The Serve Family home wasn't large. Though it had undergone exterior repairs over the past year, the inside had not been redecorated. It was clear the furnishings were still from over a decade ago; for instance, the floor had no tiles, only bare cement.
Sonia's room wasn't big, but it was obvious she had put plenty of thought into it. She had cut the pockets from old clothes and pants she no longer wore and stuck them on the wall, turning them into colorful little pouches that served both as storage and decoration. With a few Wind Ship Kudzu grown by her mother and some wheat ears fallen in the fields tucked inside, the room naturally became warm and fresh.
The wind chime by the window, the stickers on the wardrobe, the drawings she had made on the wall—traces the young girl had accumulated bit by bit over more than a decade, along with her longing for a beautiful life, coated this simple room in warm color.
When Sonia lay down on the creaking hard-plank bed, she curled up and hugged her small blanket tight. Sleepy-eyed, she rubbed her eyes and looked blankly at Martha and Ash by the bed. "Mama, Ash?"
Whether her thought circuits had looped through who knew how many layers, or she felt she was still dreaming, Sonia pulled the little blanket up to cover her mouth. Her cheeks were bright red as she said shyly, "I'm not ready to get married yet..."
"We're not here to discuss the wedding—at least, not right now." Ash didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "We only came to visit Auntie this time."
Sonia looked at Martha and reached out to take her mother's hand. "Mom, he's Ash. Ash Hiss."
"I know. I've been paying attention to you two."