Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 238 Childhood

As soon as the rainy season hit, the rain started pouring out of nowhere. It was sunny one minute, and then right after school let out, it just started dumping rain.

I was biking to the intersection, and when the light turned green, I headed in the opposite direction from home. After a few turns and passing Sunshine Elementary, the rain got even heavier, so I picked up the pace.

At the next intersection, I spotted someone familiar-Emily. She was hurrying along, using her backpack as a makeshift umbrella since she didn't have one. Suddenly, a group of boys blocked her path.

One of them said, "Hey, why are you in such a rush?"

Emily kept her head down, looking a bit scared, and tried to dodge around them. But they weren't having it and pulled her back. In the scuffle, her backpack fell into a puddle.

"Trying to run away? You don't have any family to care about you. Come hang with us," one of the boys taunted.

Emily picked up her backpack and said, "I'm not going."

One of the boys grabbed her hair, saying, "Don't be ungrateful."

As they were dragging her away, I pedaled hard and skidded to a stop in front of them, blocking their path.

"Don't you guys have anything better to do?" I leaned on my bike handle, giving them a lazy look.

"Ethan," one of the boys exclaimed.

They recognized me. It looked like they went to the same middle school. Most kids at school knew me. I wasn't one to start trouble, but I sure wasn't afraid of it. They stuck out their tongues, and one scratched his nose, saying, "Ethan, we were just messing around with her. We're heading home now."

With that, they took off. Emily stood there, head down, her toes wiggling in her wet sandals.

"Thanks," she said softly.

She was always so timid; I'd noticed that a while ago. Just like now, she thanked me but couldn't bring herself to look up. I stared at her face. She was small and thin, looking a bit underfed. But her long, fluttering eyelashes were the most striking feature. I found myself wanting to see the eyes behind those lashes, but Emily wouldn't look up.

getting worse. Let me take you home,"

put her

is just up

that, she turned and dashed off, her backpack over her head. I trailed behind on my bike, watching her until she

was always keeping her head down, looking timid. Now, two years later, she

kept wiping her eyes as she ran. Was she crying? Those boys must have really upset her. I wanted to comfort her, but I felt like I was the last person

to bring Victor back to life and wake her mom up. But that was impossible; what was done

out of sight that I pedaled away. Not far ahead, I saw my cousin. He was also carrying a backpack and riding a bike.

and said, "Just

and said, "You really have a good mood,

intersection, and I kept going. Passing a mall, my eyes unconsciously looked towards the entrance. My fingers tightened on the brake, and I stopped. The man walking out of the mall was my father, Victor, and the woman beside him was probably

together still hurt. They were chatting and laughing, looking like a happy family. Even when they got into the car, Victor didn't notice

private cars, and Victor was one of the few who did.

chance to ride in it because she was always in poor health and rarely went out. As for me, I preferred my bike, even if it meant getting soaked

staying in the dormitory, so it wasn't unusual

out of the farmers' market with groceries. She was carrying bags in one hand and holding an umbrella in the other, coughing so hard her back was

up to

your cough is getting worse. How about

was pleasantly surprised to see me and quickly tilted the umbrella towards me to cover

you, I told you to always carry an umbrella,

Even when she scolded me, there wasn't a hint of harshness; every word was filled with care and

and years of medication hadn't helped. Victor used to show some concern at first, but later he got annoyed by her coughing and even told her to

car yet. Cindy was worried that Victor wouldn't eat well at the factory, so she delivered meals to him every

wasn't at the factory. She waited in the snow for a long

and a cough. That was when her chronic cough

pushed the umbrella back towards

but your health isn't good, so don't catch