Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 571

“We all love Miss On. Without her, we cannot imagine how bad this world would be.
Maybe it wouldn’t even exist. She was a great woman, a great leader and a great
peacemaker. We are all greatly in debt to her.”
Someone from the crowd sniffled.
“I would like to conclude this speech with two if Miss On’s quotes. She once said,
‘Heroes are just ordinary people doing right things under the right circumstances.’
Everyone can be a hero, and Miss On is proof of that. She also said, ‘Hope is like a flame;
it can be snuffed out, extinguished, but it can be shared and relit.’ And she has passed this
flame to us.”
“I believe Miss Shalom On would like us to continue to spread hope and peace
throughout the world. We are not so foolish to hope that we can achieve what she has
achieved, but in her memory, we will do our own parts and spread the light.” Stefan
bowed and retreated to his seat.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust, “That pompous old fool Stefan, the only thing he’s good
for is making up pretty speeches.” I ignored the wetness on my sleeves after I had dabbled
them on my eyes. I was losing my touch these days.
The congregation started to line up to pay their last respects to the deceased. I turned to
leave. I’ve always hated that particular part of funerals. No the corpse won’t wake up and
say anything to you. This time, it just felt too sad. Angel trailed behind me.
I returned to my spot on the cathedral steps and sigh. Angel resumed her spot beside me.
And we sat in silence.
The Sun set, its rays dipping below the horizon. Somewhere, a raven cawed.
I asked Angel, “How did you come here?”
She replied, eyes still glued to the sight of the clear sky, “Shipwreck after a visit to one of
those islands in the Greater Bay Area. Then I was here.”
“I never thought it would ever be great. Remember the old days?”
“It wouldn’t have been great without you.”
I scoff, “As I said, I’m no hero. You’re the hero. My colleagues in the Society are the
heroes. Me, I just want everyone including me to have good food, good place, good life. I
just gave them hope.”
“Spoken like a true hero.”
There was no use arguing.
The scent of acrid smoke wafted out. The body was being cremated.
“It’s time. Will you, Shalom On, come with me?” Angel stood up and reached a hand to
me.
I took it, “Yes.”
And together we rose up, into the heavens.
I did not look back. I knew I was leaving this world in good hands--The hands of
hopeful humankind.