The distant mountains are draped in snow.
The cedar trees stand tall and straight, their cold shadows enclosing a small grave. Yin Tingxue's figure was wrapped in a bright red cotton jacket, as the Bodhisattva stood solemnly atop the stele. Her palms pressed together, she recited sutras for the journey to the Western Paradise. After some unknown time, a drop of dew rolled down her cheek, cold as if falling into water.
Snow started falling here as well.
After Yin Tingxue finished her blessings, she brushed off the slightly grayish snow atop the Bodhisattva's head and tucked it into her chest. This faceless, ugly Bodhisattva was a gift from her husband at their wedding. She carried it in her embrace at all times, seldom placing it aside. Thus, at this moment, the ugly Bodhisattva still carried a trace of warmth and did not bite with chill.
From the edge of the slope, the yellow dog barked at her anxiously, shrinking back timidly, hesitant to leap forward.
"I'll come up now."
