Feel good

When the meal was over, I wanted to clear the table but Shang Xie stopped me.

- Yuan Xie will clear the table, don't worry," said Shang Xie, before adding, "Josua, please accompany him.

Joshua nods and leaves with Yuan Xie.

- Sit down, I've got something to tell you," explains Shang Xie.

I sit down opposite him.

- Yes?" I asked, puzzled.

- I'd like to thank you for taking care of Joshua," Shang Xie said gratefully.

- It's my fault," I began to tell him.

- No, it's not. I've seen the surveillance tapes," he cut me off. "Do you want to make them pay?

- Yes," I replied.

- Here's my plan, you're going to stay here. We'll make sure you go missing so they can find out what happened before you disappeared. Then we'll send them to hell. Is that all right with you? he offers.

- Yes, it's perfect," I say.

- I know you've got family and you're going to miss them, but be strong," he says.

- Yes, I know, I'll be strong because it's necessary," I tell him determinedly.

- Remember it's only temporary, you'll see them again, he comforts me

- Yes, thank you for your help," I tell him, very grateful.

- You're welcome, he says

Yuan Xie and Joshua come back into the room. Joshua comes close to me, hesitating before taking my hand to point outside.

- Do you want to go for a walk," I ask him in a soft voice.

He nods.

- Yuan Xie go with them," ordered Shang Xie.

- Okay, but you should come too," he said.

- I'll think about it," says Shang Xie.

Yuan Xie nodded before getting Joshua ready to go out. It was a chilly evening, so we couldn't go out dressed to the nines.

- Follow me, I'll lend you one of my coats," says Shang Xie suddenly.

We went up the stairs and I followed him upstairs.

- Have you lived here long," I asked curiously.

- Yes, we moved here several years ago," he explains, recalling certain memories.

- And do you like it," I asked him, still curious.

- I like it a lot, especially the landscapes at night. It's really relaxing, he admits.

We arrive at his bedroom door. He goes inside and I wait outside.

A few minutes later, he emerges with a beige coat.

- Thank you," I said, taking the coat and handing it to him.

- You're welcome," he says.

I then leave the upstairs and head for the living room downstairs.

I turn on the TV while waiting for Joshua and Yuan Xie. Then I turn it off, not wanting to watch anything.

I start thinking about my family and friends. I was going to miss them.

- Are you ready?" asked Yuan Xie as we entered the living room.

- Yes," I say, getting up from the sofa.

- By the way, you know you could have turned on the TV," says Yuan Xie.

- I know," I said.

- So why were you watching with the screen off?

- I was in my own thoughts," I admit.

We headed for the door that would lead us outside. Yuan Xie opens it and we all go out.

- Could you hand me some new slippers," I asked him.

- Why?" he asked.

- Since I don't have any shoes, I have to go out with the slippers I have now. But if I walk around in these dirty slippers-

- Okay, I'll give you some more," he cuts me off.

He closes the door behind him. And we start walking towards the sea. It's so beautiful. The stars are shining brightly and illuminating the sea.

It's like being in paradise.

- Wow, it's beautiful," I say in awe.

- Yeah, it's pretty," confirms Yuan Xie.

- Did you bring back a tablecloth?

- Yes," he said.

He passes me the tablecloth and I put it on the floor.

- Joshua, do you want to go and get our feet wet in the water?

He nods quickly.

- I'll wait for you here," says Yuan Xie as he stretches out.

I take Joshua's hand and start running towards the sea. The fresh air gently caresses my face.

It feels so good, I thought, soothed by the breeze.

I take off my slippers and help Joshua remove his flip-flops and socks.

We dip our feet in the water.

- It's so cold," I tell him, shivering.

Little by little, we get used to the temperature.

- The moon," says Joshua, pointing to it.

- Yes, she's beautiful," I say, smiling happily.

We're so small against it.

After a few minutes soaking our feet, we emerge from the water and start walking towards Yuan Xie. Shoes in hand.

We land on a tablecloth without putting our feet on it.

- Pass me the water bottle," I say to Yuan Xie.

He hands it to me and I rinse Joshua's feet.

- Put your feet on the tablecloth and when they're dry, put your shoes back on," I said in a soft voice.

- Okay," he replies.

For a moment, no one speaks. All we can hear is the sound of the wind, and that feels really good.

