Alpha Gray

For four years, Emily had spent her long nights staring at the prison bunk above her, hoping for a visit that never came. Not even from her mother. As for her first love, Chris, who had schemed to put her behind bars for the sake of his business interests, she had been foolish enough to hold onto illusions about him.

Wasnt it silly? She was a woman of resolve, not given to sentimentality, able to handle relationships and matters with clean breaks and swift decisions. Yet, Chris had been the "vast ocean that no other water can compare to, the cloud-veiled mountain that no other cloud can match" in her heart for so many years.

Perhaps it was because of their brief two-month romance in high school that had opened a door to a new world for her, bringing so much joy, especially since it was her first love, making it particularly unforgettable.

But her infatuation and devotion were met with Chriss silent departure for studies abroad, leaving without a word. Five years later, when Chris reconnected with her, she was outwardly indifferent, yet inwardly elated. Little did she know that his few warm words were nothing more than sugar-coated shells, not even sweet enough to savor.

Before Emily could savor the sugar coating, she was hit by the shell, sent to prison for four years.

When she first entered prison, she had thought about confronting Chris once she got out, demanding to know if his actions were intentional or accidental. However, after two failed parole attempts, her heart gradually turned to ash, and she no longer wished to ask Chris anything. Her feelings for him were eventually worn away by the monotonous labor of each passing day.

All she wanted was to get out, leave the past behind, and live a simple life.

In April, her sentence finally came to an end. When Emily walked out of the womens prison, she didnt look back, nor did she take the cup, as the warden had said, "Take your life with you." Perhaps her life was ruined forever, she thought.

No one was there to pick her up, . As she made her way back to the city and into Maple Lane, the deeper she went, the more her steps trembled.

Finally, she arrived at her home, the small bungalow with moss climbing the walls. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

What she saw shocked her. There were people in her home, a man and a woman sleeping in her bed. The woman was a stranger, but the man was her uncle.

The couple heard the "creak" of the door opening and were also stunned. The woman hastily dressed, her hair disheveled, and left without a word.

Her uncle saw Emily and was not surprised, only indifferently saying, "Youre out? Your moms dead."

Emilys eyes widened in disbelief, but her uncles gaze did not seem to be lying. She looked up and saw the black-and-white photos on the wall, one of her grandmother who had passed away in her senior year of high school, and the other was her mother.

"Oh, you still have the nerve to come back. Your sister was killed by you. This house was originally lent to you by your grandmother. Youve been living here for so many years, and you..."

Emily didnt wait for him to finish speaking before she rushed out of the house, ran to the entrance of the alley, and squatted under the largest maple tree, crying her heart out. She was out of prison, but it felt like she had fallen into an even larger cage.

Mrs. Lee, her neighbor, saw her, was initially surprised, and then led her back to her home, offering her a meal.

From Mrs. Lees fragmented descriptions, Emily learned that not long after she was imprisoned, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, already in the middle to late stages. Coupled with long-term depression and negative treatment, she passed away at the beginning of this year, just three months before Emilys release.

In prison, seeing others visited by their loved ones, Emily had always been envious, always hoping her mother would come. But her mother never did. She thought it was just because she was angry, and it would be okay once she was out. But, but... she didnt even have a chance to say "Im sorry" before her mother was gone.

"Mandy, you used to be so proud when you got into Northwestern University and then that great company. You were the pride of the whole neighborhood. Although those things happened, people always have to look forward."

This house has been taken back by your uncle, who has kept a mistress here. You should have some new plans." Mrs. Lee patted Emilys shoulder, and Mrs. Lees embrace felt like her mothers, and the dishes she cooked tasted like her mothers.

Tears wanted to flow out of Emilys eyes but couldnt. Mrs. Lee said, "Zhiyu is working in another place and doesnt come home, why dont you stay here first and then find a job?"

Emily was so moved she didnt know what to say. Just out of prison, others would avoid her, but Mrs. Lee was still willing to take her in out of neighborly affection. She nodded, "Im afraid Ill cause you trouble."

"Its no trouble at all. My husband does whatever I say. If it werent for you and Mrs. Zhao, with Zhiyus aptitude, how could he have gotten into a key university?"

That night, Emily "went home" and packed up her things. The woman had taken her nice clothes and used whatever she needed, and the woman pointed to the storage room, indicating that Emilys things were all inside.

This was convenient, as she didnt have many things to begin with, and she quickly packed up.

Mrs. Lee gave Emily an iPhone 5s, saying it was discarded by her son, Zhiyu. When she left, the iPhone 5s hadnt even come out yet; the world had changed rapidly, especially in the fast-paced world of electronic products.