The days seemed endless, each one bleeding into the next with little hope of change. For what felt like forever, I lived by stealing, endlessly searching for any trace of my mother, and retreating each night to the damp alley where Lei Wen and I tried to sleep away our hunger. But this life couldn’t last. Our food and drink, mostly stolen, were never enough, and the days I failed became much of a norm. Slowly, both Lei Wen and I grew weaker. Even if I succeeded, my face was becoming more familiar to the locals, and when they caught sight of me, I knew I would be in for a beating.

That night, as I trudged back empty-handed once again, I knelt down by Lei Wen, feeling the familiar weight of my own failure.

“Lei Wen, I’m sorry. I couldn’t find anything for you tonight. I tried—”

But before I could finish, Lei Wen, always resilient, managed a smile as she took my hand, something gleaming in her small fingers.

“It’s okay, sis. I’m not that hungry tonight,” she whispered, a small spark lighting her eyes. “Actually, I have something for you.

I was confused. What could she possibly have? But Lei Wen reached into her tattered pocket, pulling out a small silver ring and holding it out to me with both hands.

“Here, it’s for you. You work so hard for me, so I wanted to give you something nice in return.”

I slipped the ring onto the ring finger of my left hand, feeling it's cold metal against my skin.

“It’s beautiful. Is this real silver? Lei Wen, where on earth did you find this?”

Lei Wen giggled softly, her eyes sparkling.

“Just in one of the trash bins nearby. While you’re out during the day, I get so bored by myself, so I started digging through the trash just to pass the time. And then—there it was! I thought it was perfect for you.”

“You’re one lucky girl,” I said, my voice a little breathless with the truth of it. “If we sold this, we might even have enough to eat for a whole week…”

Before I could finish, Lei Wen suddenly lunged forward, clutching the ring on my hand as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“No! Don’t sell it! Please, don’t sell it!” Her voice was raw, desperate, and it pained me to hear.

“You don’t understand, Lei Wen. We need the money.”

She began to sob openly, her small frame trembling as she clung to me. “It took me forever to find it! I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to lose you. And… and I don’t want to lose Mom!”

In that moment, I could see something in her eyes—a glimmer of hope, or perhaps something even deeper, bound to the little silver ring. We’ve been searching endlessly for mom, and in her own way, Lei Wen had found her, or at least, she found it. Mother wore a silver ring just like this one, it complemented her white hair. Lei Wen must have thought I resembled our mom when I slipped it on. Or, maybe it was the way I’d been taking care of her, feeding her, as if mom was still here with us right now. Taking a steady breath, I gently patted her head and pulled her close.

“Alright,” I whispered, swallowing hard against the ache in my chest. “I promise, I’ll never sell it.”

“Promise me, sis. Pinky promise.”

With trembling fingers, I held out my pinky, locking it with hers, feeling the weight of her innocence pressing against my own fragile resolve.

“Yes, pinky promise.”

It was past midnight by the time I returned. Lei Wen, who had stayed up waiting for me, fell asleep in the middle of her story time. Outside, rain began to fall in heavy torrents. I picked up her little body, placing her carefully in a nearby trash bin to keep her dry, blanketing her with those story books I just read, then, I covered the top with a stick to hold the lid open. Maybe I should probably get some rest too. Tomorrow, I’d have to “work hard” again—and look for Mom.

I grabbed a big trash bag to use as a pillow, lay down on the hard, damp ground as if it were a bed, and forced myself to sleep. But no matter how I tried to keep my eyes shut, I kept on tossing and turning, sleep just wouldn’t come. The cold rain was soaking into my bones, mingling with the hunger gnawing at my insides.

My stomach clenched and twisted, and I felt a wave of dizziness. I looked at Lei Wen, curled up and sleeping soundly. She hardly complained anymore, not like when we had first arrived, though I knew she must have been as hungry as I was right now.

Right at that moment, the dim light at the end of the alley suddenly caught my attention. It was the Red Light District, a place rumored to harbor all sorts of vices. Since arriving here, I hadn’t given it much thought, mostly because the district only lit up late at night. Maybe now was the time. Without thinking much more about it, I stood up and walked through the dark, narrow alley, letting the rain soak through my clothes as I went.

The lights on the street at night time shone through the heavy rain in blurry hues of red and pink. The dim glow turned the street into something hazy, surreal, almost beautiful. But as I looked closer, I saw that behind the warmth of those lights was something broken, something hidden. These strange shops and vendors sold items I didn’t understand. "Powder” "Adult Toys"—I couldn’t imagine what any of it meant. I moved from one shopfront to the next, curious, yet fearful, knowing that something was off about this place.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The farther I walked, the more surreal everything felt. The night was alive with people, almost more crowded than during the day. Women of all types milled about, wearing colors as bright as the signs. Most had bold, vibrant dresses that revealed their bare skin, and I couldn’t believe this was what they chose to wear. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but the urge to find Mother lingered, pulling me deeper into the street.

