Past Lives and Present Ones

The woman froze, her arm stretched above her head as she reached for an apple. The wind blew through the orchard, causing leaves and branches to rustle. Shaking her head, she took the apple and brought it down.

There was no way she had heard what she thought she heard. He had made it perfectly clear that she was nothing to him and that he would never call her for help.

"Mother," came the voice in her mind. The prayer was like smoke, wrapping itself around her. "I need help."

Suddenly, the beautiful woman vanished, leaving a single apple to roll around amongst the lush grass.

----

Bin An Sha waited, wondering if he was going to be disappointed, just like every other time he had prayed for his mother to come and rescue him.