Beyond the Divorce



As I stepped into the greenhouse, the sunlight filling the room made me feel a long-lost warmth. The flowers and plants were indeed well cared for. At this season, the orchids exuded a delicate and elegant fragrance throughout the room.

Surprisingly, butterflies were flying around in the greenhouse, which was a wonderful sight I could hardly imagine.

I couldn't wait to go in. My mind was only focused on the pond full of water lilies, without stopping to appreciate the other flowers and plants. Sure enough, I could see the little pond, but sadly, not a single water lily could be seen-all that was swimming in it was koi fish!

I stood by the pond in a daze, and Atlas hugged me from behind, "What's wrong?"

I turned my head, pointed to the pond, and said to Atlas, "There used to be water lilies planted here! They looked beautiful when they bloomed!" Atlas looked a bit bewildered. He asked in surprise, "Do you remember?"

I shook my head and said softly, "No, it's just from my dream! My mother showed me her brooch here, and the blooming water lilies in the pond looked exactly like the flower on the brooch. It was so vivid!"

"Don't worry, there will be more in the future!" Atlas comforted me.

My emotions were overwhelmed by another wave of disappointment. It seemed that this place was no longer the same as it used to be. People were gone, and the past would never return.

What would it be like if we could go back and start over? A sense of sadness overwhelmed me, and my eyes became misty. "A-Are you Mr. Atlas?"

I was astonished when I heard a voice behind us that neither of us had heard before. I looked at the person behind us in surprise.

A hunched old man walked over from behind us. He looked quite tiny, with a wrinkly face and snowy white hair, as he stared out at us. A sliver of light appeared in his already cloudy eyes.

"Are you... Uncle Kenny?" Atlas asked eagerly as he slowly released his hold on my hand and turned to face the elderly man.

As soon as the old man heard

Atlas's question, he immediatelyet

then tears filled his ey

"Mr Atlas!

Y-You finally came back!"

He trembled as he approached, reaching out his hands eagerly.

Atlas quickly stepped forward and grabbed the old man's hands, but the old man promptly withdrew his dirt-covered hands and said, "Oh! Dirty!" Without hesitation, Atlas reached out again and held the old man's hands with his own. "Uncle Kenny, you're still alive!"

"Mr. Atlas, how could I dare to die without seeing you?" He choked up, tears streaming down his face.

"H-How did..." Atlas's gaze locked onto the hunched back behind him.

"Mr. Atlas!" he sobbed, "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back? You've made this old servant wait so long in agony!" With reddish-tinged eyes, Atlas turned to face him and said, "Uncle Kenny... you used to be..."

"Let's not talk about that. C-Come

with me! The old man quickly wipednovelbin

away his tears with his sleeve and

grabbed Atlas's hand, but then hesitated and gave me a doubtful glance.

Atlas quickly reached out and pulled me over, "Uncle Kenny, look, this is Stella, my wife!"

е

As soon as the old man heard it was Stella, he immediately widened his eyes. He leaned toward me, and his

mouth trembled violently, "Stella?

I-Is she really Ms. Stella?"

He turned to Atlas for confirmation.

Atlas nodded firmly and said, "Yes! She's Ms. Stella, my wife!"

The old man cheered, "Really?"

He then clasped his hands together and raised them above his head; he bowed to the sky and said, "Goodness begets goodness!"

I felt a sharp rush of emotion in my nose as I watched him hunch over and make feeble bows repeatedly. I felt choked up.

I quickly reached out and supported his arms, "Uncle Kenny!"

Suddenly, he nervously grabbed Atlas again, "Mr. Atlas, come with me!"

Atlas and I exchanged glances and quickly followed Uncle Kenny as he walked fast.