Fiction: Group 3
The Pearl River Delta
Chinese International School, Wu, Claire - 12, Fiction: Group 3
The sun shined radiantly upon the azure sky. A row of effulgent flowers stood in the Wu’s garden as a sweet
smell cut through the soft scent of the morning’s dewy grass. The tantalizing aroma then travelled into the
windowpane, but due to the ambiance, it from a fragrance transformed into a stench.
By the windowpane sat a young girl. She was effortlessly beautiful as her long black colored hair waved and
caressed her body impeccably. Her ebony eyes were mesmerizing, enough to take over ones soul and wrap
it in their heart. Yet her mood ruined it all. Her normal pleasant demeanor had vanished as her face
contorted. Her fists were clenched as tears rolled uncontrollably down her flushed cheeks. She muttered and
cursed, clearly infuriated. This charming yet upset lady was Lily Wu, a twelve year old, who lived in the
rural area of Hong Kong near the Pearl River Delta.
What infuriated Lily was her family. Well you see, Lily’s mother was an author, who drafted the most
eloquent and thought-provoking novels. Lily’s father, on the other hand, was a doctor, who had cured
countless of patients. Lily also had two older brothers who were both very clever. They exceeded in almost
every subject and were liked by all the teachers. The Wu’s were a perfect family, at least until Lily came
along. Unlike the rest of her family, Lily did not like literature, nor did she like history. She abominated
science and abhorred math. The only thing that appealed to Lily was music. She loved playing the guitar and
took it everywhere with her. Oh, how she adored hearing the different notes of melodies as they enveloped
her, the many harmonies and the many tunes… But Lily’s family did not like music nor did they support
Lily’s dreams to become a musician. As a result, Lily always felt like an outcast in her well-educated and
prominent family.
Lily sat by the windowpane, staring at her own reflection as she replayed the depressing scene in her mind of
what happed today. She had asked her father to explain to her a math question, but no method had worked.
At the end, he merely told her to go away, and called her a brainless pig. With tears streaming down her
eyes, Lily ran up to her room. Yes, that was what happened, that was indeed what happened.
Lily closed her eyes. She was tired. Tired of fighting, tired of trying and most of all tired of proving herself
worthy to her parents.
“Fitting in just wouldn’t work, no matter how hard I try,” Lily thought.
Still upset, Lily took out her guitar and played her favorite song, “Let Her Go.” The sadness of the song
seeped into her body as she felt a sudden rush of emotion. The normal calming effect the song had on her
was broken.
“I must go outside,” Lily thought “I need to calm down.”
And so she did.
Lily sauntered along the sidewalk, slowly and carefully. Then, she stopped. She had reached the Pearl River
Delta.
“Jump into the river, young girl.” A voice from nowhere echoed.
Lily looked around, alarmed, yet there was nothing to be seen.
“I must be dreaming!” she thought.
“No, no you aren’t. Jump into the river!” Echoed the voice again, this time more certain.
