One Night, One Day, One Year, One Lifetime

Three

15 November. Cloudy.

Actually, I never liked cloudy days, where the skies were overcast with dark clouds. Even when it rained, I still disliked cloudy days.

Before winter arrived, I had already changed all the furniture and decorations within the house. I once had countless ideas on creating the perfect home I would share with the people I loved most, and after I met Gao Fei, I turned my dreams into reality.

Gao Fei's birthday was on the 15th of November, a day I had been looking forward to for over two weeks. From the end of October, I had already began to think about how I wanted to celebrate his birthday.

In the early morning after I woke, I did not wish Gao Fei happy birthday even though I was dying to do so, for I wanted to give him a surprise later on. I only smiled, feeling extremely contented.

I sent Gao Fei off to work, then made my way to the supermarket. Gao Fei enjoyed starch; he disliked sweet and oily food. Gao Fei loved the colour white and hated yellow. All these I knew like the back of my hands.

As it was still early in the morning, the supermarket was quiet with few shoppers. I bought my groceries without trouble, and soon filled my shopping cart to the brim. Then I carried my numerous shopping bags and waited for the cab to arrive.

I was unable to drive for my hands and legs could become numb at any time without warning. Of course, this paralysis was also extended to the other parts of my body.

In the afternoon, I started preparing dinner, a myriad of ingredients scattered across the kitchen counter-top.

Only, I never expected that my illness would rear its ugly head at this moment.

As I lay paralysed on the floor, I wanted to crawl back to the bedroom to retrieve my medication, but I did not have any strength left within me. My body trembled, a sharp pain blinding my vision. Clenching my jaw, I willed myself to endure it, seeing past the tears which gathered in my eyes.

My mobile phone was just right next to me. With just a button, I could dial Gao Fei's number and receive the medicine I needed to alleviate my pain. Otherwise, were I to fall into unconsciousness, perhaps I would never be able to see Gao Fei again.

In the end, my rationality did not triumph against my emotions.

Staring at the phone, I closed my eyes.

Perhaps these things only happened to me because I had committed too much evil in my life. Gao Fei often said to me that I had done many unscrupulous things. But at that time, I had only brushed him off with a laugh. I said that even if retribution were to befall me, this was a thing that was to come a thousand years later, so he could only be free from me in another thousand years.

Each time I said these, Gao Fei would look coldly at me, his despise palpable. In front of him, I had never once acted like a virtuous woman.

When I finally came back to consciousness, my first thought was: Gao Fei, you did not manage to break free from me after all.

The sky was already dark, and I saw from my watch that it was already 7pm. It seemed like my newest bout of unconsciousness has already exceeded my record of five hours.

I stood, smoothing the creases on my apron as I glanced at the heap of groceries on the kitchen table. My heart sunk. Gao Fei would be arriving home soon, but I had not managed to prepare anything.

The Heavens knew how badly I wished to help Gao Fei celebrate this birthday. Perhaps this would be the last birthday that I would celebrate with him.