Mama Ipoh stared at her, still in shock, before bursting into laughter, nearly causing her dark sunglasses to slip off. She clapped her hands three times, and multiple orbs of blue plasma with childlike expressions appeared, floating all around them. It was as if little stars surrounded them, their soft voices repeating the same thing: "Fuwa-fuwa!" Their voices sounded like children, playful and innocent.
She stared at Viora intensely, making the young girl feel a little uncomfortable. Then, with a grin, Mama Ipoh spoke:
"I feel like we're going to be the best of friends, Viora! After all, people who can see spirits can't be bad, right?" she said, as the orbs of plasma gathered behind her, still chanting "Fuwa-fuwa!"
With a slightly shaken expression on her childlike face, Viora asked, "Those are spirits?" as she pointed at the orbs behind Mama Ipoh.
Mama Ipoh nodded, gently grabbing one of the orbs in her hand.
"Yes, those are spirits. They are beings beyond our physical world," she explained. "That's why I'm so shocked you can see them. Only a few people, gifted by nature, can perceive beyond the physical world."
"Here, take one."
Viora hesitated, not approaching the woman's outstretched hand out of fear. It was understandable; she didn't know whether the spirit was harmless or not.
"I promise it won't bite," Mama Ipoh said with a reassuring smile.
Viora looked up at her with a sad expression and asked, "Promise?"
Mama Ipoh smirked and nodded. "Promise," and she gently placed the spirit into Viora's hand.
It didn't hurt. It didn't burn, despite the orb's unusual appearance. It was warm, but not dangerously so. As she looked closely at the orb, Viora noticed it was smiling at her, its body of blue plasma gleaming with soft white features. The spirit let out a joyful, "Fuwa-fuwa!"
Viora let out a gentle smile and looked up at Mama Ipoh.
"It doesn't hurt..."
Mama Ipoh finished her hot chocolate before responding, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Told you so!"
Then, the spirit in Viora's hand yawned, stretching out in a cute, sleepy manner. Viora stared at it for a few seconds, then yawned back at it. Soon, Mama Ipoh joined in with a yawn of her own.
She chuckled softly and said,
"Well, it's been a long day, hasn't it? Isn't it time for us to go to bed?"
Standing up from the table, she stretched and smiled at Viora.
"Let me show you to your bed."
She extended her hand toward Viora, who hesitated for a moment. Then, with a small but trusting motion, Viora reached out and took Mama Ipoh's hand.
They both walked out from the first floor—well, the second floor if you considered the basement—and made their way up the circular wooden staircase, the spirit floating closely behind them.
When they reached the top, Mama Ipoh opened a door to a room they had passed in the hallway earlier. The room was cozy, with a large bed adorned in soft pink aesthetics. However, despite the comforting colors, the room was surrounded by strange shamanic objects scattered throughout—mysterious talismans, ritual tools, and other oddities that seemed to pulse with their own energy.
Mama Ipoh gently lifted Viora, causing the young girl to feel a bit shocked, and placed her carefully on the bed. She then covered her with a warm blanket, and Viora noticed that multiple spirits made of blue plasma floated around the room, gently settling on the bed and other places within the room.
Viora blinked in confusion. The sight was strange to her, because she had always thought spirits didn't need to sleep. Yet here they were, looking peaceful and calm as if they were resting just like humans.
"Well, it's the end of the first day of me being your caretaker. Sleep well, so we can have more fun on day two!" Mama Ipoh said cheerfully as she moved toward the light switch.
Just as she was about to turn it off, she heard Viora's soft voice from the bed, barely above a whisper.
"Earlier, you said that people who can see spirits can't be bad people... How so?" Viora's voice carried an unreadable expression, her small face hidden beneath the blanket.
Mama Ipoh looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging with a smile.
"People who can see how heavy the burden of spirits is—how much regret they carry even after passing to the other side—can only be kind to others. That way, those same spirits, weighed down by their burdens, won't multiply... At least, that's the kid-friendly version of it," she said, her smile gentle.
"Does that answer your question?"
Still under her blanket, Viora simply responded with a soft, "Yes."
She then turned off the light and gently closed the door, her voice soft as she said, "Good night."
The room fell into darkness, the only light coming from the soft, ethereal glow of the blue plasma orbs scattered around. Lying down, Viora stared into the dim expanse above her, her thoughts heavy.
It'll be like all the others... It won't last. The familiar ache settled in her chest as the words echoed in her mind. So, instead of waiting for it to end like all the rest, I'll end it myself.
She shifted her position, turning onto her back to gaze at the ceiling, her small frame weighed down by the thoughts that lingered.
***
It was 7 a.m., and the rain that had poured relentlessly the day before had ceased sometime in the night. Morning light filtered through the windows, soft and golden. In the kitchen, Mama Ipoh hummed a lively tune as she finished preparing breakfast—crispy bacon and perfectly cooked eggs.
With a satisfied whistle, she set the plates on the wooden table and thought to herself, Well, everything's ready. Time to wake up Viora.
As she was about to leave the kitchen, a small blur darted past her in a hurry. It was Viora, and she was heading straight for the entrance.
"Ahh, you smelled the delicious breakfast I made, didn't you? I never fail at breakfast! Where are you going? The table's right here!" Mama Ipoh exclaimed, her tone a mix of surprise and confusion.
But Viora didn't stop. With a quick leap, she grabbed her coat from where it hung near the door. Without missing a beat, she jumped again to reach the door handle, opening it with surprising agility. Before Mama Ipoh could say another word, Viora slipped outside, closing the door behind her in a hurry.
All the orbs of blue plasma immediately phased through the door, their glowing faces mirroring her urgency as they followed closely behind her.
