AURELIA

Lin Lihua was 10 when she first saw a drama, alongside her parents and brothers. It was love at first sight, maybe, she never stopped watching dramas ever since. Her obsession with plot twists made her enter the world of books. Eventually, there were no plot twists that she couldn't predict.

'Lia, why don't you try writing?'

Lihua read the text. It was from her online friend, Cherry, that's what lihua named her and Aurelia was the name given by her to lihua. A smile spread over lihua's face,her eyes closed as her lips thinned as they widden, almost as if a line which disappeared on her smiling.

'Jie jie, you know that I am not good at it.'

'Lia, just try, I am sure you have experienced something worth writing.'

Lihua laid back on the bed, it was a normal bed with five pillows. One below her head two on her right, one on her left and last one below her leg. She took the left pillow and kept it on her lap, as she was scrolling. Her books arranged on the study table besides her bed, just below the window. On the table,a vase of Poppy and another vase of lavender was kept. Her room was neither too tidy nor messy, just like her.

Lihua was indeed in love with storytelling but she had never written a book. Her life had always been peaceful unlike the books and dramas she had seen and read.

'Cherry jie, I truly can't. You remember the last book I had written, I dropped it in first chapter due to the poor writing and I don't even believe in love, so how am I supposed to write about it. '

She pulled the brown blanket on her, she was in her night gown, her hair tied in braid, her face devoid of many emotions. She got off the bed and walked out of the room.

'Not every story needs romance, write about the things that you want people to know. The things you complain about, the things that you think people should understand.'

Lihua sighed. Sending a few thumbs up emojis, she kept the phone down.Her home was a two storeyed house, plain and vintage styled. She walked downstairs and as she entered the kitchen, her footsteps halted as she glanced around the surroundings. Her grandma was supposed to be there, taking her meds. She walked around and checked all the the surroundings.

“Grandma.” A gentle voice, almost a whisper.

“Where is she?” Lihua spoke to herself.

“Grandmaaaa.” Lihua sang as she walked out of kitchen, after looking around for a while she found her grandma on the floor as she lies there still, terrifyingly-still. She ran without a second thought and tried to heave her up, but failed to do so. Her fingers found a way to her grandma's nose. A breath, hot air hit her fingers. It made her fall back, lihua who was gasping for air, took a deep breath.

“Grandma.” She shook her grandma, gentlely.

“Grandma.” She repeated.

A stone was stuck in her neck, her eyes kept blurring, her hands sweaty from holding her grandma's hand. Her grandma's body was cold,almost pale. She got up and dialed a number. The ringing was heard a few seconds later.

“Hello! Lihua, what are you doi-”

“Haoren, please come here quickly, grandma is not waking up.” Despite her wish to stay strong, she broke down. Gulping down her misery, she informed him of everything. He asked her to get to the hospital. She hurriedly called the ambulance.

The poor girl was beyond help by the time ambulance arrived. She tried to wake her grandma up. Their neighbors, Mr. And Mrs.Guan, along with their daughter arrived at once. They hoisted her grandmother and placed her on the bed, their daughter was comforting lihua with gentle words but Lihua's world had just shattered. Her misery was beyond repair.

“Xiao hua, she's still breathing, as long as she's breathing, you can not give up.” Zhuyu said, patting Lihua, who tried to gulp down her sorrow.

“I know. I will not give up. Everything will be fine.”Lihua tried to reassure herself.

The sirens wailed down the street, Lihua was with Mrs. Guan, as she was following the ambulance, it was a matter of few seconds yet those seconds had lasted for almost an eternity.

The walls of hospital could hear the cries of childern, adults and even the old, as it was their sanctuary where they could bawl their eyes out and have an explanation for it. Restlessness, agitation, dreadfulness. That's what the hospital was filled with.

Lihua sat on the bench, Mrs. Guan was beside of her, patting, stroking her hair, offering words of comfort. Lihua jist nodded. Her thoughts drifted far away. There were alot of other people too, lihua would glance on them once in a while. The doctors came out of the emergency room. The family sitting on the bench next to lihua's ran towards them, the doctor shook his head, informed them and left them to their misery.

Lihua shifted, her hands were shivering, her hands on her knees folded, the air was like shards of glass to her, stuck somewhere in her lungs. Biting her lower lip, she tried to calm down. She wouldn't die, she will be alright. what if she dies? What if she leaves me? She won't leave me. But why would she want to stay with someone like me. I should have stayed with her, if only I was with her, thus wouldn't have happened.  The voices in her head were too loud, she wanted to shut them off.

“Huahua! Are you okay?” The voice belonged to Haoren, her brother. She looked up, there were three of them her father and her elder brother.

“Your mother is going to arrive soon, don't you worry.” Haoren walked upto her and knelt before her. Her shoulders loosened, her lips pressed and her eyes became watery, “Haoren, she is going to be alright.” She said comforting, gulping, and widening her eyes to swallow the tears. Without a single thought Haoren engulfed her in his arms, she bit her lips, not wanting to make a sound, her tears fell, her face was wrinkled as she tried to control her tears.

