Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 235

“See it hurts when you accuse people of crimes that they didn’t do.” She said victoriously. Starring down at her
foot that was tapping away like a heartbeat she managed to say “I was going for a walk.”
I knew she was lying but I could not bring my self to pick up the phone in the corner of the room. I knew I had
to push her to get to the truth. But how? Then I formulate a plan.
First I asked “If you were walking than why as such a late time, it’s not like you have anything to hide.” She replied
“I didn’t, I just had something to do.”
“Like what?” I curiously questioned next. “I can’t tell you because it would break you. “She replied in an over
sympathetic way as tears trickle down her face, she used the sleeves of her red colored qipao to wipe them off.
“Yes, I know that owning up to the fact that you smuggled can break me.” I said halfheartedly.
She wailed out as she stroked my face “I am innocent; I didn’t even come close to opium or neither did I
gambling because I knew you hated it. Please believe me.” I pushed her hands away and firmly said “this ends
now”. With those words I marched over to the phone while she laid on the floor grabbling hold of my left leg
while begging me to trust her a second time. I tried to shake her loose of she just would let go. So I continued
walking till I reached the phone.
As I called the police her pleading crescendo. “I would like to report a illegal smuggling of drugs…
opium….. Nanjing road building 158... ok thank you.”
She looked at me and in a tone I never heard her talk she says “You will regret what you have done for I have
done nothing.” With that she ran out in to the cold sullen night.
I slowly took in what happened as I sat on the same chair. I tried to convince my self I acted correctly but
something felt off.
“Ringgggg ringgg.” I work up to the sound of the phone. I lifted up the phone and I hear a coarse voice
demand “leave a ransom of 1000 Yuan in front of your house and remember don’t call the cops like you did last
night or say bye bye to your wife..”
I dropped the phone slowly and a I stare into the distance with a panic-stricken look. What have I done? I
collected the money and left it at the door. The money was gone but she never came back alive or otherwise…
That was thirteen years ago but the memories are still fresh like the crimson red gills of a fish, what is worst is that
it is a wine stain on my shirt. Now I look down at the sealed of city. The once bussing road now empty just like
my heart.
Tic tok tic tok goes the clock, almost as if it’s saying your time is up.
But before I go, if you are still there Chen An I would give up everything for one miracle if that miracle was to
see you again...