Fiction: Group 4
“You’ve been running out a lot lately,” grandmother called from the dining room, frowning.
“I’ve just been busy okay?” I said impatiently.
“We are in charge of you Hailey, we have the right to know where you’re going,” her fist hit the table.
“You’re parents would not have let us raise you to be reckless and irresponsible.”
“I am
not
reckless, and leave my parents out of this!” I shouted. I felt tears in my eyes but I didn’t know
why they were there. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through these past few years. You never
asked. You never cared!”
“Hailey! Of course we care, but you never let us help. Its been so long since the last
time we’ve acted like a true family,” grandfather said. He spoke quietly, but I would rather have heard him
yell. I didn’t want to hear anymore, I didn’t want to remember when the last time was. Without
responding, I ran out the door and didn’t look back.
Yue caught up with me soon after, knowing I was upset, and it didn’t take me long to realize she was
leading me somewhere. The blocks and traffic lights seemed to race by. As we approached a clearing, sweat
trickled down my neck and I heard a roar of moving water. Struggling to catch my breath, I looked up. A
small creak sat in front of me, clear water running smoothly down to the massive river around the clearing.
Yue had taken me to a part of Pearl River Delta. I was exhausted, but Yue seemed full of energy as she
continued to run down a lane of small rocks. She was beautiful, graceful, and free. Stunning, was the word
to describe the view. I could have never imagined Pearl River to be so big, its waters so deep, and its surface
to be so enchanting. People walked along the coast, calm and happy. I wish I could feel the way they did. A
narrow road linked a few of the docks together. Grandmother would have been worried. I wouldn’t blame
her if she were mad at me. I must have sat there for hours, watching Yue play, thinking about going home,
feeling lost and confused. Suddenly, a fisherman hauling a huge bags of ice in a cart passed by. His cart hit a
rock and toppled over, the bags tumbled onto the road. Quickly, I ran over to help him tidy up. The bags
were wet and cold, my arms felt sore as the last bag was heaved back onto the cart. Yue had returned to my
side by then. She didn’t seem nervous around the fisherman, as she usually did with strangers. “Thank you,”
the man said gratefully. “And that’s a beautiful dog you have there.” I nodded. “Wait,” he called as I turned
to walk away. “I recognize you, you’re Zhuli and David’s daughter aren’t you?” I stopped.
I spun back, shocked. “I’m sorry,” the fisherman continued, “You’re parents’ were good friends of mine.
Your father was my best customer. He was very fond of my family’s ricecakes.” He sat down on one of the
rocks and patted the one next to him. I sat next to him. “Yeah, he was,” I winced at the memory. Yue
pressed her large head on my shoulder, her fur tickling my collarbone. She was warm. I let her comfort me.
“It must be hard,” the fisherman said sympathetically. I said nothing. “I’ll tell you a secret.” I looked at him,
puzzled. “See this creek?” he pointed at the calm waters. “It may be only the smallest fragment of so many
larger tides, but its small waves travel in great in numbers, and make up a great river.” I was still confused.
The fisherman smiled and explained, “every day we may see things that remind us of things we’ve lost,
things we’ve loved, and things we think are gone. It will always be hard, but remember this; Our memories
are only reminding us that they’re not gone, that they are still connected to us, just as so many smaller
streams are connected to Pearl River Delta.” I understood now, and smiled back. “Thank you,” I said.
“Think openly about your surroundings
Hailey. They may hold more than you think,” he winked. “There are reasons behind the legends of Pearl
River.” He placed his hand on Yue’s head briefly. “Goodbye Yue. Take good care of your friend.” I
wondered how he knew Yue’s name, I was sure I hadn’t mentioned it. But before I could ask, he spoke
again. “Remember Hailey, you will need your friends and family to help fill the blanks that your parents’
had left. There are some battles that you don’t have to fight alone.” With that, he walked away.
Under my feet, the soft, cool ripples sprayed my ankles as I stared into crystal waters. The fisherman was
right. I’m not alone. I have my grandparents and old friends I had once blocked out of my life. And now, I
have Yue. The man was also right about the river. It is clever, with the waves locked in an everlasting cycle:
Stream to river to ocean, up the mountain and back to the stream again. The water adapts but never forgets,
and at the time when it’s ready again, it will flow home.
As will I.
