13 Mink Street

basement,

Aunt's workshop.

Mary held a cigarette in her hand and lit it slowly.

Uncle Mason stood at the door, pinching the back of his son Lunt's neck.

Lunt was weeping and kept saying:

"sorry Sorry……"

Uncle Mason, who was always good-tempered, now had a gloomy face.

Finally, it seemed that it was unbearable to bear the noise any longer, Aunt Mary said:

"Go wash up, don't disturb the little girl to rest."

Lunt skipped class to participate in a parade organized by Wayne's environmental protection girl Doris. They attacked the power plant, causing a large-scale power outage in the East District. The power outage caused the little girl's operation to go wrong;

Now, she is lying here.

In fact, Lent didn't really make a mistake. Even if he was sent to the police station, the police probably just smiled.

Life is full of surprises.

Maybe this little girl's operation would not have been successful? After all, her surgery came with relatively high risks.

If the standby generator of Hans Hospital can operate normally and be powered on in time, will the impact of power outage during surgery be avoided?

Furthermore, Lent was just holding a sign outside the power plant and shouting slogans along with it, or in other words, he was just "chasing stars", and he didn't rush into the power plant to wreak havoc;

But there are some reasons that can be used to deceive the judge, but cannot be used to deceive oneself.

Karen told what happened today;

It was impossible for him to hide it, not only because of the injury on his face, but also because if he concealed it, he would not be able to ask the family to give the girl a discount on the funeral expenses.

He is just a working family member who enjoys dividends but has no decision-making power.

After telling the story, Uncle Mason took off Lunt's pants and whipped his ass with the belt.

Knowing that his behavior today caused a little girl who was several years younger than him to die, Lent who was beaten just cried, but did not cry out for pain, nor begged for mercy.

After a beat,

Uncle Mason brought Lent to the little girl to "apologise".

In the eyes of outsiders, this is a very stupid behavior, deliberately as if it is a show;

But where is there a show that takes place in your own home and is only for your family to watch?

In the final analysis, the family style of the Inmeles family has always been very good.

Lunt limped up, and at the ramp Mina was picking him up while she wiped his face with a hot towel.

"Sister... I was wrong..."

"well."

Mina didn't know how to comfort her younger brother, especially knowing that the little girl's body was lying underneath, and she couldn't say words of comfort.

"How do you calculate the cost?" Uncle Mason asked his wife.

"Their family asked for the B package." Aunt Mary said.

Ron had already pointed to his car and said that it was a fat bill.

In the past, Aunt Mary could carry the wind when she walked when there was a package B business, but tonight, she couldn't be happy.

Aunt Mary stubbed out the cigarette butt and continued:

"I discussed it with Winnie, and we will follow the standard of package B, but when we make a specific quotation tomorrow, the discount will be bigger."

"Oh." Uncle Mason nodded, "That's it?"

Aunt Mary brushed her hair and sighed: "This order, if you don't make money, let's lose some money."

"OK."

Uncle Mason's expression finally eased down.

If he makes money with this order, he will feel unhappy. It is better to lose some money, so that he can feel a little more at ease.

"I'll go up and call those companies."

Some funeral supplies with special requirements, such as coffins, need to be ordered temporarily. The Inmeles family will stock some commonly used goods, but it is impossible to stock them all. After all, they are more like consumers of upstream companies, and Not a dealer.

Aunt Mary shook her head and said, "It's so late, let's arrange it tomorrow."

After finishing speaking, Aunt Mary waved her hand, signaling her husband to disappear from her eyes immediately, she was annoyed.

"Well." Uncle Mason left.

Aunt Mary began to clean the little girl's body with her own hands, very gently.

After cleaning, Aunt Mary took a set of underwear to help her put on, then pulled the round stool, sat by the bed, and massaged the little girl's head with her hands.

In fact, most of the ceremonies and procedures at the funeral are prepared for the living, including Aunt Mary's massage now. The little girl has already left, so she must not be aware of it;

But it was her who was pressed, but it was Aunt Mary's own heart that was relaxed.

After the head massage, it's the rest of the body.

After completing a set of procedures, Aunt Mary began to embalm the little girl, so that on the day of the funeral, she could bid farewell to her loved ones with the most natural and beautiful side.

The role of the mortician is to preserve the dignity and decency of the deceased when they leave.

Another function is to enable the relatives and friends of the deceased to seriously remember the image of the deceased.

When people think of another person, what comes to mind is often a frozen "photo";

Why do people attach so much importance to "seeing one last time"? It would be a great pity if they didn't see it?

Because in daily life, people seldom take a serious look at and remember the faces of the people around them, and often the closer the people are, the easier it is to be ignored in this regard. They always naively feel that there is still a long time to go. A long time, and a long, long time;

It wasn't until the unexpected farewell came that she realized that the face in her mind, the "photo" in her mind, she was out of date, unclear and blurred long ago.

What is frightening is not loss, but your inability to forgive yourself for forgetting when you need to remember.

