“My dad later met with a fatal car accident and so my granddad acknowledged our existence and brought me and my mom back. However, the death of my dad was too much for my mom to handle and that’s when her mental disorder reared its ugly head.”
Yu Qiubai paused before letting out a bitter smile.
“I later found out that my dad’s passing was only a trigger to an existing condition. My mom had actually been taking antidepressants.”
Shen Xi lent an ear to his story. It sounded an awful lot like those olden day cliché plots, yet Shen Xi could feel her heart sinking to her stomach.
This was no story. It was his mother’s real-life experience and the reality of it weighed heavily on his shoulders.
“After my mom had an anxiety attack, my uncle and other relatives teamed up to throw us out. Of course, they said it was to prevent my mom from hurting anyone as a result of the panic attack.” Yu Qiubai had no idea why he felt the need to tell her this. There were too many things hanging over his head, suffocating him to the point of breakdown.
Perhaps Yu Qiubai could be sure that she would keep to herself even if he told her.
Maybe he thought of Shen Xi as someone he could trust.
Shen Xi was all ears, ready to be his listener.
“Following the attack, I took her everywhere possible to seek medical attention. She was also admitted to the hospital, but her condition did not improve. In contrast, it got worse. She had been in and out of consciousness during the new year and lately, she doesn’t seem to recognize me anymore.” Yu Qiubai’s tone may be flat, but he was welling up in the eyes.
He was afraid.
Terrified.
Yu Qiubai was unfazed when he and his mother were driven out of the Yu household and forced to live on their own.
He felt no fear when he had to take care of his mother alone, bringing her back and forth to see a doctor.
There was nothing he was afraid of – neither her illness, her hurting people, nor taking care of her. However, his nightmare was her not recognizing him ever again.
Shen Xi asked, “Can you give me an account of her current mental state?”
The question tipped Yu Qiubai slightly over the edge. Shaking his head, he voiced out his despair, “I’m not a doctor. I can’t say for sure but it’s bad. It’s really, really bad.”
“Okay,” Shen Xi responded. With downcast eyes, she turned her attention back to her mobile game, but truth be told, her mind lingered elsewhere.
Studying her through the rear-view mirror, Yu Qiubai somehow managed to simmer down while his breathing steadied.
He did not need anyone to console or pity him. The only thing he needed was someone to quietly lend an ear.
Shen Xi was prepared for the worst, but nothing prepared her for what was to come. It was not at all up to scratch to Yu Qiubai’s description.
Stepping into the pitch-black house, Shen Xi was swallowed into the darkness. It was like walking into prison in which a ray of sunlight was merely wishful thinking.
A pungent smell filled her nostrils. It was damp from unventilated rooms, mingled with a rotting smell.
“I’m coming in, Mom.” Yu Qiubai uttered softly in front of a room. “Don’t be scared. I’m going to turn on the light.”
Not a single reply was heard.
With Shen Xi’s eyes quickly adapting to the dark environment, she caught a glimpse of the woman amid the shadows.
The woman was tied tightly to the bed by her limbs. As her mouth was stuffed, she could only make a whining noise, like a trapped beast would when putting up a struggle.
Yu Qiubai interrupted Shen Xi’s observation by asking her to turn on the light.
The room was dim despite the presence of warm light. However, it was enough to look clearly around the room. The place was empty except for a piece of furniture – the bed.
Shen Xi had a good look at the woman on the bed. The latter was skin, basically skin and bones. Her visible cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and scarce hair brought out the madness and fear in her widened eyes.
Had Shen Xi known she was alive, she probably thought this person was a zombie.
“Mom.” Yu Qiubai drew close and stood by the woman before pointing at Shen Xi. “She is a doctor. Don’t be scared. She’s only here for an examination.”
Toning down the squirming, Mother Yu gave Yu Qiubai a crazy and alien look instead.
Yu Qiubai sat on her bed and gently stroked her messy hair back. He then turned to look at Shen Xi with hope.
Looking rather calm, Shen Xi briefly studied the woman. “Move over so I can take a look.”
Yu Qiubai got up and gave her space.
Shen Xi took a seat on the bed. Not at all irked, she patted the woman’s boney hand and cooed, “Don’t be afraid. I’m a doctor. I won’t hurt you.”
Mother Yu seemed to finally take notice of Shen Xi. The fear and madness in her eyes were soon replaced by guilt and self-reproach. She whimpered and whined as tears streamed down her face.
Shen Xi was taken aback by her reaction. With the woman appearing to be squeaking amid the wailing as though trying to say something, Shen Xi turned to Yu Qiubai. “Can I take this off?”
Yu Qiubai was shocked by his mother’s response. Shen Xi’s question did put him in a spot. Concerned, he helplessly and heartbreakingly replied, “She’ll chew her tongue off.”
Shen Xi acknowledged that fact and looked kindly at the woman. “I’ll take this off, but you can’t hurt yourself, okay?”
Mother Yu actually stopped what she was doing. Her hollow big eyes were fixated on Shen Xi.
While Shen Xi untied her, Mother Yu remained still and gazed back at her the whole time.
Standing at a corner, Yu Qiubai was completely in shock as he looked at Shen Xi. A wave of emotions overwhelmed him, and it showed on his face. However, it did not take him long to make sense of the situation.
She was a doctor who could bring Ning Sinian, who was in a coma for two years, back from the dead. Thus, it was not weird that she could get Mom to settle down.
Shen Xi did nothing but gaze at Mother Yu.
Mother Yu looked back at her without moving an inch.
In the darkness, time passed both quickly and slowly. Yu Qiubai had his heart in his throat, unable to make out what was going on.
Mother Yu was the first to break the silence. Her lips were trembling as she clearly uttered, “I’m sorry.”
Her hoarse voice seemed to be forced out of her lungs. Her boney hand quivered as she reached out to touch Shen Xi’s face.
Shen Xi was caught in a daze. Before the woman’s hand could make contact with Shen Xi’s face, she abruptly turned around and curled up into a ball, mumbling she was sorry over and over again.
