On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, snow began to fall in M City.
The silver mantle between heaven and earth washed away all worldly cares, as though even pain and illness had frozen, giving the long-ailing Bai Fang a rare moment of ease.
She even took off her hospital gown, saying she wanted to take Little Bai outside to build a snowman.
A nurse eventually stopped this irresponsible behavior. Somewhat disappointed, Bai Fang sent Bai Congming out to play and curled back up in bed, preparing to call Zhou Nianci.
She really should not have bothered her during the New Year festivities, but she would indulge herself this once in her life. Surely Zhou Nianci would not hold it against her.
"Why are you calling at this hour?"
The sound of a spatula stirring food came through the phone. It sounded lively over there, and Bai Fang was momentarily speechless, beginning to regret calling her.
"Say something," Zhou Nianci said, as gentle as ever. "What is it? You..."
"I'm fine," Bai Fang interrupted. "I just missed you a little."
Zhou Nianci paused, her heart giving a sudden lurch.
Bai Fang rarely expressed her feelings so directly. She turned off the stove, pushed open the door, and walked into the courtyard.
"It's snowing."
"Yes," Bai Fang said with a little laugh through the static. "I've forgotten when it last snowed."
But Zhou Nianci remembered.
That winter had been cold too. The lake had frozen over, and she and a few playmates who knew no fear had shoved one another around on the ice, their laughter piercing the bitter air.
Until her foot slipped, and the crack of breaking ice rang out with particular clarity-then the bone-chilling lake water swallowed her in an instant.
The water was black, and