女儿的第一篇小说（三）

Chapter 3

“God had blessed life, but had made it fragile. Humans can live for a hundred years, a blossom only a season. ”

“The sky. How its immensity makes you wistfully want to ponder over its wonders, yet, I’m afraid,” Fred stated timorously. “I’m afraid how one day, we will have to leave this earthly presence and join together with our heavenly father. What if I’m not ready to experience that? How do I know when I am?” A late blossom broke off its branch and swirled though the late fall air, carried swiftly, eventually landing delicately onto his lap. A small smile tugged on his lips, tenderly holding the fragile flower in his wrinkled hands. “How frail life is. How easily it is broken. We must not waste our time in this world. Or we will ruefully regret it.”“Fred?” he turned his head to see his beloved wife standing in the doorway. “Are you ready to come inside?” Fred slowly shook his head. “Not yet, I wish to enjoy God’s blessings before I am to rest.”“All right. You have 10 minutes,” her facial expression softened at the aged man’s fascination at the garden’s fall cherry blossoms. “It’s a shame how he is approaching his death.” She bowed her head sadly. “But I know he enjoys being here. And that is why I have to be vigilant.”“Suzie! I’m going to go for a walk!” Fred called back to his house as he wheeled onto the sidewalk in his wheelchair. Even though it was nearly night; the weather was steadfast and remained a middling azure. “What a perfect time to stroll the neighborhood!” He knew perfectly well that he could no longer walk, but his never changing imagination never ceased to dream. After a few hours, the usual friendly sky changed drastically to a swollen black, with not even a single condensation nuclei roaming around. However, Fred was not alarmed. “I’ll have to be more prudent,” he thought cautiously, as he began to expedite his pace. His ingenuity got him pass an old dilapidated building, but not pass its inhabitants. He heard their footsteps approaching him, but their voices were obscure to his weary ears. Soon, he became frantic, his gaily expression changing into one of great fear aching his features. “Hey gramps! Give us your money!” “Yeah! And then we’ll make it easier for you!” Their condensational matter quickened his heart rate, as a cuff struck out and he was left, sprawled on the cold tangible floor. But this was inexorable, it couldn’t have been stopped. He could have done nothing to stop it. Just like so many years ago, he thought forlornly. Veritably, he was again beaten and left to die. Until he heard his wife calling his name until he faded into obscurity. “Fred? Fred wake up!” His eyelids fluttered heavily as he groaned with an aching pain shooting up his back. Reminiscence of his past events flowed back into his mind, as he imperceptibly sat up in his bed, with the support of Suzie’s helpful hand. “Fred? What happened? Do you remember who did this to you?” He tried to answer her questions, but he felt weak and couldn’t handle the overwhelming fatigue overtaking his body and he lay back down on the bed. How could this happen? Why did this happen? How were those kids who robbed me? “You need some rest. Would you like some hot tea?” Fred shook his head pitifully, as if it took all the strength he had. “No. Sleep would be nice.”Late that night, the overcast moon hung above the sky holding conviction that its worldly acquaintance would make it through that night. His breaths were labored and it became harder and harder for him to move. But still, his expression was nonchalance, with no concern whatsoever. But weariness carried him off into a dreamless sleep. A shadow furtively crept into the room, hidden by the obscurities of the moonlight filtered through the window, casting its faint light onto the bedroom floor. Leaning down and leaving a small object on the ground, it was about to leave when stopped by a strangely demanding voice. “What are you doing here?”