My heart sank as a heavy downpour hit my small town, mirroring the storm inside me. A maelstrom of dark clouds, rumbling, rolling and chasing after each other in the sky. Within seconds, the tarred roads and pavements were soaked, water streaming down the street in torrents.
I rubbed my arms for comfort as I watched from the kitchen window, dreading the moment the rain would stop. Would I be able to go home tonight? It was pitch dark outside. The streets were deserted.
A flash of lightning ripped through the sky, revealing closed shops and stores except Miaorui's Kitchen where I worked. The thunderclap that followed nearly jolted me out of my skin especially as my boss, Miaorui, startled me at that exact moment.
“Luqi, here!” He tucked folded yuan notes into my palm. My pay for the day's work. He stood tall over me, his heavy frame casting a shadow and his breathing, loud and harsh on my face. “You can't spend the night in the store room again,” he declared and frowned as my face fell in sadness.
“Look, it's not safe for you. Two nights in a row? Where's that good-for-nothing brother of yours? Huh?”
The sight of his fat toes in his flip flops was more interesting than the pitiful look on his face. I knew his benevolence wouldn't last long—no employer would want his staff spending the night in the workplace—but I had no choice.
No one must know that I got into a fight with Yutao, my elder brother, when he chose to join the town's dangerous gang instead after failed job hunts. He'd searched but no one was hiring and our debts were mounting. My pay from working as a kitchen assistant could barely feed us for a week.
Yutao got tired and desperate. So did I and then the fight happened. I blocked the doorway and wouldn't let him out. My brother did what he'd never done before—he pushed me and I fell. He didn't return home that night.
I blamed the bruises on my clumsy steps but Miaorui scoffed and demanded to know where Yutao was. “He's working a new job now. Very busy,” I lied and it earned me two nights in the storeroom. It was time to fess up because the streets were dangerous at night and I couldn't stay at home by myself.
The relentless crash of the rain almost drowned out the roar of a car that had just parked by the sidewalk. Miaorui and I gazed out the window at the same time. “Talk about the devil,” he muttered and trudged out of the kitchen.
I gasped, cupping my cheeks in amazement as I watched Yutao step out of the car and open an umbrella to shield himself from the rain. He raised his head and we locked eyes for a long moment. The shame and remorse in his eyes nearly toppled me.
Our parents passed away a few years ago and ever since, my brother stepped up as the parent, working odd jobs to sustain us both. I made a promise right then and there to support him in any way I could as I rushed out into the rain and fell into his arms.
“Luqi, I'm truly sorry—,” he started to say.
“Shh,” I whispered, placing a finger on his lips. “It's okay, brother. I can work double shifts to—”.
He pinched my lips together playfully, smiling. “No, Luqi. You don't have to work double shifts. I didn't do it.”
“You didn't?”
“After I left the house, I felt terrible for what I did to you and was going to beg uncle Shaoruo for some money when I ran into an old friend. He gave me a job, sister. As manager of his seafood plant!”
I gasped, shrieked and hugged Yutao tightly. A better job meant he wouldn't get involved with any shady group or business.
“Let’s go home. I'll prepare us a hot meal,’’ I said with a wide smile as he opened the passenger door for me.
What I See
A young man, standing in front of a car under the rain with an umbrella, waiting for someone to join him. He looks sad and remorseful.
What I Feel
Hope.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's my response to A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words writing contest. You may click on the link to participate.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
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