I&T: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Tsan dreams often in her sleep. Her dreams always ended up with her having an accident and then having her looking lifeless or dead. Sometimes, there were images and other times, there were only voices. The faces and voices were familiar but she could put a name to none of them. She always woke up perspiring with her black hair pasted on her face, feeling cold and afraid. The worse was the headaches that come after the dreams and she would not be able to fall asleep again that night. This seemingly peaceful star-filled night was shattered by her dreams once again…

------------------------------

There were no lights. Everything was black and blank. Tsan could hear her gentle breathing, feeling the cool breeze soothe her skin.

It started with a whisper she could hardly hear, hardly understand. It was a gentle voice, something like a soft humming.

A woman’s voice, soft and comforting whispered a name.

Was it a name? Was it my real name? Tsan thought in her sleep.

She saw the blurry surrounding through the eyes of a younger her. The younger her had shorter hair that ended in the middle of her neck. Her fringe was the same length as the rest of her hair and it was brushed away from her face with a neat side parting.

She was lying on a bed with white bedspreads, arms over the edge of a set of warm white blankets. A woman with long white fingers was resting one hand on top of her hands and her other hand was gently placed on her forehead. Tsan couldn’t make out the woman’s features clearly, she could only feel a warm motherly gentleness emitted from this woman.

Is this woman my mother? Tsan thought.

Tsan looked around the room. The walls were plastered with pink wallpaper. She was lying in a hospital ward. The lights were too glaring, and she shut her eyes. All was black again.

The woman spoke, “Darling, are you still wearing the chain I gave you?”

A man’s voice replied, “Yes.” “Can you take it off? I am going to chain my ring to it.” The woman said.

Tsan felt the cold feeling of metal on her neck as the woman tried to put the chain onto Tsan’s neck.

Woman: This will keep you safe and healthy. When you get well, we shall go for a holiday somewhere, I promise. The beach resort will be nice won’t it?

-----------------------------
Momentarily, there was only blank and there were no sounds.

She felt cold. The wind was blowing strongly and her hair was in her face. It was the 9-year old healthy Tsan in the dream. She was skinny and small built like a 7-year old child and her cheeks were a little sun burnt. She was tugging at a woman’s hand with long white fingers.

“Mummy, mummy. Please… can’t we bring the dinghy out to the beach today? Please?” Tsan was saying.

“I am afraid Daddy and Mummy can’t go to the beach today, darling. Didn’t you have fun the past few days playing at the beach and the resort?” The woman’s familiar voice said.

“But why? Why not today?” Tsan’s cute little voice said.

“Daddy invited important people to the resort today. Why don’t you ask your brother to bring you?”

----------------------------

“Be careful sweetie! Take care of your sister and don’t row too far out!” The woman said as little Tsan walked out the back door of their resort house towards the beach with a tall young boy not much older than little Tsan.

“Bye mummy! Make sure the guests enjoyed themselves!” Little Tsan said as she waved to her mother.

---------------------------

Little Tsan: Let’s have a race brother!

Brother: No, you just recovered.

Little Tsan: Well… I can say start and we will run towards the sea and I shall row the dinghy while you can swim. That will be fair.

Brother: Let’s skip the run. We shall have a water challenge! It will be less tiring for you.

Little Tsan: Ready, set, go!
Little Tsan grabbed her single heavy paddle and jumped into the dinghy.

It was already drizzling and the sky was over-cast with low dark clouds. The waves came strong and rough. Tsan was rowing her dinghy further and further away from shore. The young boy was swimming hard but their distance was slowly getting further… Tsan would not let her brother win her even though she has an advantage over him so she rowed harder to beat the waves. Without warning, Tsan’s dinghy was overturned by a huge wave. Her paddle came with another on-coming wave and hit her on her head.

There was only blank... and the pain seeped in.

---------------------------------

Tsan woke up in her bed, perspiring. She tried to recall her dream but it was hard. Her headache was hindering her. She stumbled to the toilet in the Jiang’s house, rinsing her face with cool water, trying to douse her headache.
-----------------------

A/N: Hello! This is Emz! I believe the dream has given you a little hint on Tsan's pass. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The story is picking up. So check back regularly for more updates! Love ^^
--------------------------------