It was Aunt Mary's job to make that regret as avoidable as possible.

She didn't plan to rest, and she didn't allow herself to rest, she planned to use the rest of the night to finish everything for the little girl;

In addition, she has not worked so seriously and devotedly for a long time.

...

At three o'clock in the morning, Karen, who had already slept and woke up, went to the basement with the coffee pot and delivered the coffee to Aunt Mary.

Aunt Mary took a big sip, and her considerate nephew put a lot of sugar for her, which pleased her.

Karen pulled another round stool beside her and sat down.

At this time, the little girl lying on the cold steel bed had already put on a cute pink dance dress. She wore new white dancing shoes.

"This is left by her parents, and it was originally intended to be given to her as a gift after the successful operation."

"Oh, yes."

Aunt Mary began to take care of the little girl's hair, and ironed it with a splint, very carefully, as if she was afraid of burning her scalp.

You know, Aunt Mary used a gas blowtorch to shave the body hair of other guests.

But this time, she was very careful.

"Is it pretty?" asked Aunt Mary.

Karen nodded and said, "Very cute little girl."

"Her parents said that she liked ballet very much and practiced very hard."

"Yes, it's really not easy."

"Yeah, it's really not easy."

Aunt Mary looked up at Karen and asked, "A wound on your face?"

"It's okay." Karen shook his head.

"I was negligent, I should help you deal with it first."

"It's okay, this is the injury of life, it's inevitable."

Aunt Mary continued to help the little girl perm her hair while chewing on these words:

"Life hurts. Karen, sometimes I am really curious, are you really only fifteen years old? Or, does a serious illness really change people a lot?"

"I should be nearly sixteen."

"It's not your birthday yet, but it's coming soon. I should celebrate it for you."

"It's not the whole birthday, no need."

"Life, when conditions permit, try not to make do with it, otherwise how can you be worthy of the pain of life?"

Karen nodded: "Okay, Auntie."

Today's list is a surprise.

Even if Uncle Mason went to Hans Hospital instead of Karen, it should be inevitable.

This is life, just as there are jagged stones hidden under a calm stream.

"Aren't you going to rest?" asked Aunt Mary.

"Slept."

"It seems that there is something on your mind. I felt it when you came back. Lunt made a mistake, and your uncle has taught him a lesson."

"I know."

Uncle called from the second floor, but Karen on the third floor could hear him clearly.

However, Karen still said: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with Lent."

If it were an unreasonable mother who defended her shortcomings, she would be blown up when she heard Karen say such a thing;

Co-authored, you sued the secret, you also hit the man, but you came to say that he was not wrong?

But Aunt Mary nodded and said:

"Yeah, he just owes a fight."

If you don't beat him up, he will feel uncomfortable, and his elders and guardians will be even more uncomfortable.

Blind obedience is sometimes not a big mistake, because the law does not blame the public, but if you don’t know how to repent and reflect, then you will probably continue to follow blindly next time. It is still not wrong, but it seems like a mentally retarded person.

"I will discount the funeral expenses. We will lose money for this order."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"I am Lunt's mother, this is what I should do, if possible, I really want to bring Lunt and your uncle to kneel down to the little girl's parents.

But this is meaningless, except that we feel less guilty in our hearts, and it is of no use to other parents.

Even, I have to suppress my nausea to comfort you.

well,

It's like it's snowing outside, looking at the house through the window, oh, a lot of snowflakes are falling;

Only when you walk outside and a snowflake flies into your neck give you a jolt, can you experience the real cold. "

"Auntie."

"Well, what's the matter?"

"I think I should be used to corpses, coffins, wreaths, black gauze, and all kinds of things.

But I don't know why, this time, I feel that my emotions have been greatly affected.

Not just because of Lent,

It's my own feeling in the hospital corridor today. "

Karen still remembers smiling shyly at herself when the little girl was pushed past her in the operating room.

He suddenly felt,

Is my self a bit hypocritical today? No, I am too hypocritical.

Obviously he has seen more weird and terrifying things, but today, he is sad.

"Why, are you really hard-hearted in our profession? Are you cold-blooded?"

"That was not what I meant."

"I know, but just like painters, they need to keep painting and creating every day. What they pursue is a work that they are satisfied with and can also move them. Who would think that painters have too many paintings? It will be numb and lose spirituality and emotion?"

I got my hair permed,

Aunt Mary put down the clip, lit a cigarette for herself, and when she handed the pack to Karen, Karen shook her head and refused.

Breathe out a smoke ring,

"We're just used to seeing dead people, not life and death."

Standing up, Aunt Mary pointed at the delicately dressed little girl in front of her with her finger without a cigarette:

"What a beautiful little girl, what a beautiful dress, she is lying here, if she can sit up and dance again, that would be great."

Karen was silent.

Aunt Mary walked up to Karen and touched Karen's shoulder: "Look aside, you have to learn to adjust yourself, you know? It's like when you help others with psychological counseling. You should know better than me about this. .”

