Hou Jingshu floated in a dark expanse of space. No matter which direction she turned, all she could see was an inky blackness so vast this place seemed both infinite and infinitesimally small.
I see. It’s the dream again.
She already knew she was dreaming. She’d had this dream many times in the past. In fact, she already knew what was going to happen.
“Why…?” a weak voice said behind her.
Hou Jingshu closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if that would banish the voice. She wanted to shut her ears too, but that was impossible. She tried that when the dream first began occurring. It was like the voice spoke directly into her brain, however, and so even if she covered her ears with her hands, she would still hear him.
“Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me?” the voice continued.
