章節 32: Alex Finding Warmth
When Alex woke up, the dazzling white light streaming through his window made him squint. Snow had fallen heavily the night before, blanketing everything in an almost blinding whiteness. It was New Year's Eve, and as he lay there, cocooned under his quilt, the old saying came to his mind: Auspicious snow brings a good harvest. He hoped the coming year would be prosperous, filled with better opportunities. But beneath that hopeful thought lay a deeper sense of yearning, a sense of loss that tugged at his heart—he missed home.
It wasn't just the snow that reminded him of home, though the snow in his hometown had always felt thicker, purer, and colder than what he saw now. It was the memories that came flooding in, memories buried deep but stirred by the quiet morning snowfall. He thought of the times when he had ridden with his father on a dog sled to buy New Year's goods, the cold wind biting at his face while the dogs howled in excitement. He could still smell the sharp, clean air of those early winter mornings.
He remembered helping his mother bury freshly made dumplings in the snow, a childhood tradition he cherished. The dumplings were wrapped in dough and then tucked into little pockets of snow outside their home to stay fresh until it was time to cook them. They were always a bit too cold to touch when he helped his mother bring them inside, but the way they melted in his mouth at dinner made the icy numbness worth it.
And then there was the warmth of the stone, the brick bed heated from underneath, where he and his siblings would huddle together, eagerly waiting for their mother to hand out the traditional New Year's money. They would wear their new clothes, their hands freezing when they reached out for the red envelopes, but their hearts filled with excitement.
As these memories swept over him, Alex's eyes grew wet. This was the first time he had ever spent New Year's Eve alone, away from his family and the warmth of home. The stark realization hit him hard. He lay beneath the quilt, his heart aching, and though the heater in his room crackled steadily, it couldn't compare to the warmth of his mother's cooking or the flickering lamb oil lamp that used to light their tiny living room. A sense of loneliness settled over him, colder and sharper than the winter wind outside.
Suddenly, his phone rang, piercing the silence. The familiar tone of the director's ringtone echoed in the room, and Alex quickly wiped his eyes before picking it up. Seeing her name on the screen, a wave of warmth washed over him. He answered, his voice trembling slightly, though he tried to hide it.
"Little brother, where are you? Still in bed?" The director's voice carried her usual gentle concern.
Alex sat up, running a hand through his hair. "Sister, I… I just got up," he lied, his voice unsteady as he tried to compose himself.
"It's New Year's Eve, and you're still sleeping in?" she scolded lightly, "Why don't you come over and help me get things ready for the celebration?"
"Sister, I'll be there soon. Do you need me to pick anything up on the way?" he asked, trying to sound upbeat.
"No, everything's ready. Emily's been asking for you all morning, you know. I thought you might have had some wine last night and needed rest, so I let you sleep in. But it's already 11 o'clock, and since you still hadn't moved, I thought I'd better give you a nudge."
Suddenly, a small voice piped up in the background, full of childlike indignation. "Uncle! You promised you'd spend the New Year with me! It's so late and you're not here yet. You're so mean! If you don't come soon, I won't talk to you anymore."
Hearing Emily's playful anger, Alex felt happy. He hurriedly replied, "I'm so sorry, Emily! I'll be there right away to spend the New Year with you. Don't be mad at Uncle, okay?"
Emily's voice softened, and she giggled. "Okay, but you better hurry!"
After hanging up the phone, Alex sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, letting the conversation sink in. The warmth of their voices lingered with him. His loneliness, which had felt so heavy just moments before, now lifted.
Quickly, Alex swung his legs out of bed and grabbed his clothes. He dressed in a hurry, throwing on layers to shield himself from the cold outside. As he headed to the bathroom, toothbrush in hand, the weight of his emotions returned. He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Turning on the faucet, Alex let the water run for a moment, then splashed his face with the cold water, hoping it would wash away the lingering sadness. But the tears he had been holding back finally broke through. Slowly at first, then in waves, they streamed down his face. He didn't make a sound, but the tears kept coming, as if everything he had been bottling up was finally spilling over.
For a while, he let himself cry, leaning over the sink as the water continued to run. There was something oddly freeing about it. As the tears dried, Alex felt lighter.
He wiped his face with a towel, and as he gathered his things and headed out the door, Alex paused for a moment, breathing in the crisp winter air. The snow crunched under his boots as he made his way down the street, and he found himself smiling, despite everything.
每周推薦票狀態
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