Chapter 5 Mom, I’m Back
I did not know when I had fallen asleep on the bed.
Early the next morning, I was woken by knocking.
I opened the door to an elderly man with graying hair and a kind face.
He held out a box of Flower Cake. "I heard someone moved in last night. I'm here on behalf of the elders at our place to welcome you as a new neighbor.
"There was a Power Outage last night. Hope it didn't scare you."
Maybe he saw the blank confusion on my face. He introduced himself right away.
"My name is Lin Qingzheng. I'm the dean of the Nursing Home next door.
"If you need anything, just come find us."
He was gentle and warm. I did not know why, but when I heard "just come find us," my nose stung a little.
Somewhere deep in my memory, it seemed no one had ever said that to me.
I steadied myself and smiled as I accepted his kindness.
After I got myself together, I prepared a gift and went next door.
The Nursing Home was a courtyard of modest size. Dean Lin was very welcoming when he saw me.
"Sit, sit. I'll get you some water."
I nodded at him, then my eyes landed on a new Piano in their courtyard.
"That? A charity donated it. Said it would cultivate our musical taste.
"Pity no one here knows how to play the Piano..."
He came out of the tea room, handed me the water, and explained when he saw my curiosity.
"Let me try."
I sat down and began to play Dream Wedding.
The music quickly drew the other elders from their rooms.
They came out into the courtyard one after another and gathered around me.
When the piece ended, the elders applauded.
Dean Lin then invited me to teach everyone to play the Piano.
I thought about it and agreed.
I had just stood up when a middle-aged woman suddenly rushed out of the room in front of me.
She grabbed my hands tight the moment she reached me. "You're Xiao Yan. You're Xiao Yan, aren't you!"
I was startled. Dean Lin explained at once.
"This is Aunt Zhan. When she was younger, she brought her son and daughter here on a trip. Her daughter accidentally fell into the water and died.
"Aunt Zhan blamed herself. After that she developed a mental illness. She insists her daughter isn't dead, only missing, and that if she stays here she can wait for her daughter to come back.
"They say her daughter played the Piano beautifully. Her family has come to take her home several times, but she refuses to leave. Sigh..."
I felt deep pity after hearing that.
Aunt Zhan looked at me. In her eyes was a nearly burning joy, the kind that comes from finding something lost.
I was moved. I could not bear to say, "You've got the wrong person."
So I held her hands and said,
"Yes. It's me, Mom. I'm back."