Numb

The pain had subsided the moment Liu Ximeng moved away from madam Mu's side. Yet the throbbing, burning sensation over her scar made her curl over the bed, cold sweat matting her hair and seeping through the robes.

Her skin felt cold, the air in the room warmed up by only a single oil lamp, the flame flickering on the table. 

The tea and pastries Liu Ximeng had brought for her still stood on the table, cold and forgotten.

The incantation over her chest still glowed a faint golden, but madam Mu was slowly turning numb to the pain - the disappointment.

All the moments she thought she would finally feel happy always ended this way - with her broken and Liu Ximeng leaving her behind to hurt alone.

Yet she still lingered and kept hoping - waiting for the better days to come. But history kept repeating itself, and each time she fell deeper into the rabbit hole.