Finally, I stopped before a large building with the brightest pink sign. It read “Brothel.” Standing outside was a middle-aged man in a brown suit, smoking a cigarette, surrounded by women. I thought maybe he’d know something, so I approached.

“Tonight's the night,” I heard him say, blowing out a long plume of smoke. “We have a VIP client, big guy. Do your best, be obedient…”

I drew closer, and his gaze shifted to me, eyes narrowing.

“Hey, kid, what do you want?”

“I’m looking for someone,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh yeah? And who might that be?”

“My mother.”

He burst out laughing, and the women around him joined in, their laughter cutting into me like glass.

“Your mom? Hahaha, that’s a good one, kid.”

“What’s so funny?” I asked, my cheeks burning.

“Ah, nothing,” he smirked, drawing out another puff of smoke. “Actually, kid, I might just know your mom.”

My heart leapt. “Really? Where is she?”

“Well, technically… I know about fourty of them here. Hahaha!”

The words hit me like a punch, and any hope I had crumbled. I backed away, feeling the weight of my own foolishness pressing down on me. I turned and staggered down the street, past the voices that trailed after me, stinging like salt in a wound.

“What a joke.”

“Poor little thing, looking for her mother in a place like this.”

“Her mother could be here, but she clearly doesn’t want her…”

The rain poured harder as I stumbled away, each step dragging me down until I could barely lift my legs. The voices faded, and I looked around, searching for anything that made even a bit sense, anything that could save me from the darkness swallowing me whole.

And then I saw her—a flash of long white hair, bright even in the dim light, moving quickly down a side street. My heart caught in my throat. I pushed forward, weaving through the crowds, clinging to the hope that maybe, somehow, it really was her.

When I finally reached the alley, I saw her—but she wasn’t alone. She was pinned against the wall by a man, his hands holding her down. I tried to hide, but he spotted me.

“Hey, kid, get over here.”

“What are you doing? She’s just a child,” she pleaded, her voice shaky, almost like a whisper.

“Shut up! Bitch!” he snarled, his hand tightening on her shoulder as he reached down, undoing his belt. “I paid you to do whatever I say.”

He shoved her, pressing her harder against the wall. “From my superiors, to my colleagues, I’m used to being pushed around. But not by the likes of you!”

I wanted to scream, to shout, to run, but I couldn’t. My body was frozen, my mind reeling as I watched, powerless to stop it.

“Besides, the thought of this kid watching us right now, it really turns me on”.

“Please! Don’t…Ahhhh!”

…

Finally, he was done. He stepped back, brushed off his suit, and walked away, leaving her slumped against the wall.

I ran to her, sobbing. She struggled to her feet, straightened her dress, then crouched down, pulling some money from her pocket and handing it to me.

“Sorry you had to see that, little one. Here, take this as compensation.”

She pressed the money into my hand and straightened up.

“Well then, I’ve got another client waiting. Take care.”

I stood, stunned, wanting to say something, but the tears streaming down my face choked my words. Suddenly, I cried out.

“Mom!”

She turned to look at me.

“Your mom? That’s right. Where is she? Why would she let you roam the streets this late?”

“What are you saying? You’re… you’re my mom.”

“Your mom? Me? Sorry, little one, but you’ve got the wrong person. Just because we look a bit similar doesn’t mean anything. I’d never be careless enough to get pregnant—too much of a hassle.”

I grabbed her leg, refusing to let go.

“No! You’re lying! I know it’s you.”

“Kid, you’re pushing your luck here. Let go.”

Angered, she kicked me to the ground and walked off unsteadily toward the street entrance. I struggled to my feet and chased after her.

“Mom! Don’t leave me!”

But it was too late. By the time I reached the alley entrance, she was already with another man. I called out again, but she never turned back.

“MOM!”

Why? Just why did this happen to us? Why did she deceive me, betray Dad? Why would God give us hope only to have it shattered to pieces? I stood there, drenched, as rain poured down, there were covers nearby, yet I stayed in the downpour. My legs wanted to move, but I had nowhere to go. My eyes sought the light, but only darkness remained. What was left for me? The reason I had clung to life was gone, what was the purpose of my existence? Should I end it all? Would that be the answer?

But then I thought of Lei Wen. Could I leave her alone? No! Should I take her with me? Maybe. At least that would ease the pain for both of us.

The blaring of a siren cut through my thoughts, and the street erupted into chaos.

“POLICE! RUN!”

Police? It reminded me of my father, how he’d often go out on duties during late nights. I imagined his face, a brave man, a hero. I looked up, and for a fleeting moment, I saw him—my father’s face, his kind eyes, his strength.

“You’re special, more so than anyone else,” he said, his voice warm and steady. “Use that gift to help others, no matter what. I believe that one day, you’ll be the one to save us all..”

That…was my purpose, He believed in me. Even if the world had turned against me, even if hope seemed like nothing but a cruel lie, he had believed in me.

And maybe that was enough.