Chapter 2 Part 1, Section 2: Cicadas of the Eighth Day (2)

Now the baby is crying in the crib with a flushed face.Xihezi stretched out his hand tremblingly as if he was about to touch the bomb.Palms poked from the terry-clothed baby's belly to the back.At the moment when he was about to hug him like this, the baby's small mouth turned down, looking up at Xihezi.The baby looked at Xihezi with clear and innocent eyes.Eyelashes wet with tears.The tears in his eyes slid down his ears.Then, with tears in his eyes, the baby smiled.It is indeed laughing.Xihezi was stiff and unable to move. I know this kid.The kid knows me too.I don't know why Xihezi thought so secretly.

After bringing his face close enough that his figure could be reflected in those clean eyes, the baby smiled more happily.Wriggling his hands and feet, drooling from the corners of his mouth.The blanket wrapped around the baby's legs slid off, revealing those surprisingly small feet.The toenails are like toys, and the white soles of the feet must not have even stepped on the dirt.Xihezi hugged the baby to her chest, buried her face in the soft and fluffy hair, and took a deep breath. It's so soft, so warm, so soft that it can be easily crushed, but it's also so strong and hard that it can't be crushed.So fragile, so strong.The sticky little hands touched Xihezi's cheek, which was wet but still warm.Can't let go, Xihezi thought.If it were me, I would never leave my child alone in this kind of place.I will protect.I will protect you from all pain, sorrow, loneliness, anxiety, fear, suffering.Xihezi couldn't think about anything anymore.She kept mumbling to herself like a mantra.It's up to me to protect, protect, protect, forever.

The baby in his arms still smiled at Xihezi.Like mockery, like comfort, like approval, like forgiveness. Chapter 1 February 3, 1985 I unbuttoned my coat, wrapped the baby in my arms, and ran forward desperately.He didn't know where he was going, but in the corner of his head, he thought calmly that if he went towards the station, he might run into that woman, so he automatically ran in the opposite direction of the station.Seeing the road sign of Koshu Street, I quickened my pace in the direction of the white arrow.As soon as he found that the oncoming taxi was empty, he immediately raised his hand reflexively.

I got into the backseat and realized I had nowhere to go.In the rearview mirror, only the driver's eyes peeping at me are reflected. "Go to Koganei Park." I say.The taxi drives out.Looking back, the unfamiliar street scene gradually faded away quietly.The baby in the coat began to struggle slightly.Oh, be good, be good, the baby is the best.I was taken aback by the automaticity of the words.Oh, be good, be good, the baby is the best.I repeat again, stroking the child's back. There was a traffic jam on the road, and the taxi stopped and could not move.The baby who had been whining and crying all the time began to doze off with its thumbs in its mouth, then regained consciousness and opened its eyes, making a soft sound and intending to cry, but the drowsy eyes rolled white immediately.All kinds of thoughts came to my mind one by one.Got to buy diapers.I have to buy milk powder.Gotta decide where to sleep tonight.These thoughts have just emerged, and before they have time to sort out their thoughts, they have been replaced by more new thoughts.