Bound By Flames

Li Mei began to feel the world around her becoming increasingly strange. Whenever emotions overwhelmed her anger or even just mild irritation the air around her would feel hot. One afternoon, while helping her mother at home, the frustration from unfinished chores made her body feel like it was burning. Suddenly, the temperature around the house rose rapidly, startling her mother, who looked at her anxiously.

"Li Mei, what's happening?" her mother asked in a tense tone, her eyes filled with fear.

Li Mei lowered her hands, which had felt as if they were touching hot air. "I don't know, Mom. I feel… something different inside me."

Since that incident, the villagers began to whisper. Some said Li Mei was cursed, that there was something strange about her. Whenever she passed by, the air around her body seemed warm. Some people started avoiding her, afraid there was something unnatural about her.

Her close friend, Suyin, who used to always be by Li Mei's side, began feeling pressured. Her mother forbade Suyin from approaching Li Mei. "You don't know what's happening to her, Suyin. Stay away from her," her mother said firmly and sternly. Suyin fell silent, confused by her mother's fear-filled words.

However, despite her mother's prohibition, Suyin couldn't just abandon Li Mei. She felt something was wrong, but her heart still wanted to approach her friend. One night, Suyin sneaked into Li Mei's house, hoping to talk to her friend who was struggling. When Suyin entered the house, Li Mei was surprised and immediately hugged her.

"What's happening to you, Mei? Why is everyone starting to avoid us?" Suyin asked, trying to find answers from Li Mei.

Li Mei took a deep breath. "I don't know, Suyin. I feel like there's something burning inside me, like… like a power I can't control."

Her mother, appearing at the door, glared angrily at Suyin. "I told you not to come near my daughter!" she shouted, pushing Suyin out.

Suyin fell to the ground, and Li Mei could only look with frustrated eyes. "Mom, why do you have to be like this? Why won't you give me a chance to figure this out?" she shouted, her anger starting to take over. The air around her body grew hot again.

Her mother stared at Li Mei with a look of desperation. "You don't understand, Mei. This is a curse. Don't let them see what's inside you."

Li Mei fell silent, unsure of what to do. Something strange continued to grow inside her, something she couldn't control. Deep down, she knew that what was happening to her was no mere coincidence. All of this was connected to the dreams that kept haunting her.

Suyin, hurt by her mother's words, stood up and left, though her heart was broken. She felt torn between loyalty to her friend and fear of what was happening. That night, when Li Mei fell asleep again, the dream came back, clearer than before. This time, she saw a giant Phoenix flying over a sea of fire, its eyes filled with hope as it looked at her.

"Am I the one who has to carry that hope?" Li Mei murmured, waking up with a heavier feeling than before.

"Is the Phoenix legend really true?" Li Mei wondered to herself. She had never seen the Phoenix's form, only heard stories told by the villagers.

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The next day, Li Mei walked slowly to the market, her heart full of unease. The morning air felt cold, but there was something even colder in her heart the despair that was eating away at her. Her mother, who ran a small shop on the edge of the village, was starting to feel the effects of the growing whispers. Their shop was quiet, customers were rare, and many people began to avoid them.

"Look at their shop! It makes me sick. Why don't they just close it down?" whispered one woman, her sharp and disdainful gaze cutting through the air.

Although they tried to speak quietly, Li Mei could still hear the hurtful words. She took a deep breath and tried not to care, pretending she didn't hear them at all.

Li Mei entered the shop, where her mother was busy arranging goods that were barely touched. "Mom, why is the shop so quiet?" Li Mei asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Her mother, packing herbal remedies, looked at her with worried eyes. "Many people think I'm using witchcraft to sell these, Mei. They say I have evil powers and trick people with these remedies. But these are just natural herbs, made with care."

Li Mei bit her lip. She knew her mother wasn't guilty, but more and more people were accusing and slandering her. Every time her mother went out to sell, she often faced ridicule from others. Some didn't hesitate to say harsh words in front of her. "Are you still selling those cursed things? Using magic to trick people!" said one villager loudly, making her mother fall silent and lower her head.

"Hahaha!" they laughed freely, indifferent to her mother's feelings, mocking her suffering.

Li Mei felt angry, but there wasn't much she could do. As a poor girl living in an isolated village, she knew it wasn't easy to change people's views. People began mocking her, saying she was just the daughter of a woman considered deviant. Even Suyin, her once-loyal friend, began to drift away.

One day, when they met in the market, Suyin spent more time talking to new friends who mingled with other villagers. Suyin no longer spoke to Li Mei as much as before. "Li Mei, I… I have to go. My mom asked me not to stay close to you," Suyin said softly, avoiding her gaze.

Li Mei felt a pang in her heart but couldn't force her. "Why, Suyin? What did I do wrong?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Suyin just shook her head. "It's not your fault, Li Mei. But I have to be closer to other friends, people who can help my mom and my family. I… I don't want to get more involved." After that, Suyin walked away, leaving Li Mei to watch her with a broken heart.

At home, Li Mei could only sit in the corner of the room, feeling alone. Her mother, who was serving a few customers, looked gloomier than usual. Sometimes, Li Mei felt her mother was struggling alone to survive amidst the village's growing pressure.

"What should we do, Mom?" Li Mei asked softly.

Her mother looked at her with tired eyes. "We will endure, Mei. We must believe that the truth will come out in time. But we need to be more careful now. The world is not always kind to those who are different."

Li Mei lowered her head, her heart growing heavier. She sighed. "Why was I born into a life like this?" she murmured sadly.