14 Memories

July 6, 20xx

Paris, France

Yan Shi stood on the riverbank of Quai d' Orléans. From her vantage point, the darkness of night gives a beautiful backdrop for the well-lit Notre Dame Cathedral and neighboring buildings that showcase the classical French architecture. The reflections of lights from these infrastructures on Seine River offer a captivating view.

Yet, her attention was not on this. Her mind was miles away.

It was that ill-fated event 19 years ago.

A chubby 5-year old girl ran on the pavement by the river and turned right to bridge leading to the cathedral without heeding her mother's reminder---- not to move a step farther from where she was painting at.

She said, bad people might take her and she will never see her again. She always listens to her mother except today,something was drawing her out. A month ago, she took notice of a lanky girl who was always sitting under the tree in front of the iconic spot and there was a forlorn expression on her face all the time. Tonight, she had a glimpse of her after 5 days of not seeing her figure. For reasons she can't explain, she wanted to approach her.

She spun around to check if the woman with the lightest shade of brown hair was still in sight before sprinting to the tree.

Seconds later, the screeching sound of car and loud screams behind her, made her halt and looked back. When her eyes can't find her mother, her heart started beating nervously. Thinking she'd been left behind, her short chubby legs rushed to the riverbank and to her shock, her mother was on the concrete cement, bleeding. Her bloody face appeared lifeless and her clothes were soaked with blood and paint. The unfinished painting on the easel was marred blood. She didn't know what gave her courage to kneel on the ground and held her cold hands. It was only autumn but the temperature has drop down significantly giving that winter feel-like weather.

The girl was crying loudly, nudging her mother to wake up but the woman never stirred.

The next spring, her mother passed away, not because of the injury but due to illness. Without the accident happening, the discovery that she was very sick would never happened.

Coming out from the coffee shop, holding two drinks on his hands, Li Jie could see the side of her face. She seemed to be in deep thought. The moment, he noticed her wiping the corners of her eyes, he felt a sting in his heart making him unable to breath. He clutched his chest, dropping the two cups in the process.

Hearing the sound of dropping behind her, she turned around and found her 'husband' kneeling. The expression of pain was on his face.

The doctor in her reacted quickly and got down to be at level with him.

"What's wrong?" she asked as he checked his pulse.

Li Jie leaned on her in response.

Except for his abnormal heartbeats and beads of sweat started appearing on his forehead, there was no other indication he was having a heart attack.

"Cough and take a deep breath."

She heard him cough and take in air. She raised her finger to signal him as she timed him to repeat the process every two seconds.The deep breaths will help in getting oxygen into the lungs and the coughing movements will squeeze the heart to regain normal rhythm. At the same time, it will keep the blood circulating.

Five minutes later, when she took his pulse, it was back to normal.

A deep sigh was heard. Yan Shi felt relieved.

He stood and pulled her to his embrace.Whatever made her cry, he wanted her to forget it.

The hug he gave her came unexpected and she had an inkling desire to wiggle away but thinking of what happened just now, she relented.

That moment, it crossed her mind too that she needed those strong arms. The memories from the past actually dampened her mood to stroll further around the city.

****

Li Jie held her hand as they sauntered along Boulevard Haussman, one of the best shopping districts in the city.

Earlier, they opted to eat something light instead of the three course meal French people preferred. His wife was still complaining being full from the late lunch they had but in the end, agreed to have veggie salad topped with cheese.

They walked in silence except for his occasional questions on the food she preferred.

The vibrating phone in his pocket halted them.

She felt star struck, listening to the sound of uttering those French words.

Unknown to the man, his wife continued to study his frame and lamented how handsome he was even with only partially exposed face to her.

She was thinking how the brows and pointed nose added charm to his appearance.

She retracted her eyes upon noticing he was gazing at her intently.

He asked cockily. "Are you thinking how handsome your husband is?"

She rolled her eyes in response.

"Imagine how beautiful our children will be. I am handsome. You are beautiful. It means rare beauty."

Yan Shi was unable to hold her smirk and said "Listen how conceited you are."

****

Venice, Italy

A woman on the piano was playing Mozart's classical pieces and the guest were listening in awe with her skillful ministrations of the piano keys. The white sheer dress on her made her look ethereal.

When it ended, applause was heard as she stood and bowed to everyone.

Karlie watched the woman who suddenly appeared to this dinner and the idea of hitting her face crossed her mind.If it's not because of Vivian, she would have use her long nails to scratch this woman's face.

What irritated her more was getting a glimpse of her mother approaching her and giving her a hug as if the woman was her long lost daughter.

She took a goblet of red wine, gulped it down before taking another glass.

Unable to contain herself, she sauntered to their direction with a goal in mind.