1 I’m Sorry Mom
Thunder rumbles in the distance, as Li Shi Ying placed the dinner ware onto the dinner table. She stared absently out the window in the kitchen room for a second and called her mother over to eat.
In the living room, a woman sat there staring at the door as if she was waiting for someone. Her right hand holding her left hand, vulnerable and weak. Her appearance was a wreck, hair uncombed, face ashen from fatigue, and a body made of glass. She continued to stare at the door unmoving until she heard her daughter, Li Shi Ying called for her to eat.
She slowly wobbled over to the kitchen and saw her daughter Li Shi Ying, dressed in her pajamas, and smiled. She pulled her chair out and sat at her usual place and Li Shi Ying did the same. She glanced at her youngest daughter Li Shi Ying, who's temper and age doesn't match. Li Shi Ying was only 14 years old and yet she carried herself like a mature adult, making her, as a mother, worried for her. But she was still happy that Li Shi Ying wore the pajamas that she picked out for her.
Li Shi Ying continued to eat her sweet and sour pork in silence, when she heard her mother's soothing voice said, "I guess it's only you and I tonight." Li Shi Ying looked up from her plate and turned to look at her mother's pale face. Her mother's face held a forced smile and Shi Ying asked her mother, "What about big sister?", even though she knew the answer. Her mother's eyebrows crinkle and forced out a sad laugh, then shook her head as she smiled.
Li Shi Ying looked back down at her plate. Her fork playing with the broccoli as she stated, "I hate big sister." Silence. She heard her mother stopped chewing and she glanced back up to see her mother's face, still without emotions. Li Shi Ying continued, " Big sister is a bit-hah..Mom, big sis doesn't even come home nowadays. All she's doing is playing with her group of friends that does drugs all day. And today, with the fight you both had this morning, with you grounding her , I doubt she'll be coming back tonight." Li Shi Ying then paused and slowly said, " I heard big sis talking to her friend on the phone after you both fought...something about a fight... and she jumped out the window..."
Her mother slapped down her fork and stood up, "WHAT?!" The chair fell down and Li Shi Ying jumped from fright. She sneakily glanced back at her and said, "Big Sis went to fight…"
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier!" Her mother stared at her furiously and all Li Shi Ying could do was say sorry. Her mother ran to the door, puts her shoe on and grabbed an umbrella. Li Shi Ying quickly grabbed on her mother's hand and said, "Mom, the doctor said that you can't go outside in rainy or stormy weather like this! I'm sure big sister is fine! Every time she returned, she's always in good condition!"
Her mother looked at her and kneeled down to hug her, "Shi Ying, your big sister is so careless and short temper. She needs someone to look after her. With your father gone, I am here to protect both of you. If your father learns that I let your big sister fight wouldn't he be sad."
"Father will be even sadder if you don't take care of your body. I promised father that I will take care of you properly." Li Shi Ying said as she teared up, remembering her beloved father's words.
Her mother saw her(SY) holding back her tears and her(Mother) teared up as well. Both mother and daughter silently cried while hugging each other, no words can express how much he mattered to them. Her mother wiped her tears and said, "Alright then! Let's go ask Xu Mo, to come with us." Li Shi Ying wiped her tears and nodded.
After putting on their shoes and grabbing their umbrellas, they went to Xu Mo's apartment. Xu Mo is a single father and a friend of Shi Ying's father. Xu Mo and his son, Xu Chenguang, both live above their apartment floor. Ever since, Shi Ying and her mother moved to live there, Xu Mo and Xu Chenguang has been helping them to adjust. Shi Ying knew that no matter what they asked for help, Xu Mo would help them, not just because of their father, but because Xu Mo held feelings for her mother, Wang Shu Fang.
"Shu Fang? What are you doing here at this time of the night?" Xu Mo flusteredly questioned. A while ago, Xu Mo and his son were eating, his son asked him if he liked Shu Fang. Xu Mo got so embarrassed that Xu Chenguang got an earful lecture about how he can say that to his father and now Shu Fang really appeared here, he got even more flustered.
Xu Chenguang walked towards the door and greeted them both, "Hello Auntie Li. Hello Shi Ying." Xu Chenguang looked around and asked, "Where's that wild radish girl, Bai Shuang, Auntie Li?"
Wang Shu Fang sighed, "Chenguang that's why both us mother and daughter came to your father to ask for help. Shi Ying said that Bai Shuang went fighting again...I'm afraid that something might happen to her...I know I have asked many times for your help, maybe you are annoyed by it but Xu Mo, can you help us?"
Xu Mo saw the worries Shu Fang have and he frankly said, "Shu Fang, no matter what I, Xu Mo, will always help you. Don't feel bothered, Chenguang and I are always willing to help you and Shi Ying. Come inside and let me and Chenguang prepared."
——
In a dark alleyway, lied a figure panting for breath. Her hand covered the knife wounds on her stomach, breathing heavily, struggling to find air. She slowly moved to a place under the moonlight and fumbled around for her phone. Each action caused her to bleed more but she dialed her mother's phone number, with trembling hands she held it to her ear.
Mom, please answer. Please answer me.
"Bai Shuang! Where are you, you rebellious girl! Tell Mother, Mother is coming to get you. Xu Mo, Xu Chengguang, and Shi Ying is with me. We are coming to get you so don't you dare run away from us. We are coming to bring you home okay…. Bai Shuang? Do you hear mother? Hello? Hell-"
" Yes I hear you… ha..ha..ha.. Mom. It won't stop...huff.. blood huff.. ha..huff..Mom, I'm sorry...sorry for everything..and..for being a bad daughter...it's all my fault…..-ei.. -Li..-ei.." Bai Shuang said as she cried harder and harder.
"I'm sorry, Mom…forgive me mom..."
