It's hard to live

Nita squatted on the ground, her small hands constantly grabbing the soil beneath her.

"Mama, Nita wants Mama!"

Nita's crying grew louder and louder, which made Luke extremely anxious.

"Little Nita, don't cry. Next time, next time, big brother will definitely take you to see Mama, okay?" He quickly patted Nita's back gently and comforted him in a soft voice.

He looked at the photo on the tombstone, Mama's smile still so gentle.

He came here to tell Mary that they had found an orphanage and the people from the orphanage would come to pick them up tomorrow, so Mary didn't need to worry about them anymore.

Tomorrow, their days of wandering with Nita would end.

"Woof woof woof!"

A dog's bark came from a distance, which startled Luke.

When he snuck in earlier, he saw a dog tied up at the door. It must have been Nita's crying that alarmed the guard.

"Nita, run!"

Luke grabbed Nita and ran quickly towards the dog hole they came in from.

"Stop!"

"Damn it, two beggars came to steal dead people's food, not afraid of karma!"

Behind them, an older man held a dog and, seeing that Luke had no intention of stopping, he let go of the rope in his hand, letting the crazy dog pounce on them.

"Woof!"

The barking grew closer and closer. Luke looked at the dog hole that was within reach and pushed Nita out with one hand.

The hole was already narrow, and after Nita crawled out, Luke tried to follow, but halfway through, he felt a sharp pain in his leg.

"Ouch!"

Luke gritted his teeth, his hand digging into the soil as he struggled to crawl out. But the tearing pain in his leg almost made him cry out.

He was just a ten-year-old child!

"Get out of here!"

Liuke kicked the dog's head with his other leg, but the crazy dog kept biting his leg and shaking its head as if it didn't feel any pain. It was determined to bite off another piece of flesh.

"Brother!"

Nita pulled Luke's hand with all her strength.

"Come out, brother, come out!"

Seeing Nita's anxious face, Luke kicked his leg hard and endured the pain of having another piece of skin torn off as he struggled out.

Once out, he quickly turned over and used all his strength to move the stone to cover the entrance.

Inside the cave, the dog's barking continued, along with the angry curses of the guard.

"Damn it, didn't bite those two little beggars to death."

"If you dare to come out again, I'll make my dog kill you!"

The guard's grumbling made Luke grit his teeth.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he looked down at the bloody wound on his leg. He quickly tore off his sleeve and tied it around the wound, not because he knew it could stop the bleeding, but simply because he didn't want to scare his sister.

"Brother, are you okay?"

Nita looked at Luke nervously with her big eyes. Luke stood up from the ground with difficulty, pretending to be calm as he patted Nita's head, even though he was still in pain.

"What could happen to your brother? It's getting late, we need to find a good place to sleep," said James.

"Let's sleep in the small house near the bank's ATM. There's surveillance there, it's safe," replied Lisa.

"But we need to hurry, otherwise we might be robbed by homeless adults. It's cold to sleep outside at night," Lisa added.

As the two helped each other leave from the side, a military jeep happened to stop at the main entrance.

James and Lisa got off the car. The gatekeeper quickly opened the gate and respectfully stepped aside. Anyone who could afford such a car must be a big shot. Although the cemetery had already closed at this late hour, he dared not offend them.

"Where do you want to go in the cemetery? It's dark and slippery, I can light the way for you," the gatekeeper asked.

"No need, we'll find our way. Thank you," James politely declined and led Lisa inside.

Watching the two leave, the gatekeeper's face changed. He spat on the ground and muttered, "What's so great about having money? I was willing to guide them because I respected them. Who do they think they are?"

James didn't know about the gatekeeper's sudden change of attitude.

Led by Lisa, they walked for about ten minutes and finally stopped at a very remote cemetery.

"That's my sister's grave,"Lisa pointed to the tombstone. Her face didn't show much sadness, but rather a sense of regret and conflict.

"Thank you," James said politely. But when he looked at the black and white photo on the tombstone, his eyes couldn't help but become red and teary.

James was a son-in-law, but unlike other son-in-laws, he had a good relationship with Mary. Smith's family also treated him well, even considering handing over the family to him.

However, James had high aspirations and wanted a match of equal social status. He didn't want to rely on Mary's help every time he went out.

Kneeling on the ground, James gently touched the photo, his thoughts returning to the night six years ago.

That night, for many reasons, he chose to join the military. He wanted to make a name for himself and protect his wife. He had intended to confess everything, including his true identity as a discarded member of a top family in the capital.

But when he said he was going to the army, Mary didn't say much, only saying, "I'll wait for you."

On the day of departure, Mary waved goodbye with tears in her eyes, telling James that she never thought he was useless and believed he would make a name for himself. She would wait for him.

But...

"Mary, if... if I didn't go to the army, would everything be okay? If I wasn't so arrogant, would you... still be alive?"

James's voice was small and intermittent as he hugged the cold tombstone, tears flowing uncontrollably.

If he hadn't left, would Mary really not have died?

He had protected the country for six years, but in the end, he couldn't even protect his own wife. He even left their young children wandering.

"I'm sorry..."

James banged his head hard against the stone tablet. It is said that real men don't shed tears easily, and that a true hero born between heaven and earth should never kneel lightly. But even with tears streaming down his face and his head bowed in obeisance, could he erase the six years of waiting?

James's vision became increasingly blurred, but when he saw the fresh wildflowers on the ground, he quickly wiped away his tears.

"Who sent these flowers?" he asked.

"Could it be that they have come to support each other?"