Mama Ipoh stared at the door for a few seconds, her expression unreadable. With a soft sigh, she muttered under her breath, "Well, I suppose I should've expected this…"
She shook her head lightly, then reached for her sandals and the coat hanging by the wall. As she slipped them on, her movements were calm but deliberate.
Without wasting another moment, she opened the door and stepped outside, ready to track down the young girl. The air was cool and fresh, the scent of rain still lingering.
The old woman with the afro moved with surprising speed for her age, keeping pace as she followed the young girl sprinting down the neighborhood streets. Her sandals clacked softly against the pavement, and her colorful accessories jingled with each stride.
"Don't you want to eat a warm breakfast?" Mama Ipoh called out, her voice light yet persistent as she stayed close behind.
Viora, running as fast as her small legs would allow, barely managed to keep her balance. Her breaths came quickly, her little form determined to escape. Without looking back, she shouted:
"No!"
Multiple orbs of blue plasma floated mere centimeters above Viora's head, their small, childlike faces filled with concern as they repeated in soft, chiming voices:
"Fuwa-fuwa!"
Their presence seemed to agitate the young girl, who began waving her hands in the air, trying to shoo them away.
"Hush! Go away!" Viora exclaimed, her tone frustrated but tinged with the confusion of someone unused to such strange companions.
As Viora ran, she noticed a park to her left down the street. Without hesitation, she decided to cross as fast as her small legs could carry her.
Behind her, Mama Ipoh's voice echoed urgently, filled with panic:
"Don't! That's dangerous!"
But Viora was already stepping onto the street. She didn't notice the truck barreling toward her, the driver unable to stop in time for the sudden child darting across.
It wasn't until she took her third step that she turned her head to the right—and saw it. The truck was speeding toward her, impossibly fast.
Her heart stopped. Panic overtook her as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst.
But instead of the crushing impact she expected, Viora felt something strange. She was floating—weightless in the air. Then, she felt warmth, a familiar, comforting sensation, like when she had held the tiny orbs of blue plasma.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the street. Somehow, she was sitting atop the slide in the park, unharmed.
What?" Viora whispered, her voice trembling with shock.
She turned to look behind her and saw Mama Ipoh standing at the park's edge, breathing heavily. Multiple orbs of blue plasma were emerging from her chest, floating gently into the air.
Mama Ipoh's hands were bruised, the skin reddened as she clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly. Despite her labored breaths, a smile tugged at her lips.
"Fuu... looks like I've gotten weaker over the years, huh?" she said, her tone lighthearted despite the strain in her voice.
From behind her black sunglasses, a faint blue light glimmered, pulsating weakly before slowly dimming.
"Still, don't you know it's dangerous to cross the street without looking both ways?" Mama Ipoh said, her voice carrying a gentle scolding tone. She took a deep breath, her smile unwavering. "Seems I'll need to teach you that some other time. But right now, there's only one thing I need to know… You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Her smile remained soft and reassuring as she looked at Viora.
Viora stood slowly, turning fully to face Mama Ipoh. Her small hands trembled as she reached for the older woman's bruised hands.
"You're hurt," Viora said, her voice breaking, tears threatening to spill as she held Mama Ipoh's hands delicately.
Mama Ipoh let out a light laugh, shaking her head. "This? It's nothing. I just got a little weaker over the years, that's all. Ha ha ha!" she said, trying to brush it off with a smile.
But Viora's voice rang out, high and distressed. "No! You're hurt... because of me. Because I ran away... If I hadn't run away, you wouldn't have gotten hurt! You got hurt because I was so weak... because I had to run away..."
Tears streamed down Viora's face as she clutched Mama Ipoh's hand, her voice trembling as she repeated over and over again, "If I didn't..."
Mama Ipoh stood still for a moment, her expression unreadable behind her black sunglasses. Her hands clenched, but she said nothing, just gazing down at the young girl, her face betraying no emotion.
Mama Ipoh knelt down in front of Viora, slowly removing her black sunglasses. Her eyes, soft but serious, met Viora's tear-streaked face.
"You're not weak for running away," she said gently.
Viora lifted her head, her little face flushed with sadness, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"There's nothing wrong with running away from a situation that makes your heart heavy every day," Mama Ipoh continued, her voice firm but kind. "There's nothing wrong with running away from something that makes your spirit suffer."
Mama Ipoh's grey eyes, reflecting the sunlight, softened as she placed her hand on Viora's small one. She shook her head, her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"You don't have to stay in a place that makes you feel miserable, Viora," she said. "My bruises are nothing compared to the invisible wounds on your heart. It's okay to run away to find your happiness."
Mama Ipoh gently wiped a tear from Viora's cheek, her golden tooth gleaming in the sunlight.
"But Viora, running away can only take you so far. When you feel ready, when you feel that you want to try another path to happiness instead of running, promise me you will go for it—no matter what. People who can see spirits know how precious happiness is after all."
Viora sniffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand, and looked up at Mama Ipoh. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but full of sincerity.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Mama Ipoh let out a sigh and lifted her head to gaze at the sky. A rainbow had formed, its colors stretching across the sky after the rain.
"Well, shall we go eat breakfast?" she asked with a soft smile.
Viora, still holding her hand, nodded and said quietly, "Yes."
chapter twenty-one end
{after chapter poem}
Like a droplet of rain falling from the heavens,
Wherever I go, I will never belong.
Wherever I go, it will not last.
Whoever I meet will eventually fade away.
So let this single droplet of mine
Grow, until it becomes an endless river,
A current that never fades,
A river that will carry me somewhere I can belong.