All Love Was His, I Was Locked Sick

Chapter 3

"Jake," he said softly to the door, "I brought you some bread. Eat something. Don't starve."

I drifted in front of him and crouched down to look at him.

His eyes were very red. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were much deeper than last year. There were already white hairs at his temples.

He was only forty, but he looked like he was fifty.

"Father, I'm here," I said. "I'm dead. Won't you come in and see me?"

"Jake?" he called again.

I reached out to touch his face. My fingers passed through his body.

"Sigh." Father sighed, stood up disappointed. "That child... still sulking."

He pushed the bread further under the door.

"Just stay there and don't cause trouble," he said. "After your brother is gone... I will make it up to you. He will."

I didn't get to wait for him to discover me.

I watched his back and said softly, "Don't bother, father. You don't have to make it up to me."

You would never have the chance.

After father left, the hallway fell silent again.

Soft sounds came from the living room.

Mother came out of Jeff's room, gently closed the door behind her, and stood in the hallway in a daze.

She looked at the storage room door, her lips pressed tight, as if struggling.

Finally, she walked over and crouched where father had crouched.

"Jake," she said very softly, "don't blame me, okay?"

"I know you've suffered," she continued, her fingers unconsciously picking at the wood splinters on the door. "But Jeff only has one day left. Just let him have this. Let him leave happy. Can you do that?"

I drifted in front of her and saw the moisture at the corners of her eyes.

She wiped it quickly, as if afraid someone might see.

"After Jeff is gone," she said, "I will make you your favorite slow-cooked pork. A whole big bowl, just for you."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until it was almost a whisper. "I'll buy you new sneakers. The pair you've been eyeing for half a year, with the player logo. I'll take you to see a CBA game. Didn't you say all your classmates have been except you?"

Her tears finally fell, hitting the old floor tiles of the hallway, leaving small dark stains.

"I promise you everything," she said. "Everything. So today, just for today, don't cause trouble. Okay?"

I reached out, wanting to wipe away her tears.

She waited for a moment. The door remained silent.

The sadness on mother's face slowly faded, replaced by a kind of anger.

She stood up abruptly, stumbling a little because she moved too fast.

"This child... he's so unreasonable," she muttered under her breath, her voice choked with tears. "No consideration for his parents at all. We raised him for nothing."

She turned and walked away quickly, her back stiff.

Late afternoon came, and the sky gradually darkened.

Mother came out of the kitchen carrying a small basket. Inside the basket were a piece of red cloth, some colored paper, and scissors.

She was preparing birthday decorations for Jeff.

Just as she reached the living room, the doorbell rang.

It was grandmother.

Grandmother held a cloth bag, bulging at the sides. When she saw mother, she gave a strained smile.

"Mother, what brings you here?" she asked, surprised, quickly stepping aside to let grandmother in.

"To see Jeff," grandmother said, her voice a little hoarse. She put the cloth bag on the table and took out a few apples and some pastries. "Tomorrow is his birthday. I... I came to see him."

"Jeff is resting in his room," mother said, taking the things from grandmother's hands. "Please sit. I'll go get him."

"No, no, let him rest," grandmother said, sitting down on the sofa. Her eyes scanned the living room, and her brow furrowed slightly.

"Where is Jake? Why don't I see Jake?"