Fiction: Group 4
emergency room. At night, his bed was taken over by another man. But at that point, I was too tired from
the daily labor work that I had to do and barely gave it a second thought before I fell asleep.
In my dream, I dreamed of ShuiYi. “Why are you here?” I asked him. I heard his voice all around me, “
I’m
gone now. My body was too exhausted to continue. Please leave the factory soon, Yuan Wang, I don’t
want you to end up like me and the many ones before me. Go when you’re released from your debt.”
I
woke up after that, my thin shirt clung onto my skin from the sweat. I looked out from the caged window
and felt like a prisoner. The moon was shining with mischief but dimmed as it saw me staring.
Who could
help me? Help us?
The moon studied me and a majestic voice suddenly surrounded me. “
I could help you. I owe you.”
I
looked around but found no one. I peered at the moon and felt goose bumps on my skin
“Yes, I am the
moon. And I can help you. You’re released from your debt tomorrow, but you must continue your
journey.”
I blinked in disbelief, “How do I do that?” I asked.
“Remember your father’s dream to travel
through the Pearl River? All you have to do is travel through it. When your journey is complete, your
father will be healed.”
I nodded, “Is it that simple? Are you sure?” But no one replied.
I woke up the next day wondering if I had dreamt of everything. But I was free. As I walked out and turned
back, I finally saw what the factory looked like from the outside. It was as white as the clouds on sunny day,
striped with a rich golden caramel color. It radiated joy and fun… if only people knew.
I bought a sturdy little ship and headed to the Guangzhou Bridge, this time, I was confident and
determined. To stop the increasing number of factories appearing in Guangzhou, I
must
finish my father’s
dream. I set off, not knowing what would lie ahead of me, only hoping that I could go back home and go
for Chinese tea with my family.
I lost track of time, but what seemed like weeks passed in a blink of an eye. I had passed through so many
bridges such as the Haizhu Bridge, Huanan Bridge and Renmin Bridge… I stopped counting after the fifth
of sixth. But what I did notice was that every time when I passed through the bridge, a little dance of some
sort seemed to dance within me, warming me all over.
It may have been days, weeks, months or even years when I heard the grumpy moon speak again. “
You’re
almost there, Yuan Wang, you’re almost there.”
I passed through the last bridge the nighttime after that, and I felt my soul swarm with a heartwarming
sensation that made me chuckle with joy. Suddenly, my phone rang.
“Hello?” I said.
Mom’s sharp Eagle voice greeted me from the other side. “Yuan Wang! Where have you been? Father has
woken up from his long slumber just now and he wouldn’t stop smiling! He asked to see you and told me
say ‘well done’ to you. Do you think he’s gone nuts after being asleep for so long?”
I quietly smiled and looked up, ignoring mom’s loud chatter. “Thank you.” I whispered towards the dark
sky. And maybe it was only my imagination, but I swear for a split second I saw millions of diamonds
twinkle back at me before the dark cloak hid them once again, as if nothing had happened.
