I wake up to an excruciatingly unfamiliar sensation: the sinking of the mattress underneath my body weight. How long has it been since the incident that forced me to flee into the woods? 7 years? I haven't slept in a bed for 7 years. Although that novelty isn't the primary pain culprit. No, that would be my crumpled right leg and broken 11th and 12th ribs.
I subconsciously reach for my knapsack to retrieve the herbs I'd normally use to dampen the agony, but it seems the people responsible for my care have placed my belongings elsewhere. No matter, I've slowly habituated myself to the sensation of pain over the years so that I'm functional with it, but of course I'd prefer to be without it.
As I'm mulling over my current circumstances, a shabby, middle-aged man enters the admittedly small windowless room. His face brightens upon seeing me awake and upright, and he begins speaking to me in rudimentary English.
"Hello! Very lucky Battlemages come quickly; I scared think what happen if not. I am Mo Jiaxing. Ah, Jiaxing Mo in English."
Amused, I reply in Mandarin, "Elder Mo, no need to bother with English. My father was Indian and my mother was Chinese, so feel free to communicate in your native tongue. My name is Jianyu Patel, but I would prefer you call me Jianyu. My surname is Patel."
He sighs in relief and switches back to Mandarin. "After you collapsed yesterday, the Battlemages brought you into the nearest hospital to stabilize your injuries. There was a great deal of discussion in the lobby on whether to leave you at an orphanage or to remain in the ward for the time being."
"Well, I assume I'm not in the ward. This is an ordinary bedroom. Wait, why were you a part of that discussion? You don't appear to be a Battlemage…"
"I was at the hospital to retrieve medication to treat Xinxia, my neighbor's daughter, since she was exhibiting symptoms of the flu. As I overheard the conversation leading in the direction of dumping you at an orphanage, I chimed in to ask what was going on. They explained, and I offered to take you in. You're currently in my bedroom: I had a second bed brought in."
[... No strings attached? And the Battlemages just handed me over? Something's fishy.]
"Elder Mo, I appreciate your kindness, but I've always fended for myself. Thank you for the care, but I'll take my leave now."
"No, no. A child like you shouldn't worry about supporting himself. Just rest up and heal for the time being. It's July 10, and the school year begins on September 3."
"School? Why would I even-"
"I want you to enroll in Lingyun Middle School with Xinxia and have a regular school life."
"But…"
He glares at me. "Enough! You'll be thrown into the orphanage without a guardian. You're too old for that place, too young to look after yourself." His expression softens. "Stay with me a while, won't you? Treat it as doing this old man a favor. I've always wanted a son."
As he wraps me in a hug, for the first time in 7 years I feel the warmth of a paternal figure. I could get used to this.
…
…
The house is cozy at best and tiny at worst. There's 2 beds in the same small room, one bathroom, and a combined living area and kitchen. The walls are plastered with pictures of Xinxia and her mother, Ye Chang. Mo Jiaxing greeted them after they moved in next door 3 years ago, and the three have become as close as family.
I hobble over to one of the 4 soft chairs in the living area, taking care not to place much weight on my right leg. After 5 days of rest, it's halfway to being healed: abnormally fast, as usual. My heightened recovery speed is bestowed by the black ring hung around my neck by a string, one of my mother's keepsakes that she gifted to me when I was 4.
I gaze at the only window, barely discerning the image of a clean, fit, lightly tanned boy. My hair is quite the mess; my attempts at cutting it with my stone knives over the years did not yield sightly results. Luckily, Mo Jiaxing assured me that Xinxia and Ye Chang were not ones to ridicule ugliness. Not that I think I'm ugly by any metric, but my hair may fit the bill.
My thoughts are interrupted by the front door opening. Ye Chang wheels in Xinxia, with Mo Jiaxing following close behind. I'm about to stand and greet them, but Mo Jiaxing shakes his head sternly, concerned about my leg.
Xinxia smiles at me. "Hi Jianyu! We'll be going to the same school in 6 weeks. I'll be in your care; hopefully you don't mind taking me to the campus while our parents are busy."
"How could I? I'd be more than happy to..."
I trail off, unsure of how to continue. My stiff attempt at conversation somehow does not dampen her mood, and she giggles, "I'll be looking forward to it!"
…
…
A month later, I'm currently in the bathroom with my eyes closed. Two she-devils are murmuring to each other about how to proceed with my haircut.
[I've been sitting on this stool for over two hours! How much longer will they continue to harass my head?]
Finally, Ye Chang brushes off all the stray hair and tells me to open my eyes. I'm faced with a handsome boy in the mirror, staring into his chocolate eyes.
"Unbelievable."
Ye Chang smirks and ruffles my hair. "Your facial features were obscured by that mop you called hair."
I narrow my eyes, delighting in the sensations of her hand on my head.