Three Women in the Cage

She had to walk aimlessly along the road, not knowing where she was going, but she just couldn't go home now.

Suddenly I felt a little hungry. Yes, I haven’t had breakfast yet, so I should be hungry at this time.

Where can I find something to eat? She pondered helplessly as she walked aimlessly along the main road.

I don’t know how long it took, but I arrived at the school gate. Looking at the closed door, it seemed like a century had passed since I happily walked out of here yesterday. It seemed so close and yet so far away.

After all, it was all a dream, and those happy things did not belong to me. I have always been a homeless wanderer, and no one would truly take me in.

If you know this is the case, why bother to deceive yourself in the beginning and let yourself be happy for nothing in the end?

Why on earth were they doing this? Why were they suddenly nice to her, and then suddenly changed their attitude? She couldn't figure it out...

How I wish I had never received those kindnesses, so that I wouldn’t be like I am now, secretly sad because of the fleeting warmth.

I don’t know how long I stood there. My legs and feet were numb for so long that I finally moved my steps and walked towards the street. I walked to the supermarket in front in a daze and bought a bag of bread.

Yes, this is her food for today. She will buy it and take it home to eat. She has no desire to cook when she gets home. She just hopes to get through the night quickly so that she can go back to school early tomorrow morning.

She continued walking towards the road while eating bread in big mouthfuls, but the road back was too short. If she walked back and forth, she was afraid that others would think she was crazy.

Looking at the direction leading to the city on the other side, she suddenly wanted to walk in that direction. She knew that at the end of the road was her second sister Yaya's school, and she might meet her there.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but walk towards the road. Vehicles were passing by her in a constant stream. Apart from the cars, there was only her figure as a pedestrian on the empty road, walking in a daze.

Because the road is too long, there are usually no pedestrians except cars. Looking at Xinxin who is alone, the people in the vehicles all stick out their heads curiously.

Xinxin couldn't see the expressions of the people in the car, so she was naturally not affected by them. She lowered her head and walked silently. She didn't know where to go, so she just walked aimlessly.

As she walked, she didn't know how long she had been walking. It seemed like noon and she felt a little hungry. She took out a piece of bread and ate it while walking. She looked a little embarrassed in the cold winter.

Gradually, the road became longer and longer, so long that she felt unfamiliar, very unfamiliar. She began to be afraid that she could not continue at the end because it was getting dark. If she could not get back early, being alone in the strange dark night would make her feel a different kind of fear.

As a last resort, she changed direction and walked back the way she came, and finally returned to the village before dark.

At this time, all the lights were on in every household. Because of the cold weather, there were few people outside. In addition, because it was dark, there was no one outside.

Looking at the eerily quiet village, I timidly felt my way home, quietly opened the door, and walked into the dark house.

Although she was scared, at least she could hide here temporarily. She quickly locked the door and ran into the bedroom, but still didn't dare to turn on the light, for fear that others would discover her return.

She groped her way onto the bed in the dark, and sure enough, there were stones on the bed that the children had thrown in. She swept the stones off the bed in a hurry, then covered herself with the quilt and hid herself under it.

Praying that no one would find her today, that there wouldn't be any strange movements or scary noises, she silently prayed, while trying to convince herself to fall asleep quickly. Because when she fell asleep, she wouldn't be afraid! It would be best if she could sleep through the night, so that when she woke up, she could go back to school and no longer have to face the oppression and fear here.

However, some people seemed to be waiting for her on purpose, as if they expected her to come back, and would hide secretly inside. When she lay down in the quilt again, there was a noise outside.

She closed her eyes, numbing herself. It was all fake. There was no one outside, and no sound.

But the tense atmosphere made her hold her breath, and every little movement outside was extremely clear. Soon there was a rapid knock on the door, a shrill cat cry, and a rustling of laughter.

Even after such a terrifying experience, even knowing that those people were responsible, Xinxin still broke out in a sweat. She was dazed and trembling, and before she knew it, she fell asleep.

The next day finally arrived. She woke up as if from a dream. With the fear of surviving a disaster, she hurriedly put on her clothes, put on her schoolbag, and fled like a fugitive.

Yes, she was like a fugitive, and suddenly she felt ridiculous. Why did she become like this?

Is it inner cowardice, or the malice shown by others? She doesn't understand, but it seems that she has always understood...

She arrived at school very quickly, and this time she was the first one to arrive, as usual. Walking on the playground, she unexpectedly ran into Teacher Wu again. Xinxin wanted to turn around and leave, but Teacher Wu called her.

He asked with confusion: "Is it another person this time?"

Xinxin looked up in confusion, thinking that what the teacher said was a little strange, but she didn't intend to reply him. After looking at him, she quickly lowered her head without responding.

Seeing her like this, Teacher Wu had no choice but to let her leave first.

After staying alone in the dormitory for a while, she suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from far away. She knew it was Tan Liu. She planned to ignore her, but unexpectedly, as soon as Tan Liu came in, she called her enthusiastically, as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened between them.

Tan Liu even said to his friends in surprise, "You don't know, Zhang Xin was supposed to come to school with me, but after she went to my house, she went to her aunt's house the next day. I didn't expect her aunt's house and mine to be in the same village. Haha, what a coincidence."

Several friends made surprised sounds and exclaimed that it was such a fate.

Suddenly, Tan Liu complained to Xinxin, "You're such a jerk! You didn't even wait for me before returning to school, forcing me to go to your aunt's house to look for you, thinking we'd go back to school together. Unexpectedly, they said you weren't there, so I left on my own. You're so mean."

Xinxin was embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. She just smiled with a blushing face. Seeing her embarrassment, Tan Liu didn't make things difficult for her anymore. He pretended to be enthusiastic and said, "Next time you go to your aunt's house, remember to wait for me. We'll go back together and then come to school together..."

Xinxin lowered her head and responded perfunctorily.

Sure enough, being with someone like Tan Liu, I ended up like a joke. She called me and dismissed me at will, and I couldn't blame her.

But since then, they have never been as close as before, and their relationship has become distant...

The following week, as expected, another classmate who was selected as a party member by Teacher Wu came and invited Xinxin to her home after school on Friday.