ROUNDED | Teen Ink

ROUNDED

May 17, 2023
By EmilyChen GOLD, Shanghai, Other
EmilyChen GOLD, Shanghai, Other
10 articles 0 photos 0 comments

She was tossing and turning in her bed like a caterpillar on the stamen. Finally, she slowly approached the desk, and using the experience collected from the previous 30 years, she precisely hit the sphere-shaped clock to stop, which was shouting for her to quickly woke up. She was on a rounded bed, to describe it precisely, a perfect wooden circle like a stage.
 
The entire house was with no angles, the desks are not rectangular, but instead circular. The same as the chair. Although the basic furniture was wooden made and hard, the edges were all protected by the soft cushion.
 
Opening the rounded handle on the bathroom door, the first impression of people on here will be her slimness, the purple T-shirt swinging back and forth on her body, the light greenish pants hanging loosely on her waist, as it is going to fall in any second. Her body, especially her arms and legs could be held by a single hand around it, her skin was inattentive, and the only fat on her arm moves loosely when she walks.
 
Trembling, with the help of leaning on the wall, she finally stands in front of the bathroom sink. Reaching for her fake tooth with her shivering hand and put the pink and white things gently into her wizened mouth. That was probably the most difficult task in her entire day because she can't see where the thing was. That fake tooth was the most dangerous item in the entire little rounded house. It is sharp.
 
There was a mirror and a light installed in the bathroom, but she never used it, for her, they are meaningless.
 
The telephone rings, and after a few staggers, she reached it. An eyeglass case was laying beside the table. She used to have a glass too. But they are useless now for the blind.
 
"Mom I promised I will head back home directly next week after work" a rigid man's voice passed through the telephone and pleased.
 
"You said that last week and last-last week," her pacific face is without any noticeable expressions but her wrinkles have the expression of relief.
 
"I promised, you know my job has some specialties. It's not my decision, next Friday, I promise I will be back." the voice on the other end of the phone was getting more and more impatient, "Alright, I need to go", he nimbly put on his bright orange clothes and ran to his colleagues. The faint sound of a siren echoed in the distance.
 
He never came back.
 
She was tossing and turning in her bed like a worm on the stamen. Finally, she slowly approached the desk, and using the experience collected from the previous 45 years, she precisely hit the sphere-shaped clock to stop.
 
It was Friday. She opened the door that long-dusted, and staggered to a wooden vintage box with scratches on the very bottom of the rounded shelf. It was the thick dust on it, the rough feeling, and the rotten smell that made her confirm that this was the box that she was looking for. The lock on it seemed to be rusted, she applied all her force on it and the ancient box finally opens with a "Squizz" sound.
 
Inside, were no earrings, no vintage watch, no ring. But a bright orange jacket neatly folded and 2 pairs of rounded glasses that her dead husband and she used to wear. Although one of its lenses is already missing, one can easily realize that it was the trend for 60 years.
 
"That's fine. I understand. I was once young". She murmured with a gentle smile on her face.
 
"I'm coming for you, my 25".


The author's comments:

This micro-novel tells the story of an elderly single mother who waits for her child to come back. She waits relentlessly, even though her son never returns. So is it him she is retaining and waiting for, or is it her youth that was as passionate as his 60 years ago?

In addition to this, this article also wants to try to explore the meaning of children to parents in an aging society, and the ambivalence of parents who want to keep their children by their side, but also want them to spread their wings and fly in their own youth.

Emily Chen is a 10th grader from Shanghai, China. Her interests span literature, gender studies, and economics. She is committed to promoting gender equality and has posted some book reviews and creative writing through social networks. Her work has been recognized by New York Times. She likes to travel, listen to music, and paint pictures. 


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