Meng Po held the Golden Buddha, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Buddha Lord, Buddha Lord..."
The Golden Buddha could no longer hear Meng Po's cries.
He squinted his eyes, looking at the eastern sea.
On the sea surface, a hint of dawn gradually spread, becoming brighter.
The morning glow reflected off the sea.
In the rose-red horizon between water and sky, the Golden Buddha seemed to see the young, beautiful woman again in front of him.
Her full moon-like face showed a kind and gentle smile.
"Sister knows you're better than them. You are the bravest."
"Don't give up on yourself. Sister believes you will become an incredible man, a towering figure."
"Does it still hurt? Let sister blow on it for you."
...
In a daze, the Golden Buddha seemed to transform back into the skinny, dark little boy from thirty years ago.
The little boy had fallen to the ground, pushed by older kids for grabbing a bag of cookies.
The hard cement floor had scraped his knees, causing them to bleed.
