Reaching Adulthood

[Age 10]

This year, you were still bedridden, recovering from your illness. A few of your good friends from school came to visit you. Their visit brought you joy, and you made a promise with them to return to school together once you recovered.

[Age 11]

This year, your condition greatly improved. You could get out of bed and walk around freely. The doctor who came to treat you was astonished by your recovery. After speaking privately with your father, he seemed enlightened and said that within a month, you would fully recover.

The village chief came to visit you again. He looked at you with a gentle smile, patted your head, and spoke words you couldn't understand. At that moment, you felt like you weren't a child but an object, a product nearing completion.

You suddenly grew fearful of the white-haired village chief, whose face bore no wrinkles. You couldn't shake the feeling that he harbored ill intentions toward you.