Grandma's home seemed eerie without her around.
The smell of Grandma's favorite flowers and cooking spices was still in the air, but Grandma herself wasn't there to greet Weiwei by the door, as she'd usually do, with a calm smile and a warm hug.
Weiwei slowly followed Uncle Gu, trying not to think too much about Grandma and where her soul was at the moment.
Weiwei noticed open cupboard doors and displaced clothes and papers. Was someone going through her things?
Weiwei was about to ask, but at that very moment Uncle Gu turned and barked:
"Move faster, girl. I'm going to need your help."
Weiwei just looked at him.
"We need to clean up and pack a few things."
Weiwei wasn't paying enough attention to what was going on around her. After the trip to the hospital to collect the final paperwork, she felt like a zombie. She unconsciously followed her uncle, not understanding what was happening, not feeling her legs, not hearing the sounds around her. The world around was still, mute, and unfamiliar.
The only thing on Weiwei's mind was the past. She had so many happy memories of the times she had spent with Grandma. Weiwei couldn't remember a time when she didn't have a good time at Grandma's. Being there had always been relaxing and cheerful – perfect, in a word. Weiwei thought of the two of them laughing together, cooking and eating together, sitting by the open window and talking about life.
We will never have those moments again.
Grandma was the person with the most positive outlook on things Weiwei had ever met in her life. No matter what the challenges or problems she faced, Grandma always took them in stride and believed in the good in everyone, and that in the end things would turn out fine.
On her night table, Grandma kept a photo of herself with her late husband, who was much older and had passed away a long time ago. Weiwei knew they had a very difficult life, struggling most of the time, especially when they were raising Weiwei's mom. But not once had Grandma said anything harsh about her husband or their marriage – she had been thankful for their every moment together. Whether in her memories or in Grandma's view of the future, life had always been sunny and just.
Grandma didn't save any money, but she had a small box of old coins that was given to her by her father and that Grandma had tried to give to Weiwei as a gift. Weiwei was afraid to lose it, so she left it at Grandma's for safekeeping.
Weiwei wanted to cry again. But she held back her tears, afraid of making Uncle Gu even angrier.
Weiwei didn't know how much time they spent at Grandma's - she lost track of time. But when they were leaving the bedroom, she suddenly remembered about the box of coins. She turned back and started to look for them. The coins didn't seem to be in the drawer they were usually in.
"What are you doing?" grumbled Uncle Gu.
"I'm looking for my box."
"Your box? There is nothing of yours in the house."
Weiwei felt wounded by the comment. "Grandma gave me the box! It was a gift! It's mine!" she shouted.
Uncle Gu darkened. "Don't you dare yell at me, girl. I'm feeding you for so many years out of the goodness of my heart, and you dare to talk to me like that?"
"I need this box," Weiwei kept repeating. "It's mine. That's all I have left… It's mine…"
Uncle Gu pulled her by the hand out of the house and growled:
"You are useless, Weiwei!"