Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 127

The Red Lanterns
Diocesan Girls' School, Chiu, Anna - 13
“L
et's go.”
He took his father's hands and dragged him to the fields, filled with lanterns hanging on the branches, leaves of bright
red, draping all over. He ran all over the trees, hands flying, grabbing the pieces of paper hanging from the lanterns. His
eyes scanned the pieces of paper, his veins were pumping with adrenaline. The sheets of paper, secrets of the universe,
mysteries waiting to be discovered. His father grabbed him by the shoulders and swung him to the side. They landed
on the grass with blades of verdant sticking to their clothing as they both lost themselves forever in their own
laughter.
His father cleared his throat.
"You know, I will be leaving home for a while."
Distracted by the red lights, and lost in his thoughts, he could not comprehend what his father had just said. The
thoughts of him leaving seemed distant like a million miles away, the prospect unimaginable.
"Hmm... okay."
His father put his hands on his shoulders and looked on with shining eyes as if staring into his future. In the dark field,
his obsidian eyes were the only thing that could be seen. In the silent night, their shadows were cast onto the banks of
the river nearby, this was their imprint, washed away easily with time, but it would be forever imprinted in his mind.
"Be brave and protect your mother for me."
"I will."
He smiled, nodding. He had always wanted to be someone like his father, to be able to protect someone he cared about.
Their pinkies entwined, the words exchanged were buried by the seas of infinite laughter.