Chapter 230 Sister, are you alright? Can I see Mom now?
This explanation is closer to what Tongtong can understand.
He seemed to understand, but the words "Mom is sick" stopped him from crying, replacing it with deep worry.
"Mommy's sick? Then...can Tongtong come in and see Mommy? Tongtong can blow on Mommy's chest; before, when Tongtong was in pain, Mommy's breath would make the pain go away..."
The child's pure kindness brought a slight pang of sadness to Shen Yuepo's nose.
She shook her head: "We can't go in right now. My mother's illness requires her to hear certain things before she can slowly recover. My sister is the one who will help my mother get better."
Looking into Tongtong's worried eyes, she knew she had to take the next step.
It's not enough to just make Tongtong understand separation; he must understand farewell forever in order to guide him to let go of his obsessions and pass away peacefully.
Shen Yuepo looked at him earnestly, "Tongtong, your sister will find a way to let your mother hear what you want to say."
"But before that, Tongtong needs to understand that she may never be able to return to her mother's side from that special place and be with her mother like before."
She began to carefully implant the concept of "death" into this innocent mind.
Tongtong's eyes widened again, filled with fear and resistance: "...Never? Never be able to go home? Never be with Mommy?"
Seeing the fear in Tongtong's eyes, Shen Yuepo felt a strong pang of pity.
But there are some things that must be said.
“Tongtong, be good,” she said, her voice growing softer. “I know this is hard to understand, but I believe you are very brave.”
She took out a piece of candy carefully wrapped in talisman paper from her pocket; it was one she had just bought.
"Tongtong, have a candy here and wait for your sister for a while, okay?"
"Sister, go inside and say something to Mom that only adults can hear first." She used candy to temporarily distract Tongtong.
Tongtong held the candy, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and whispered:
"Then, then sister, you have to hurry, so Mom won't be so sad..."
"Okay." Shen Yuepo gently patted his shoulder, then turned back to face the closed door.
"Knock, knock knock."
This time, the footsteps inside the door sounded even more sluggish and weak.
The door opened, and the woman didn't even fully look up at Chen Yuepo, but simply repeated her previous words:
"I told you, I don't need any help, you can leave..."
Shen Yuepo did not back down, and said directly, "I came for Tongtong."
The name "Tongtong" was like a red-hot needle, suddenly piercing the woman's numb and lifeless nerve endings.
She shuddered violently, her lowered eyelids suddenly lifted, and for the first time, her empty, unfocused eyes showed a flicker of emotion.
She stared intently at Shen Yuepo, her lips trembling violently, but no sound came out.
Taking advantage of her momentary shock, Shen Yuepo turned off the umbrella, slipped inside, and gently closed the door behind him, temporarily separating Tongtong, who was waiting in a daze outside.
The curtains were drawn, the room was dimly lit, and eerily quiet.
In a corner of the living room, several brightly colored children's toys were scattered, creating a stark contrast with the overall gloomy and dilapidated space.
Shen Yuepo quickly and clearly said, "I met Tongtong's spirit at the hospital. He didn't know he was no longer alive."
“His obsession is finding his mother, and he keeps lingering there. Only by letting go of his obsession and realizing the truth can he be freed and go where he belongs.”
Every word was like a heavy hammer blow to the woman's already broken heart.
The color drained from her face instantly, and her body swayed, almost collapsing.
Her mouth was open, and she was gasping for breath when tears suddenly streamed down her face.
She seemed to want to scream, to question, to grab Shen Yuepo and demand an explanation.
But the extreme grief and the mental pressure of the past few days made her lose the ability to organize her thoughts, and she could only lean against the door frame to keep from collapsing.
Seeing her on the verge of a complete breakdown, Shen Yuepo said, "Calm down. Tongtong's soul is outside. He's very well-behaved, but he's also very sensitive. Your current emotions will affect him."
"He doesn't know he's dead yet. If you lose control, it will frighten him, make him more uneasy, and make him even less willing to leave."
The words "Tongtong is outside" forcibly pulled the woman's chaotic and distraught thoughts back to normal.
She bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled, and slowly slid down to the floor.
She hugged herself tightly, still trembling and crying uncontrollably, but she was desperately taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
Shen Yuepo quickly scanned the surroundings, walked to the window, and pulled open the heavy curtains a crack to let in some natural light, dispelling some of the gloom.
She didn't speak immediately, giving the woman some time to calm down.
After a while, the woman's trembling subsided slightly. Although her tears continued, the madness in her eyes faded, leaving only urgency.
She looked up at Chen Yuepo, her face streaked with tears, her voice broken and shattered:
"You...you're not lying to me?! Tongtong, he...he's really outside? What does he look like? Is he in pain? Is he scared?"
With each question, tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing the woman forcibly suppressing her grief, Shen Yuepo nodded:
"He's been looking for you ever since he died. I'll let him in later so you can say goodbye properly."
Her gaze calmly fell on the woman's face, and though she couldn't bear it, she still spoke:
"When the time comes, please make him understand that he has to leave. If he doesn't enter the cycle of reincarnation, his soul won't last more than a few days."
Upon hearing this, the woman swayed slightly, then nodded vigorously.
She raised her hand and fiercely wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve, her nails digging into her palm, using the pain to force herself to maintain a sliver of consciousness.
She took a few deep breaths and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, I understand. I'll try to persuade him..."
Shen Yuepo then turned around and reopened the door.
Outside the door, Tongtong was obediently leaning against the wall, still holding the unfinished candy in her little hand.
Upon seeing Shen Yuepo, he immediately tilted his head up, his large eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.
"Sister, are you done? Can we see Mom now?"
“Alright,” Shen Yuepo gave him a reassuring smile and stepped aside. “Come in, Mom is waiting for you.”
Tongtong's eyes lit up instantly, and she eagerly ran in with her little steps.
Shen Yuepo gently closed the door, shutting out the outside world.
The woman stared intently in the direction of the door, even though she couldn't see anything.
Every muscle in her body tensed, her voice barely audible, trembling violently: "Did...did he come in?"
“Yes, he’s right in front of you.” Shen Yuepo nodded.
She quickly formed hand seals and chanted a spell. A wisp of spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips and surrounded Tongtong's small soul.
"Show Signature! Temporarily Borrow Touch!"
The light merged into Tongtong's soul, and his figure suddenly became clear and visible in the woman's eyes, transforming from an illusion.
She was still wearing that hospital gown, her face was pale, and there were glaring bruises on her neck, but now it felt real.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com