Revenge to The Devil

The car drove out of town and into a block I'd not seen before.

Low and shabby buildings hung with dirty signs and banners, which made the streets more stifling. There were no balconies on some buildings, so people hung their clean clothes around the windows, which was a sharp contrast with the dirty, low wall.

It was a miniature of art and life, or dream and reality. After a winding path, the car stopped in a narrow street. Jonathan opened the car door, outside noisy peddling and bargaining was going on.

"Where's this place?" I asked him.

"The place I grew up," he simply said.

The strange place instantly became very kind, I immediately looked around curiously, there were many scattered booths, selling cheap goods, and people were still bargaining. A few students, wearing scruffy school uniforms, rode bicycles and whistled as they passed us.

I couldn't help wondering what it was like when he was young and whether he was so innocent? But I could not get a picture in my mind. He carried me across half the alley, then went into a shop where the sign was broken.

The darkroom was filled with the smell of medicinal herbs, an old man in his seventies, was packing up his things. Near him, a granny was murmuring vague words.

Once she saw us, she came up to us hurriedly and said, "Jonathan? It has been a long time since I saw the last time you were here."

"Are you alright?"

"Well!" she looked up and down at him and said, "You look much better."

"Yes, much better," Jonathan answered in a slightly uncertain tone.

"I knew you were in a bad mood when you got expelled from school. But don't touch marijuana!" she said.

"I will never touch it again," Jonathan assured him. I understood then that she was insane.

She looked at me again and pointed excitedly at me, "What a beautiful girl, your girlfriend?"

He looked down at me gently and said with a smile, "It's my wife! She has sprained her ankle and I am turning to Uncle Frank for help."

The word 'wife' coming from his mouth, stunned me. Then it let me breathe in the herbs which emitted the amora of flowers. Then the darkroom became cozy.

"Wife?" she stroked my face with her rough hands, like a long-lost relative. "It is soon that you have married! If your mother knew it, she would be happy."

Jonathan tightened his hands holding me, but he said in a relaxed manner," Yes."

Uncle Frank put down the medicine to help the granny and said, "It's late, you should cook dinner soon."

"Still early, I want to chat with Jonathan for a while," she argued.

"I'm hungry," he insisted.

"Oh!" she walked away obediently. When she left, she turned around and asked, "Little Jonathan! I know you are finial, come back home soon, your mother is worried about you."

"I will!" his eyelashes dropped as he spoke, and from my perspective, I could see the guilt in his eyes that he was trying to cover. A long-time had passed, he still felt sorry for his mother.

I laid my hands gently on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, but it was useless. "What you feel the guiltiest about, was when you realized how precious family is to you, but they were gone. When you wanted to show your love and respect, there was no chance," said the old lady.

He bitterly smiled at me and placed me on his chair, carefully. "Don't take it seriously," Uncle said apologetically, "She is always like that, sometimes sane and sometimes insane."

"That's alright. My wife's foot seems to have a serious injury. Please see if it can be cured."

Uncle pulled up my jeans and gave me a hard twist on the ankle. I bit my lips, but my forehead was dripping with sweat because of the pain.

Jonathan clenched his hands and looked like he was in more pain than I was. "Is it serious?" Jonathan asked.

"It is uncertain because it's swollen. Well, I'll apply some medicine to relieve the swelling and pain. After a period of observation, I can treat it," the old man said. He looked at the suffering face of Jonathan and smiled, "Even when you have been beaten black and blue, I have never seen you reveal such expression."

Jonathan coughed softly to switch his attention and asked, "How long will it take her to walk properly?"

"Don't walk now. Come here every three days, I'll change the dressing for her. The time depends on the situation," he replied.

After uncle applied the plaster and helped me get the medicine, Jonathan went quietly to the old counter and put some money into the drawer.

When uncle turned around, he knew it but said no more words. It seemed to be ordinary.

When leaving, Uncle Frank told him, "I heard that your stepfather has come back from Australia recently and wanted to take your mother's ashes with him.

"Well, he called me and said it was too lonely there. I ask him to find another companion, but he is unwilling," said Jonathan.

"Don't blame yourself. You've done enough for your mother. But it is unfortunate," mentioned Uncle Frank.

He nodded, taking the medicine and carrying me away.

Half the distance of the street was not long, but it took a long time to arrive at the end.

Every step he took almost tired him out to continue to his next step. I leaned on his chest and held him close. "Are you alright?" I asked.

"It's okay, he asked me, "Where do you want to go?"

I even thought my auditory sense was wrong. He seemed to have begun to respect my opinion.

"Go back to the hotel," I said.

After getting in the car, he said to the driver, "To the Hilton Hotel."

The driver glanced at me in the mirror and started the car.

"Can I ask you a question? I said.