. Almost welcoming and warm, something that I wouldn't normally describe—it felt like home.
"Do you remember this place?" Mama asked.
My gaze flickered from my side then to where she was. It was like only second ago, she was on my side, holding my hand. To my surprise, I found her sitting on that stone table, sipping her tea. She waggled her fingers, signaling me to sit and join her.
As I sat down beside Mama, she took a sip of her tea. "So, do you recognize anything?"
"Er..." I hesitated, vaguely remembered the place would send me such a comforting vibe. "Is this the same place that memory stone showing me?"
"Yes, that's true," she said forthrightly. "Somehow I'm expecting you'd feel more than that. Something more intimate. After all, this place has a special meaning for both of us."
"A special meaning? I don't quite understand about it," I said, rubbing my head.
Mama smiled, her rosy lips against her pale skin. She handed me a cup, "Have a sip, it'll help to ease your mind."
Before my mind could think of anything, she cut me. "Trust me, this is no poison, and it's not deathly. I really don't know what's inside that little head of yours. You're really just like your old self, love to give away foolish fancies. Never changed at all."
I forced myself to laugh. Well, Mama really could read what was on my mind.
I took a sip and smiled. Weird. It wasn't what I had expected. No bitter taste, no smell. It was a pretty bland to be called as a tea, it was more likely suitable as bronze-colored water. On a split second, I sensed an energy flickering like a strobe light beyond the horizon. What an odd sensation, like catching something clicked on the back of my head.
Unbidden images rushed through my head like barbs attacking my head. Too many conflicting sequences vying for my attention. I saw a lady who knelt in front of a waterfall. A woman who looked a lot like Mama was having a tea with the lady. Words were exchanging between them, but I couldn't quite hear what they were saying. The words didn't matter anyway. Their eyes spoke louder, telling stories of a beautiful friendship. Mama gripped my hand, and I snapped out from my train of thoughts.
"Mama... uh, no. You're her, but..." Words slipping past me like water flowing through my fingers. "You..."
"We didn't mean to hide this for you," Mama beamed, and I knew she was talking about Baba as well. She added, as if this made could make any sense to me, "We should have told you that we weren't your real parents."