Touched by an Angel

Chapter 4- Sketches

That night Lei couldn't sleep well, which was extremely rare for him. He couldn't get Xiao You's words out of his mind. Xiao You's story explained Shan Cai's actions. He couldn't believe that such a thing could happen. What kind of man was her ex-boyfriend, to treat a girl like that? No wonder Shan Cai was so withdrawn. Lei knew how she was feeling. He was doing the same thing- putting a barrier between themselves and the world. She was afraid of getting hurt again, so she shut herself from the rest of the world, exactly like Lei.

And Xiao You's words rang in his mind... "Those scars in her heart... even time can't heal." Lei thought of himself. Would he ever heal? Will the pain of Jing leaving him ever be erased? Will he ever be able to love again? Will he ever be, like Jing said, his own Lei? He didn't know. He had denied everything before but seeing Shan Cai and knowing her story, he knew that everything Jing had told him was true. He didn't want to stay like this forever. He wanted to become someone stronger, someone living every moment of life, rather than delving in their own miseries.

Shan Cai had spurred Lei into finding himself again. He knew he could do it. But could she? Will Shan Cai ever be able to let go of her past memories and move on? With renewed courage, Lei decided firmly to help her, no matter what. After all, she had helped him unconsciously into regaining hope. It was only fair to return the favour.

Lei went to school early the next day. Extremely early. So early that the only people there were the cleaners. Seeking peace, he went to his favourite spot in the Ying De- the rooftop. It was his place. It was his place of solitude, where he can think things through without anyone disturbing him. He had come to that spot since he came to Ying De, to escape the crowdedness of the school. He had come here and sat for a whole night when Jing dumped him. The place brought memories, sweet and bitter. And sitting there, Lei felt in touch with himself.

He pushed open the revolving door, and to his immense surprise, there was already someone there. A silhouette of a girl was sitting on the edge. She was humming a soft tune to herself as her right hand moved feverishly around. She was writing... no drawing.

She didn't seem to even hear the sound of the door opening. She was so concentrated. Lei was the same with his music. He would be so focused that he was in his own little world. The girl was the same.

Only when Lei took a closer look did he see that it was Shan Cai. He took a peek at her drawing and almost gasped.

It was a pencil sketch of an angel. But what was breathtaking wasn't the angel, but the way Shan Cai captured the moment. The angel had this weary heart-wrenching look in her eyes. It was as if she saw too much evil in the world, and had let go of hoping that it would ever get better. Her deep large eyes stared at you with such integrity and disappointment that it made you feel sad that such a young face had seen so much; too much cruelness and pain for such an age.

Lei knew at once that Shan Cai's worn and battered spirit was in this angel. She had drawn out her own hopelessness of the world. Yet she had not drawn a single tear, just like how the real Shan Cai would never cry, though tears were pouring out of her heart.

Shan Cai suddenly realised that there was another person next to her. She spun around and came face to face with Lei. Her eyes reflected shock, but it immediately turned into this emptiness that Lei only knew too well. It was the same uncaring look he saw in the mirror everyday when he looked into it- his emptiness.

Lei guessed that she would've run, except that she couldn't as Lei was right in front of her. He saw the unwillingness in her eyes as she gave a nod in his direction, acknowledging his presence.

"Hua Ze Lei shao ye," she whispered.

"Lei," said Lei firmly. "Call me Lei."

Shan Cai shook her head resolutely. "That would be disrespectful. You're from an upper class. I'm from a lower class. Our difference in status is huge. If there's one thing I learnt in Ying De, then it was that status always comes first."

She said it with such bitterness that Lei couldn't reply. So that was why she had given me a look of horror and raced off when she discovered my name, Lei thought. She wanted nothing to do with me. Lei guessed that this trait was not one that the old Shan Cai had possessed.

Changing the subject, Lei said, "I like your sketch."

Shan Cai gave him a blank look. Then she ripped the paper off her pad and pushed it uncaringly into his hand. "Take it. I don't want it."

Then she hopped off the edge, swung her backpack over her shoulder and left without another look back.

Lei smoothed out the creases in the drawing and looked at it. The angel stared back at him and seemed to urge him to not to give up.

She'll recover; it seemed to tell him firmly, she'll be able to be happy again. Just don't give up on her.

I won't, Lei promised the angel.


A/N: A massive thank you to everyone who reviewed. Thank you for all your encouragments!!!

Have a great day