A Flower Without Rain

Chapter 5

The fields were dry in this hot season of summer just like every year. Running through this field, was Lian Yu and Lian Song. Just children, of course they did everything without a care in the world. They knew nothing of the life beyond them.

Their faces held smiles of glee as they played a game of tag, and with a hand on Lian Yu, she was now the catcher.

Right behind Lian Song, Lian Yu exhaled heavily with excitement. She has never been able to catch her older sister, ever. Maybe today will be the day she does.

Turning left and right in this open area, it was then she may be able to lay a touch on her sister. Right when the younger child was about to finally tag her older sister, a cry came.

Immediately, did worry fill Lian Yu as body went numb the moment she saw the sight before her. There, she saw Lian Song who sat crouched over with her hand over her right shoulder. She had fallen from a ledge, that was not too high but the damage made was not a small one. It was approximately 1.5 meters high, and the running made it hard on impact once she hit the ground.

Worried, Lian Yu spoke in a frantic manner. "Let's go home!"

The moment the two sisters reached their manor, they went to their father's study hoping he could do something. And of course he could, he is after all a physician.

At the doors, they slid it open however the person beyond it was not their father but someone else.

"What happened?" a cold voice that sent shivers down both Lian Song and Lian Yu's spine.

"M-Mother," Lian Song uttered despite the pain.

Lian Yu gulped in what seemed like fear.

Inching closer with every step, Madame Min Jie held her hands behind her as eyes pierced through her daughters. Once before them, her hand reached out to touch her eldest daughter's right shoulder. She winced upon contact.

"So, what happened?" the woman looked as though she were interrogating them.

"We were playing a game of tag and...." Lian Yu hesitated as eyes met her mother's. "Song fell off a ledge and got hurt." voice shaking.

It was silent for a brief second before a stinging pain came on young Lian Yu's cheek. Madame Min had struck her own daughter.

Lian Yu froze in dread as tears formed and slowly looked at her mother whose expression was filled with bitterness. Quickly, did Lian Song run to her younger sister's side. "Are you alright?!" she asked her with worry.

"ITS YOUR FAULT!" the woman roared. "If it weren't for you, Song would've never gotten hurt! It's your FAULT."

Lian Song immediately came to her sister's defense, "Mother, please it wasn't her fault. It's mine alone! I didn't know where I was going and-" a stinging pain also met her cheek.

Madame Min sharply turned her head to Lian Yu, "Look at what you did! Song is now even more hurt than before. It's your fault and yours ALONE!" she shouted.

Tears slipped from those lovely eyes. "Please mother, have mercy....." she begged with everything.

Confined to her bedroom, silence was all that filled her as cries couldn't be answered by anyone. "Have mercy.....mother...." she was still begging despite how tired she was.

No one could help her.

A breaking sweat, Lian Yu awakened from that dreadful sleep that reminded her of the childhood she did not want to remember. Feeling the wetness, she touched the tears on her face that she did not even notice before. However, at this she only broke out into an anguished cry as eyes shut and hands clutching the blanket to cover her face.