A dream...

The sky was a brilliant blue, and the breeze carried the sweetness of popcorn and cotton candy.

The newly opened amusement park in the suburbs was packed. A Ferris wheel turned slowly in the distance, and the carousel music could be heard from halfway across the park.

Yang Cheng stared blankly at the scene before her, wanting only to ask the three great philosophical questions.

"A Chen! Hurry, hurry! There's going to be a line for the roller coaster!"

A slender hand, its long fingers weathered by years of hard work, appeared before Yang Cheng.

Its owner grabbed Yang Cheng's hand and pulled her into a run.

Yang Cheng didn't look at her. She only stared at the bracelet on her wrist, decorated with a pink crystal flower.

"Mom... why did you wear that bracelet out today? Didn't you say it was important?"

The question slipped out before Yang Cheng could think.

Mom paused, then smiled beautifully.

"Because today's an important day, isn't it? We hardly ever get to come out and have fun."

"Someone really amazing I used to know gave me this bracelet! And I mean really amazing!"

Yang Cheng didn't know just how amazing that was supposed to be. All she knew was that Mom was the most amazing person in the world.

She didn't know why. She was already twelve, after all.

Yet whenever she was with Mom, she always stopped thinking for herself, just like a little kid.

"Okay, okay! Let's go!"

Dad waved from up ahead, his voice loud enough to carry across half the plaza.

"Keep your voice down!" Mom tugged at him, torn between laughing and scolding. "You're a grown man, and you're more excited than the kid."

"Hey, that's called being young at heart!"

Little Yang Cheng held Dad's hand on