Chapitre 131: Ashes
Liang Jian Amal exhaled a cloud of smoke as he watched a few of the guards wash away some of the last of the blood in the square.
Even though it had broken his Jid's heart, he sentenced his eldest son Mamud Ilyas al-Hassan to death by a firing squad for the thousands of lives he destroyed, through the attempted coup and the human trafficking ring he managed.
While Hakim al-Hassan passed the sentence down, he was unable to view the process himself, and so Liang Jian Amal attended the execution as representation. This had been one of the last things that had needed to be taken care of, now that it was over he could finally attend to his needs.
He put out the cigarette against his heel and left to return to the palace and grab a few things before leaving.
In the front courtyard there was a bit of commotion surrounding two figures in the gateway. His brow wrinkled as he nudged the horse to go a little faster to see what was going on.
Once he was close enough to recognize the figures he was surprised. Liang Jian Amal was completely shocked to see the small woman standing in the gateway, absolutely filthy and covered in cuts and bruises. She had a wild look in her eyes and was completely disheveled, in complete contrast to usual calm collected self. By her feet kneeled an even worse looking man with his arms and hands tied behind his back.
"Hao Jin Ying? Why are you here, I thought you left with-" He stopped himself before saying 'my wife,' his heart dropping and changed it to "Chang. Where have you been for the last 8 weeks? "
"Chairman Liang left me in a bit of a difficult position after he took LiHua and Chang. He came here with armed men, and forcibly took her and then tried to silence me."
"Tch, it's time I defanged that old snake, I'll have to take care of that first.." Liang Jian Amal muttered darkly. "I am glad you are safe, I will see justice for what was done. I was actually about to leave to go to the US, but it looks like there is something I need to settle first in Shanghai. I know you've been through a lot, I can see this but will you come with me?"
"If you don't mind, I am in desperate need of a bath. I brought you a present I'm sure he'll have some interesting things to tell you sir, he and his comrades did for me. Please enjoy my gift while I make myself feel human again." Hao Jin Ying left no room for argument as she headed inside leaving the bound man kneeling in front of Liang Jian Amal.
----
Chang left the crematorium in a cab after listlessly filling out what seemed like endless amounts of paperwork. The nurses gave her several pamphlets for counseling and aid that she left behind, looking at the words only seemed to make the stabbing sensation in her heart feel worse.
In the end all she left with were a mountain of bills that would be mailed to her later, her mother's words which remained unread as if it could change the reality, and a small cold metal urn.
As she rode in silence, she kept her head pressed against the window, trying not to think about the now empty home. As the pain festered she pressed her mother's ashes tightly against her chest, desperately trying to subdue the feeling of drowning in air.
Chapitre 132: Thank You
After taking the taxi home, Chang threw a handful of bills at the driver uninterested in the change. As she pushed in the slightly creaky door, she almost half expected to see someone waiting to great her or a cheery 'welcome home.' The only sound that came from the empty house was her now.
Carrying the small urn that carried her mother's ashes Chang went to her Dad's alter.
She placed the two of them together, now that things were like this it didn't seem right for the two of them to be apart. At least not anymore.
Dead eyed, Chang went to the bag she brought from Lahat and pulled out the family picture her mom gave her. Her last gift.
Chang placed the smiling picture in front of the two silver urns, focusing on the living joyous faces instead of the cold metal that contained the remains.
"Why did you both leave me alone already.." She couldn't help but whisper to them, some part of her hoping for an answer, but there never would be one.
Looking at them she mustered up the strength withing herself to pull out the page of words her mom wrote. Her last words.
The words slanted across the page and were almost unreadable due to the shaking, and her loss of movement control. Chang clutched the paper with trembling hands.
"My dearest Xiao Xie I'm so sorry I can't stay with you. Just know your father and I love you very much and we always will, even if we can't be by your side well always be looking out for you.
"Please don't give up now that we're not here with you, be strong my child, and live freely, that was Hénri and I's greatest wish for you. To live freely and proudly, unfettered by shackles around your heart. We never wanted you to have to live a life weighed down by sadness and pain.
"Please don't give up on Liang Jian Amal, I know things don't seem right now, but I believe in him. He truly loves you and you love him, in the end that's all that really matters. If you do move on to someone else, I would still support you, as long as they love you and make you happy.
"Xiao Xie don't stop laughing loudly and freely, don't stop singing like no one listens, and dance to your hearts content. These are beautiful things and you should enjoy them and all of life's wonders.
"I wish I could be here with you longer but I can't, your dad was never really good at waiting, and you inherited that from him. I love you and will always be watching over you. Always.
"Chang you are the most beautiful and wondrous thing to have ever come into our life, thank you for having been our daughter."
Chang crumpled forward and held the small page that was filled with her mother's words.
"I'll try.. " She barely managed to whisper out before she was wracked with huge shaking sobs. Laying on her side she clutched her knees close to her face and began to wail.
Chang lay there until the the day became night and started to become light again. Long after she ran out of tears, she continued to lay there on the cold floor.
The light that shone through pushed her to get up, there were things she had to take care of. If nothing else she would fulfill her mother's last wish and not give up.
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