This strange sense of fear felt as if it were separated from me by a veil. It didn't seem quite real.
I seemed to be terrified, yet at the same time, I didn't really care.
I felt as if my thoughts had drifted far away, but my mind was perfectly clear.
It took me a long time before I finally rode my bike home from work.
I stood beneath that streetlamp for a long while.
When I got home, I found my older brother and sister-in-law there, along with her family, all seated around the table. The baby was in the bedroom, the door left open so I could see his sleeping face at a glance.
"Why are you so late?"
"Did something happen at work? I heard..." My brother trailed off.
I could barely take in what they were saying. When I thought of that severed hand, I shuddered.
I ate dinner absentmindedly.
I noticed that everyone around the table seemed the same way. It was as if they all had something on their minds.
By late at night, the baby had cried twice, had his diaper changed, and been fed. The whole house had fallen quiet.
The guests had already left.
I went to the window and saw no one across the street.
I waited for a while, then grew restless. I changed my clothes and crept downstairs.
Beneath the streetlamp, there was only a neighbor's parked bicycle.
I didn't know whether I was disappointed or relieved. I was probably more disappointed.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind the lamppost.
The foreigner bowed to me. "Good evening, Mr. Zhao."
For an instant, I forgot to breathe.
"Looks like you've made up your mind." He smiled amiably and held out a hand, inviting me to follow.
I hesitated