From Ashes to Hope) Chapter 28
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“I failed her, and I failed you,” John whispered.“I’ll never forgive myself for
my negligence and blind trust. I thought I could give her the best life, but because
of my stupidity, she suffered such a fate. I wish I could turn back time, even just
to see her one more time.”
Tears welled up in his eyes again. He wiped his face, as if trying to wipe
away the pain, but it lingered. “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to atone for my
mistakes, even though I know nothing can bring back the life that was lost.”
I looked at John silently, shaking my head slightly.“Atonement is
meaningless now, let the past be the past. You don’t have to dwell on your guilt,
life goes on,” I said.
“As for me, I’ll bury this pain in my heart and start a new journey. Although
Lily was only in this world for a short time, she brought me endless joy. I’ll
cherish those beautiful memories. And you, you should learn to let go too.”
John looked up, his tear–stained face filled with concern. “So you’re leaving
this place? Where will you go?” he asked softly.
I looked up at the distant horizon, silent for a moment. “I’m going to travel,” I
said slowly. “Every corner, every breath of air here is filled with painful memories.
Those memories are like heavy chains, suffocating me. I don’t want to be
haunted by the past anymore, I want to see the outside world, find a place where
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I can start anew, a place without these painful scars.”
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The next morning, I left the city where I had lived for so many years. I
thought my life would be as calm as a still lake, but fate had other plans, pulling
me into another whirlwind of events.
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I arrived at an ancient town in a neighboring province by train, a
Officer Lee had recommended, saying that walking along its ancient streets
would give one the illusion of traveling through time.
After checking into my pre–booked guesthouse, I hurriedly set out to
explore the unfamiliar streets, my heart lighter than it had been in
years.
The ancient town exuded a sense of tranquility and history. The cobblestone
streets and old buildings did create a feeling of being detached from the
mundane world.
Turning a corner, I saw a dirty young beggar by the roadside. I recognized
him instantly as the child I had met before.
He was still wearing the same ragged clothes, his hair a mess, his face grimy,
only his eyes, bright and alert, stood out amidst the chaos.
As I was about to approach him and say hello, the young beggar suddenly
looked behind me, his eyes filled with fear.
He shrank back against the wall, his gaze darting nervously.
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I became alert and turned around instinctively, spotting several figures
lurking in the crowd.
They were like ghosts hiding in the shadows, their eyes occasionally
glancing in my direction, their gazes unsettling.
A sense of foreboding washed over me, a dark cloud settling in my heart.
My intuition told me these people were most likely thieves, targeting me, a
newcomer.
They probably thought I was an easy target, being alone and unfamiliar with
the surroundings.
Fear crept into my heart. I quickened my pace, trying to get away from this trouble spot.
I weaved through the crowd, my steps hurried, trying to shake off those
malicious gazes.
However, I noticed those men were following me closely.
Their steps seemed casual, yet they maintained a distance, not too close, not too far, like sharks smelling blood, relentlessly pursuing their
prey.
My heart sank. What did they want? Were they going to rob me outright?
The thought made my heart pound, my palms sweating, my steps even more
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Lost in the maze of unfamiliar streets, I was like a deer that had lost its way,
unsure which direction to take
I frantically pulled out my phone, trying to use the GPS navigation, but my
phone had no signal.
Looking at the “no signal” icon on the screen, my heart sank, a sense of
helplessness overwhelming me,
At that critical moment, the young beggar, like a sudden savior, darted out
from a nearby alley.
He was incredibly fast, like a nimble shadow, reaching my side in an instant
and grabbing my sleeve without hesitation.
His eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly, like a wary animal, alert to any
potential danger.
alley.
He tugged at my sleeve urgently, motioning for me to follow him.
I clung to him like a lifeline, without hesitation, following him into a narrow
The alley was a labyrinth of twists and turns, like a giant maze.
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The walls were covered in moss, the stone pavement uneven.
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But the young beggar seemed to know this terrain like the back of his hand.
He led me through a series of turns, his steps light and swift.
Soon, we lost the men who had been following us.
I let out a sigh of relief, the weight on my heart finally lifting.
I looked at the young beggar with gratitude, gesturing my thanks with my
hands.
Curiosity filled me.“How did you end up here?” I asked, gesturing to the
surroundings.
The young beggar just shook his head and pointed to his mouth, indicating
he couldn’t speak,
Suddenly, his eyes widened, a look of terror replacing the alertness. He
stared at something behind me.
Then, he shoved me to the ground with all his might.
I was caught off guard. My shoulder slammed against the wall, a sharp pain
shooting through me, my face contorting in agony,
I saw several homeless men, their hair tangled like weeds, their clothes
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ragged and reeking, running menacingly in the direction the young beggar had
fled.
Their eyes were fierce, their expressions threatening.
I wondered if the young beggar had gotten himself into trouble by saving me.
I got up quickly, wanting to check on him, but realized I had twisted my
ankle. It was already red and swollen, each step painful.
I limped along, supporting myself against the wall. I pulled out my phone
and saw that the signal was back. I quickly opened the map, checking my location
and searching for the nearest pharmacy or clinic.
< «From Ashes to Hope…