"I see, Auntie."

"Need some supper?"

"Okay, Auntie."

"Well, I'll get ready. Remember to turn off the lights when you come up later."

After speaking, Aunt Mary walked out of the studio.

Karen was still sitting on the round stool, looking at the delicate little girl dressed by her aunt in front of her.

Shaoqing,

Karen stood up, walked to the gramophone, and pressed;

The cheerful melody of "Luo Jia Fairy" sounded, lingering in the whole studio.

Before her aunt left, her words rang in Karen's ears: "What a beautiful little girl, what a beautiful dress, she is lying here, if she can sit up and dance again, that would be great."

if,

if you want to dance,

I can help you.

Karen walked up to the little girl and held out her left hand.

This is the first time he has actively tried to use his ability. In fact, he has not mastered this ability. Every time he uses it, it is either accidental or sudden. In a calm state, he has never experienced it once.

But the moment I reached out,

Karen has an inexplicable feeling,

He seemed to be able to sense the emotions of the little girl lying in front of him;

Seems to hear her voice, even if she can't speak;

It seems to be able to feel her temperature, even though she is already cold;

This is not like an illusion, but a false extreme reality.

I am lucky,

I was obviously dead, but because of Diss, I woke up again.

and you,

Not as lucky as me.

please tell me,

Is my perception correct?

Are you calling out to me, or is it just my own wishful thinking?

remember,

in the corridor,

You smiled at me twice.

Karen put his fingers on the little girl's neck.

If you want one last dance, I'll grant you that wish.

Karen closed her eyes,

Then,

slowly opened again,

He saw a little girl standing in front of him.

The little girl was still looking at him with a shy smile on her face.

What Karen didn't notice was that under his feet, black vine-like lines were slowly spreading out, gradually fitting and penetrating into the texture of the floor tiles of this studio.

And on the third floor,

on the windowsill,

Pu'er, who was already asleep, suddenly raised his head, with a look of surprise on his face:

"Dis?"

Immediately afterwards, the shock on the black cat's face became more intense:

"Not Diss!!!"

in the study,

Diss, who was writing something in front of a candle, suddenly stopped writing;

He looked at the flickering candle in front of him,

muttered:

"order?"

immediately,

He reached out his hand to control the flame of the candle,

road:

"No, it's order."

...

this time,

Karen didn't step back, nor did he use his perspective to zoom out and zoom in to focus;

Instead, he stretched out his hand naturally.

The little girl smiled slightly, biting her lower lip with her white teeth, feeling a little embarrassed, but she couldn't hold it back after all, and put her hand on Karen's.

Her hand has no weight and no temperature, but it is so real.

Karen gestured that she could go back into her body...her, dead body.

The little girl floated up, lay flat in front of Karen, then slowly fell, and finally became one with her body.

The cute elf lying on the steel plate opened its eyes.

There is no white, no blood, no violence, only clarity and peace.

She sat up slowly,

She remembers Karen,

Because this is the stranger she met on the way she was pushed into the operating room that impressed her deeply.

She said:

"Little brother, you really look good."

"hehe."

Hearing this, Karen smiled, and subconsciously stretched out her hand to touch her head the way she usually touches her sister Mina's head.

But thinking of the hair that Aunt Mary had just done for her, she hesitated;

However, the little girl took the initiative to rub her head under Karen's palm:

"Papa likes to touch my head like this too."

"Oh, is it?"

Too bad your parents can't be here to watch you sit up again.

It wasn't that Karen wanted to deliberately hide something, at least not for the sake of keeping it secret;

Rather, for her parents to see their daughter sit up, and then watch her doomed to lie back down again, is tantamount to letting them suffer the pain of a second daughter loss.

""Luo Jia Genie", I like to use it as accompaniment when practicing dance.

Little brother, let me dance for you, okay? "

"good."

Karen sat back on the round stool.

Wearing brand-new white dancing shoes and a pink dancing skirt, the cute little girl began to dance to the melody.

Her dancing posture is not perfect, and even in the eyes of a layman like Karen, she can see immaturity and some flaws, but she dances very seriously, very seriously.

It's not real she, real she's dead;

But this is the real her again, and they are exactly the same.

Karen admired it seriously,

She is dancing with great enthusiasm;

Time seems to have entered a kind of eternity at this time, but the cruel thing is that eternity is often used as a temporary foreshadowing.

finally,

the end of the song,

Once the dance is over,

she began to call the curtain;

Karen felt that he had had a real dream. When he suddenly looked up, he realized that the little girl behind the curtain call had already laid back on the steel bed in a very sensible and obedient manner.

The slightly disheveled hair, the slightly dirty white shoes, and the dance skirt with small folds are telling what happened just now.

Karen began to clap;

Then,

he stood up,

Go to the studio door,

reach out,

Touched the switch,

hesitated for a moment,

But in the end,

"Snapped."

Lights went out.