The Funeral
The black-and-white world was instantly dyed in every color.
Orange and the child's father felt as if they had just awoken from a great dream.
The child in their eyes looked no different from how they had looked most of the time lately.
A pale, peaceful face.
So...
Bao Bao would be just like before...
Once he'd slept enough, he would wake up.
The child's father remembered that night...
After finishing his cigarette and letting the smoke dissipate from his clothes, he returned to the hospital room...
He saw the child sitting up.
Holding a maple leaf.
Bathed in moonlight.
The white hospital gown seemed almost to melt into the moonlight.
The child's eyes sparkled.
In that scene...
He'd almost thought the child was some little elf who'd wandered in from who knew where...
Orange's hands were shaking.
Her whole body was trembling.
The child...
He'd only fallen asleep.
Why...
Big tears slid from the corners of Orange's eyes.
At last, Orange placed her fingers beneath the child's nose.
There was no breath.
After a long while...
Orange had no choice but to accept it.
Orange reached beneath the covers, wanting to hold the child's hand.
Her hand seemed to touch something...
Orange lifted the covers.
The child was clutching a maple leaf.
The thing Orange had just touched was the maple leaf.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Orange continued to cry, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
This child...
Had really held on to that maple leaf until the very end.
Bao Bao...
Orange looked at the child's peaceful face.
She carefully took the child's hand.
She didn't touch the maple leaf in his hand.
It was his treasure, after