Nichole Zang

All sorts of depressing thoughts kept running through Lee's mind. They were all suspicions about Lynn. Who was the real Lynn ?

It didn't seem right that she and Lynn weren't very familiar with each other yet Lynn brought her over to a her friend and they were having such conversations.

She already had a dislike towards the rich who took advantage of others and people who gave something to someone to show that they were superior.

The women in her neighbourhood had done such things like giving her food, offering her a place to stay or even giving her used clothes but none of their intentions were good. It was like they were giving alms to a beggar or even worse.

She was seating a little far from the two on a wooden chair when Christine served her tea and biscuits. Out of kindness for the old lady ,she ate but her mouth felt sour.

When she was done eating, Lynn who had drank only water told her to stand up and follow her. Lee followed Lynn and Christine who led the way to the back of the cottage.

Behind the house,a rectangular fence made out of pines was steps away. Lee looked at Lynn and Christine whose moods had turned sour for some reason.

The place they arrived at had three graves. Lee was shocked but followed them.

The graves belonged to a child, youth and an old man according to the ages written.

In the memory of my husband , Walter Meddows,

1967 - 2001

In the memory of my son, Elliot Meddows,

1994 - 2001

In the memory of my daughter, Nichole Zang,

2014 - 2015

Nichole Zang, could it be her father's relative, her cousin? Was this why Lynn brought her here. Who did these other graves belong to?

She was Zang San Lee while her father was Zang Ze Li, who was the Zang this grave was written on.

This was my daughter,she was your sister. Lynn spoke with a low voice filled with pain.

Lynn burst into tears again just like every time when she visited her daughter. The thing that hurt her most whenever she came here was that she had no memories to remember her child by. When she got an accident and lost her memory,she forgot how Nichole looked like or even that she once had a daughter.

She tried looking at the pictures she had with her daughter but she still couldn't remember. "Which sort of mother forgets their own child?"

Her legs felt weak so she sat on the ground beside her child.

"This is my son and this is my husband," Christine spoke in terms pointing at each grave. She didn't cry or look very sad though she didn't look happy either. Christine had learned to live with the fact that her family was gone, she just hoped they were in a better place.

Life is short and hopefully,she will join them.

"Thank you for taking care of the place," Lynn told Christine as she wiped her tears. She planned to bring Lee here to meet her daughter but she ended up ruining everything.

Lee, this is Nichole,I don't remember her well but she looked like me.

Christine laughed because she was already used to how fast Lynn let go of things. It's like she wasn't able to contain pain or anger. Lynn was a good person and throughout these years,she has learned to see her as a daughter.

She wasn't around when Lynn's daughter died and she regrets that.

Lee was ashamed and envious after all this. She had already concluded that Lynn was like the others without any evidence. Lynn had been trying to make their relationship better but it seems that she wasn't meant to deserve love or care. It would all be ruined because of her toxic mindset.

The way Lynn behaved today, she felt envious of her sister. Her sister had left behind a loving mother who still cared for her, what about her. Did their father also love her sister?

He hadn't yet given her an explanation for what he did so it means he doesn't think he did wrong.

Where did all this put her?

"By the way, Lynn ,is this your relative," Christine asked. She forgot to ask about Lee because she felt familiar with the girl already.

"She's my daughter," Lynn said while looking at Lee to gauge her reaction.

Lee, who's mind was getting unnecessary thoughts again felt happiness burst into her heart when she heard somebody call her their daughter.

Christine didn't quite get what Lynn meant,had Lynn adopted a child. "How comes she wasn't told?"

"Lee is Ze Li's daughter," Lynn replied while adding and "mine" in her heart. She didn't like the feeling of not being Lee's real mother even for a second. She also didn't want to remind Lee of any bad memories caused by her mother.

One of the few times she feels like hating is when it comes to Fanny. She knew the pain of losing a child and never being able to have one again. "Who in their right mind can abandon their child?"

"Didn't Ze Li do the same?"a voice spoke inside her.

"No,he had a reason,he must have because he is a good person," she convinced herself.

"She must have a good reason too," the voice spoke again. She had to stop thinking too much or else she will get a headache.

Christine remembered Lynn mentioning Ze Li's daughter but due to the resemblance between the two,she assumed they were related. This made Christine frown.

She loved Lynn but couldn't say the same thing about her husband. Ze Li's attitude towards the employees wasn't good. He was a heartless man.

Sometimes,she wanted to advise Lynn to leave him but she couldn't get too involved in her personal life.

There seemed to be an invisible chain forcefully binding Lynn to Ze Li making her unable to part from him. Her eyes must be blinded too, making her unable to see his wrong doings even when they were right in front of her.