“Cry all you want, I'm right here.” Haoren's hold tightened. Lin Feng, the eldest of all went to receptionist to pay the fee along with his father, the second was abroad, and the youngest and Lihua's twin was in school. None of them had the time to dress up and were in casual wear. Mrs. Guan got up and left them.

“Feng and Uncle Ziyu are here. You should go talk to them.” Haoren said after Lihua stopped crying. Lihua's face morphed into a expression filled with love yet hatred. “It's fine. They must be tired.” She no longer possessed any will to talk to either Haoren or her family.

The time passed by quickly and the doctors were out of the room. “She's out of danger now. She is suffering from Hypoglycemia, it is due to lack of sugar. Does she take diabetic meds? It must be due to the over consumption of insulin. She's currently out of danger, but she needs to be hospitalized for a few days for better recovery.” The doctor had a kind smile, that was reassuring to see, both to eyes and heart.

“Who is her guardian?” Lin Ziyu stood and raised his hand before his daughter. Lihua did not say much, she knew she was not in the right mood to hear and remember whatever the doctor was going to say, she backed off, it was almost dawn by now. “Lihua, come with me.Let's go home now. ” Lin Feng said walking ahead. Lihua sat back on the bench.

“Huahua, follow him.” Haoren patted on her shoulder, encouraging her to join him. Lihua knew if she were to  be rude to Feng gege, Haoren would be mad at her. She didn't want to make any scene as she was already very tired. She was about to get up, when—

“Look at you, you can't listen to your own brother's words but when Haoren says it you will do it.” Lin Feng, who was standing i front of them, scoffed, rolling his eyes. He was quite an eye candy which was why he never looked bad except to his sister who had grown up with him.

“Childish old shit.” Lihua mumbled, Haoren laughed upon hearing it. “Now come on, go and take rest, you need to be here by tomorrow morning.” Haoren got her up and made her walk ahead. The ride back was very calm, no one said a word, the harsh breeze was the only sound that could be heard.

Upon arriving at home, lihua had already fallen asleep, leaning on the window sill of the car. Lin Feng opened the door, causing her to fall, but caught her head before she hit the floor. He at once jerked his hands causing Lihua to fall backwards onto the seat.

“You-You cockroach, I hope you fall in front of everyone on the first day of your job.”  Lihua screamed getting up, her morphing into a fist that she couldn't use. Lin Feng scoffed, “Get up, and get inside.” Thinking as if he was cool, he strutted towards the door.

Lihua stretched her whole body, yawning, cracking her neck. Her eyes became teary. She got up and closed the door and started to strut the same way her brother did, but she wasn't as good as her brother.

OoO

It was morning and Lihua though yawning got ready to leave. The ride to hospital was also very quite. Lihua was dresses in her go to dress and Lin Feng had not bought any clothes and had to wear the clothes left by Suye.

Lin Feng made the breakfast, it was just bread toasted with omelet. As they completed the breakfast without a noice, they both left for the hospital. There were a few side eyes from both of the to one another, but no words.

“You are here.” Haoren was talking with a woman who was in between 35-40. Upon hearing Haoren, she turned back. Her eyes were big, but disappeared upon smile, a small yet wide face, thin lips, anyone could say who she was. “Mom!” Lihua's lips parted, her pace was became quick. “When did you get here?” She asked hugging her. “A few hours before.” The smell of jasmine and her heavy makeup made Lin Feng scrunch, knowing where she was. “I was attending a business meeting with—” Mrs. Huang stopped, her eyes traveling back to her eldest son then to Lihua, “It's fine,How is Mr. Huang doing?” Lihua caught her elbows, reassuringly.

“He is fine. He wanted to visit too, but I didn't want him to.” leaving out a breath she spoke, “I'm sure you were scared yet you managed to take care of your grandma, I'm so proud of you.” Lin Feng stood up from the bench and left quietly, Haoren left behind him. Mrs. Huang and Lihua occupied the space left but both their hearts were gone with Lin Feng. “Go to your brother, don't leave him.” Upon hearing her mother, her eyes which were fixed on the path Lin Feng walked took a turn and met her mother's.

“Forget about it. Haoren's with him. How is grandma? Is she awake? Did you meet her?When will she be discharged?” Lihua asked in one breath. “Calm down, she has long woken up, just that she wasn't under the anesthesia. I have spoken to both her and the doctor. It was hypoglycemia, low sugar and she will be discharged in Three days. So don't stress. Focus on your exams, alright?” Mrs. Huang patted her shoulder and side hugged her.

Lihua took in a breath of relief. She nodded, “Alright, I will.” She said, holding her mother's hands, resting on her shoulder. “But there is something that I need you to do.” Mrs.Huang squeezed Lihua's face in her hands.

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