Blue Neighbourhood

Chapter Fourteen

Heaven

"Do you want to go back first?" It required another day for them to settle some documents. Fon had cleared her schedule and decided to stay another day. "Can we go back together? I don't have anything to do anyway"

She was grateful that now, she understood Win a little bit more. About the pain and guilt that he kept with himself and how he dealt with their mother's loss. She didn't hate their father as much as he thought she would. Somehow Win noticed there was empathy he couldn't comprehend. Of course Win didn't have to know all of the story, every wound took times to heal. One day she might give him another wound by telling him the truth, but now, he didn't need to know, Fon thought.

It might be a little selfish for him to reminisce the old time, trying to find comfort, or a just little encouragement for his doubtful mind. Walking down a memory lane of his fragile nine years old self. Sometimes he considered himself strong for holding up the pain, but not strong enough to stand up for it. He remembered this place, he remembered how cold it was that day. He didn't remember what he was thinking that day to lie down up there instead. Letting the cold night wind to brush against his bruises. It was that familiar feeling of not feeling anything that got him staying still under the clear night sky.

"I never saw you around" Win immediately turned around at the middle age man standing behind him. "Ah,I didn't mean to surprise you. I live in that house" He pointed at the house next to the park. It's red fences were fading into light softer colour. He stepped forward to stand beside Win carefully with much difficulty. His right hand gripped the walking cane firmly. He surely didn't look that old compared to his physical state.

"I just happen to saw the wooden house" It was completely a lie.

The man smiled, dreamily gazing at the old wooden structure on the tree. Some of the railings were torn, one of the wall was eaten by age. "My son and I used to repair it every summer when he came back. It's been three years since then"

Win didn't really care to be honest. But his longing gaze was too obvious to ignore. "May I know where he is?"

"He joined military, that good for nothing rascal-" he snickered to himself.

"-to think that he chose a path to prove he could protect others"

"That's admirable" Truly admirable, to choose a way of life where he would dedicate himself for the sake of others. "That's what people said at least" Win looked at his face, scanning that peaceful expression. "Aren't you happy with that?"

"I do, even though it could be a little bit lonely here. I am really proud of him. Well, I never really say it to him though" There were glint of sparkling joy in his dim gazes now. Win wondered how it was to live a dream you have been always dream of. "It's. . .often feel so lonely" It wasn't about that. Being lonely was the last thing he cared about. Win knew.

"If you could choose a path for him, would you want him to be something else?" It was a curiosity, really. To know what it was like to see the world from different perspective. "If I could I would. Every parents want to protect their children from the world"

Win didn't know why suddenly it hurt. "Would you like to come for a cup of tea? I couldn't stand any longer" Win stayed, letting the memories flooded through his body. Somehow, a little part of him wanted to stay longer. Staring more at the probably-gonna-be-rubble-of-woods-next-year castle. It's such a pity that by the time if he ever came here again, it would be gone for good.