Katherine packed everything up in the morning and went to the hospital.
She had to provide the doctor with her medical exam.
The doctor showed a serious expression when seeing her report and said, “Congratulations! You’re
pregnant, but the baby is still tiny. Are you planning to deliver?”
Katherine nodded, “Yes.”
The doctor looked up and asked, “Are you here alone?”
Katherine nodded again and replied, “Yes, my husband is busy.”
She was wearing a mask and didn’t sound to be in a good state, looking sympathetic.
Hence, the doctor slowed his words and suggested, “You have to be nurtured carefully in the early
stage. You’re too skinny and that’s not good for the baby.”
Katherine said, “Yes, I know.”
The doctor asked when was the last time Katherine had period and speculated the time. Then he
asked her to do ultrasound B after some time.
The doctor also provided lots of suggestions. He was supposed to tell these things to her husband.
Katherine pretended to smile, thanked the doctor and left the hospital.
She was really having a baby. She didn’t know when and how she got pregnant. She really had no
memory about it.
Katherine called a taxi to the train station. She had already reserved a ticket to leave.
The train couldn’t arrive her hometown directly and she had to transferred during the journey. It was not
a problem to her and she could regard it as a short break.
Katherine’s phone rang when she arrived at the waiting room.
It was from that woman.
Katherine stared at the phone for a long time and knew that woman didn’t hear any word she told her
last time.
She waited a few seconds and finally picked the phone up.
The woman said in a delighted voice, “Kathy!”
Katherine didn’t say anything.
The woman continued, “I miss you so much. Can I give you a video call? I want to show your sister to
you. You will like her after seeing her face.”
Katherine looked at the passengers beside her and said in a dark voice, “But I don’t want to see you.”
The woman remained silent when hearing this.
Katherine said goodbye to her and hanged up the phone.
She compressed her lips, leaned against the chair and showed a numb expression.
She had bought the cushion sleeper ticket and went on bed after the check.
She didn’t bring too much luggage with her. It was really a long journey and her body was too weak to
bring too much things. There weren’t many people in this compartment and it was relatively quiet.
She took a nap for a while and received Marshall’s call.
She picked the phone up numbly and said, “Marshall.”
Marshall sighed, “You really left too early. Why don’t you ask me to drive you there?”
Katherine replied, “You don’t have to. I don’t like people to send me away when I am going to go on a
trip. I can do it by myself.”
Marshall asked whether she booked a plane or not.
Katherine smiled tiredly, “No, I am taking the train. It’s very safe.”
Marshall hurriedly asked her which train she was taken in a concerning tone. Then he also asked
whether she had brought food and clothes with her.
Katherine leaned against the bed and was gradually in a trance.
Last time when she was taking the train alone, she was leaving for the Grant family.
Her mood was similar with the last time, blank and stoned.
However, she still fancied a lot about marriage before tasting all those hardships. At that time, she was
looking forward to see Marshall.
Marshall kept taking on the other side of the phone. Katherine hanged it up until a ticket collector came.
Katherine would be so glad if Marshall treated her nicely in the past.
She closed the compartment door after the collector left and fell in sleep again.
She took the train for nearly two days. Then she had to change for another train and finally bus.
The bus arrived at the junction of the village wobbly.
The last way was a long dirt road, which led to the village in the distance.
It was the afternoon. Katherine carried the backpack and slowly went towards the village. It was so
quiet and peaceful.
All of the houses in the village were made of bricks. Some families still kept the straw houses from the
older generation and used them for packaging.
It was a small village. People all noticed Katherine when she arrived.
Katherine smiled, “Hi,uncle Luis, you are still strong.”
uncle Luis looked at her and was stupefied, saying, “Kathy! You’re back. Why? Did his family be mean
to you?”
Katherine shook her head and said, “No. I am just here to visit my grandfather. I haven’t come on his
anniversary.”
An aunt beside looked at her and asked, “Then why are you here alone? Where is your husband? We
haven’t met him even on your wedding day. He still decides not come to visit your grandfather?”
Katherine licked her lips and said, “He’s really busy in the company and don’t have spare time.”
“Well, you really live too far from the village. You can only come here once in more than a year. I know
life isn’t easy for you.” The aunt sighed.
Katherine simply smiled, greeted them politely and went towards her house.
The villagers helped them with the decoration many years ago. Now the house looked old and shabby.
Tears ran down from Katherine’s eyes after staring at the clouds along the window.
The house had remained empty for a long time and there was dust everywhere.
Both two rooms had wood bed. She packed the quilts up when she left. Now it seemed forlorn to see
the two empty wood planks.
Katherine couldn’t help crying out when stepping in the kitchen.
She had been living in this place for nearly twenty years. Finally, she was alone.
The neighbour was aunt Kelly. She heard the noise and came. She was really surprised when seeing
Katherine and asked, “Kathy, you’re back. Do you know that your mother came before and asked about
you?”
Katherine hurriedly wept her tears and replied, “Yes, I know. She already called me.”
Aunt Kelly sighed, “Shame on her. She hasn’t visited you for so many years. She came but your
grandfather was already gone. Well, I don’t want to instigate, but there’s no point for her to come back.”
Katherine nodded.
Aunt Kelly found Katherine was alone and came to help her to tidy up.
It was hard for Katherine to carry heavy things and the old auntie helped her a lot.
Marshall called before they cleaned everything up and asked whether she had arrived or not.
Katherine replied, “Yes, we’re cleaning the room now.”
Aunt Kelly heard Katherine was answering the phone and asked, “Your husband?”
Katherine didn’t want to explain too much and replied, “Yes.”
Aunt Kelly then said in a loud voice, “Why didn’t he come with you? You didn’t come back even after
you married. And now it is your grandfather’s anniversary, but he still doesn’t come. Although he’s busy
at work, he still needs to follow the basic rules.”
Katherine suddenly became awkward and replied, “It’s me who suggests him not coming back.”
Marshall heard their conversation on the other side and sighed, “Where will you live at night? How are
you going to have dinner?”
Katherine thought for a while and replied, “I can buy things from the store. We already tidied the room
up. Don’t worry. Everything is fine.”
Marshall remained silent for a long time and replied, “Okay, I see. Call me if you need any help?”
Katherine’s tense nerve loosened up after hanging up the phone.
Aunt Kelly was really hospitable and suggested, “How about having dinner in my place? You house
don’t have anything.”
Katherine thought for a while. She was really exhausted now and only wanted to have a rest. She
replied, “Okay, sorry for causing you trouble.”
Aunt Kelly smiled, “Well, you have been outside for a year and turns to be very polite.”
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