But there's one question on my mind.

- Why are you all so nice to me," I asked.

- Why did you want us to be mean to you," I said, my eyebrows arched.

- No," I said.

- It's just that you don't seem like a bad person," he finally admitted.

- And how do you know that," I asked, puzzled.

- Thanks to this little guy," he said, pointing at Joshua.

- What do you mean?

- Joshua has always been lucky enough to be able to sense people's auras. He can tell who he thinks is good and who is bad," he explained.

- And what does he discern in me," I asked, curious.

- You have a beautiful aura, so pure that Joshua would want to stay with you all the time," he said.

- Wow, that means a lot to me," I said, moved.

If only I'd come here before, it would have saved me so much suffering. Being on this island was like being in an overprotected, peaceful world.

- Can you sing me a song? asks Joshua, baying and in a tiny voice.

- Okay," I reply, gently stroking his hair.

- I hope you can sing," says Yuan Xie, grimacing.

- Why are you afraid I'll break your ears," I said, amused.

- Yeah, a little bit, he admits.

- Don't worry, I can sing," I reassured him, laughing.

He stretches out on his brother's lap before deciding to lie on my legs.

He closes his eyes and waits for his song.

I smile before singing in a soft voice.

~ When the sun sets,

And the moon rises,

Don't be afraid of the dark,

For the stars will shine for you,

Oh and if you're still scared,

Know that I'll be there,

To rock you,

And I'll tell the moon,

To shine a little brighter,

And the stars to sing you a lullaby,

So you won't be afraid of anything,

Little boy,

Who sleeps on his two ears,

You're so sweet,

You deserve the world,

And you'll have it,

I promise you,

So good night. ~

I close my eyes, lulled by my own music. Then I open them again. I watch Joshua sleeping on my lap.

- Yuan Xie," I mumbled in a small voice so as not to wake Joshua.

Yuan Xie gets up and takes Joshua in his arms. I put the tablecloth away and take Joshua's shoes.

I put on my shoes and we start walking home.

- You sing really well," he says, surprised.

- I told you so," I smile back.

We arrive at the front door, Yuan Xie takes out the keys and opens the door, we go inside and he closes the door behind him.

I leave Joshua's shoes at the door and my slippers. We all go upstairs.

- Good night," says Yuan Xie.

- Good night," I reply.

The door to Shang Xie's room opens and he steps out.

- Did it go well? he asks.

- Yes, it went so well that Joshua's asleep," says Yuan Xie.

- What did you do? he asks me

- We dipped our feet in the water. It was cold, so we didn't stay long," I replied.

- You'll have time to come back, don't worry," he said.

- I can't wait, then," I said impatiently.

- Yuan Xie puts Joshua to bed and puts him in his pyjamas, he says

- I'll be off then, see you tomorrow," says Yuan Xie.

He quickly leaves for Joshua's room, leaving just me and Shang Xie.

- Don't you have any slippers? asks Shang Xie in a low voice.

- I went out with them, so they got dirty. But Yuan Xie was supposed to give me another pair, but I think he forgot," I explained.

Okay, I forgot too. But I wasn't going to tell him, I thought inwardly.

- Take mine," he said.

He takes off his slippers and puts them on in front of me.

- What about you?

- I've got others," he said.

I put them on my feet. And it's comfortable because they're already warm.

- Thank you," I said, rejoicing discreetly.

- You're welcome," he said lazily.

He's really beautiful. His slightly wavy black hair and ice-blue eyes. Dressed in his pyjamas and leaning against his bedroom door, he gave off a soft atmosphere.

- See you tomorrow," I said.

I smirk at him and head for my room.

I enter my room and close the door behind me. I take off my coat and place it in my checkroom.

I then head for my bathroom and spot a pair of pyjamas on the edge of the sink. And above it a small note with a message written on it.

This is a new pair of pyjamas I've never used. I'll pass you mine as you mustn't have any. Good night, Shang Xie.

Signed Shang Xie

I smiled before folding the note and placing it in a small basket in a drawer at the top of the sink.

It'll make memories, I thought with amusement.

I then brush my teeth before changing into my pyjamas. Once that's done, I switch off the bathroom light and go into my bedroom.

I close the curtains and turn off the lights before climbing into bed.

- Oops, I forgot to give him back his coat," I mumbled as I drifted off to sleep.