Chapter 31 Fitran Memories (2)
This time, the rain fell heavily, creating a torrent that soaked the vast meadow where the grass grew as tall as 3 meters, covering everything beneath it. As someone stepped into the meadow, they could not discern what lay hidden within. In the midst of the meadow, shrouded in an aura of mystery, there existed a very deep lake, with a depth of 10,911 meters, home to mystical creatures that had never been discovered before and waiting to be revealed to the outside world.
Fitran stood silently at the edge of the meadow, motionless. He was not waiting for the rain to cease; rather, he was engulfed in doubt. Caught between his desire to move forward and the compulsion to remain still, feelings of uncertainty arose within him. Despite possessing strength, deep down, he still felt like a child trapped between the realms of fantasy and reality colliding.
Suddenly, from a distance, a voice gently yet firmly called out to him. Fitran moved closer to the source of the voice, navigating through the tall, dense bushes. There, he discovered an old woman, sheltered by the sky and resting on the earth, sitting in profound silence. This was an extremely unusual sight for Fitran; he was shocked to the core upon seeing the condition of the old woman. It turned out that there was someone living a more tragic life than he had ever witnessed before. With blind eyes, a paralyzed body, and skin afflicted with ailments, the old woman embodied unimaginable suffering. Fitran, wanting to cry at the sight, struggled hard to suppress his emotions, as he had come to this place not for that purpose.
"Cu... what are you doing here?" the old grandmother asked in a hoarse voice, as if she were trying to reach a world far removed from her own.
Fitran paused for a moment, contemplating the words just spoken by that grandmother. Her gentle voice resonated in his heart, prompting him to finally speak up.
"I'm just a pigeon," he replied wearily, "are you happy living like this?" His eyes glimmered with a deep sorrow.
"Cu... there's one thing I want to say...! I am very happy here," the grandmother replied, her breath labored, with a sincere smile as if lifting a heavy burden from her chest.
"Why, Grandma?" Fitran asked, gazing at her, his eyes blinking as if struggling to understand the unexpected response.
"I am proud because I can see a young man who cares for an old woman like me who can do nothing," she said, her voice soft and filled with gratitude, showcasing the precious treasure she held despite her limitations.
Thud..! An inexplicable feeling struck Fitran, much deeper than the pain caused by a thousand spears thrown at him. This was not his first experience, yet the vibrations within his body rendered him completely frozen. It surpassed fear—for Fitran, who had never felt this before, began to realize that it was a paralyzing doubt that gripped him.
"How can you be happy, Grandma? Aren't you suffering?" he asked again, his voice and heart filled with sorrow.