The road to secrets

《Chapter 2》

I opened my eyes, looking around me, my hand in front of my view to avoid the sunlight.

I knew where I was before my brain processed it, my old treehouse that had long ago gotten taken down, and yet, here I was.

Carefully, I stood up, scared to hit my head on the ceiling when I noticed I wasn't the adult I was now; instead, I was myself in my younger years.

Without a thought, I approached the window of the treehouse, glancing outside to look right into our old house, the house that only still existed in my memories, which I revisited in my dreams.

The pain of a certain loss I couldn't grasp made its master of my heart as I gave a slight smile watching the shadows move in the house, knowing it was only an illusion of a memory.

Suddenly, a butterfly came into my view, a tiny silver butterfly, flying towards me as I extended my hand.

It landed on my hand as I held my head oblique, avoiding the bright touch of the sun as I stared longingly at the butterfly.

If only I were a butterfly, flying away to the horizon, to another life.

A few seconds passed, but it could have been a few hours as well, the butterfly moved, flying away from my finger, towards the sun, and then it vanished into thin air.

The only trace left of the butterfly was its warmth on my finger that lingered.

As I turned my head to look at my old house again, I heard the opening of a door creaking; I stretched myself a little to see what was happening when my eyes caught them.

Three shadows of three kids.

Laughter filled my ears as something trickled down my cheek.

Then, someone called me, the voice vague, somewhere among the fog inside my mind.

"A-Lian?"

"A-Lian?"

"A-Lian!"

My eyes fluttered open as a pain pierced through my cheeks, "swtop sqweezing mwy cweeks, Aw-Xuan!"

"Awhh, A-Lian, you're such a deep sleeper~" I pouted at Shi Qingxuan, who giggled.

I placed a hand against my head feeling myself burn a little, closing my eyes, letting the familiar dream settle away inside my heart again.

The feeling of longing for what was gone remained.

"You really just fell asleep on top of all the paperwork; I am happy you don't drool in your sleep, unlike my ge, right ge~" I bit back a slight laugh as I heard a groan on the other side of the room.

Shi Wudu glared at Qingxuan as I tried to suppress my smile.

"Qingxuan, go check up on the children's ward or something, don't go sprout lies." Shi Wudu left the room with his cup of coffee, a frown adorning his face.

The two were so alike in appearance, but the difference was always in their personality.

Shi Wudu, a prideful but caring brother and Shi QIngxuan, a careless but lovely younger brother.

"Aiyaa, you know how my ge is, never admitting even if I would have evidence~" Qingxuan mused, sitting on the table as he stared at me , his eyes twinkling.

"How did the operation go yesterday?" I yawned, stretching my arm as I glanced at the mirror, seeing my own dishevelled hair, and the bags under my eyes.