four

A thin, rough yet warm hand gently rested on mine

"After all, that was a long time ago..." The voice of my mother, which echoed again, became faint, "Your father often beat you, leaving you with deep scars. Although this was also a reason for your illness, it has been so long..."

The mother quickly closed her mouth

Although I do not have any friends to chat and confide in, this false address should also be considered an important refuge for my inner self

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the two of us exchanged glances, remaining silent for a long while, only occasionally hearing the sound of the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves.

I skillfully took out stationery and a fountain pen from the desk, beginning one of the ways to soothe my troubled mood

The morning mist has dissipated, and the sky is gradually revealing a clear and deep blue hue, with the sunlight becoming warm as well

Mom, I am very tired. I calmed my breathing, trying to make my voice sound without the slightest flaw, I will go to sleep first

The almost inaudible sigh of my mother once again fell upon my ears

Memories surged into my mind like a tide, and my father's venomous words and his ferocious face lunged at me like a beast. I sprang up from the chair, gasping for breath.

The child who was just beaten was in a terrible state, and I only went to stop it then. Thinking back to that scene, I still cannot help but tremble. That girl, she is very pitiful

In the soothing music, I curl up in the warm blanket, reminiscing about scene after scene that has occurred in the past, feeling a slight moisture at the corners of my eyes. Fortunately, there is this powerful voice encouraging me, telling me to keep going and not to retreat

The sound of the pen rubbing against the paper is slightly harsh in the silent room, yet it brings an unusual sense of comfort. Half an hour has passed, and two lengthy letters have been completed, filled with the events of these days and the complaints from the depths of my heart

Amidst the bustling crowd and the dim lights, I have never thought of turning back on this endless journey. When will it come to an end? What does my dream represent, and what is it that makes us uneasy...

I paused for a moment and then replied earnestly: "I have no appetite"

Having spoken, I moved forward like a zombie, heading towards the room

"Yuyu, I know you are also feeling very distressed," the mother's voice was soft. "But you should understand that your condition is still unstable. Try not to cause trouble for others, especially since you are staying at your uncle's house. If such incidents occur frequently, wouldn't it be a burden for your uncle and aunt?"

Tomorrow, I will return to my uncle's house again

The mother's body stiffened, and her complexion also became somewhat unpleasant

I sat in the chair in a daze, staring blankly out the window

"Wen Yu, why didn't you have breakfast?" The voice was faint, carrying an unmistakable weariness.

Thinking of this, a bitter curve formed at the corners of my mouth

My pen tip lingered on the envelope for a long time

I curled back under the blanket, put on my headphones, and the deep, hoarse voice of Eason Chan played on repeat, as if it were a soothing presence from another world

Then came a long sigh, and I could feel my mother's presence drawing closer, finally stopping beside me

I wearily closed my eyes, allowing myself to be completely immersed in the music

Once again, I took up the fountain pen and wrote down the address that I had long memorized. I held my breath as I walked out of the room, dropped it into the mailbox, and quickly returned to my room, trying my best not to attract my mother's attention

With the delivery of that letter, it felt as if a stone had finally disappeared from my heart

Finally, it is the address for receiving the letter

Upon returning home, my mother silently organized the fruits and vegetables she had bought. She then opened the lid of the steamer and saw the four buns lying motionless inside, her expression immediately darkening.

Then, take the white envelope from the bottom shelf and neatly stack the two letters together

Is it still that ...? ... An address that doesn't exist at all? The one I casually fabricated, could it be a completely blank area?