NovelEnglishChapter 344 "Mila." "Mila, over here! This way!" "Mila!" A woman dressed in deep crimson robes walked through the night, the faint scent of incense drifting around her. The distant calls echoed through the darkness, swirling closer and closer, drawing her forward.
The night was thick and heavy.
Step by step, she moved ahead, drawn toward the voices.
They grew clearer-closer.
But just then, a sudden weight yanked at her arm. Metal clanked loudly. She looked down and found, without knowing when or how, a heavy chain had coiled around her wrist, its weight and pressure pinning her in place.
Where had this chain cfrom? She glanced around, but the world had vanished into utter blackness. The mountains, the stony path-gone, swallowed by the dark.
Out of nowhere, a child's laughter rang out behind her.
"One, two, three... Heaven! Hahaha, I made it to heaven-l win!" Startled, she turned.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBeneath the warm glow of a streetlamp, a small girl in worn clothes hopped across chalk-drawn squares, finally landing triumphantly on the last one labeled "Heaven." She threw her arms up in victory, while several other children nearby clapped and cheered.
The light flickered out-then cback on.
The little girl was older now, sitting with a group of girls her age as they wove friendship bracelets together. At the end, the girl giggled, "I win again." The girl jumped rope next, and-again-she won.
The light faded, then flared up once more.
Now she was in middle school, sitting at her desk. At the front of the classroom, her English teacher announced loudly, "Let's all congratulate Mila for winning first prize in the state art competition!" The whole class erupted in applause.
Grinning, the girl beamed, "I won!" With top marks in the state, she entered high school, then scored in the top ten nationwide to enroll at Northpoint University. College brought more competitions, more national awards-her life was a string of victories.
Every tthe light faded and returned, another triumph.
With each cycle, the girl grew up a little more—her clothes changing from ragged to bright, her steps from hesitant to sure. She fought her way forward, carving a path through thorns and hardship, yet always surrounded by the music of triumph and confidence shining in her clear eyes.
Mila stood in the darkness, watching this younger, ever-brighter version of herself blossom beneath the warm light. Her chest ached with emotion.
And then, one day, the light went out.
Gone for seven long years.
Darkness pressed in for what felt like forever. Suddenly, the light blazed back. Under its glow stood Mila as a teenager, arms filled with flowers, silently watching the adult Mila.
The two faced each other in silence.
After a moment, the younger Mila broke into a radiant smile. She strode forward, grabbed the heavy chain on Mila's wrist, and gave it a sharp yank-the chain shattered with a thunderous crash.
Flowers rained down on Mila's head.
Amid the swirling petals, the younger Mila pointed at her and burst out laughing, "I win! We win!" Suddenly, Mila's hand felt light as air.
She stared at her now-unbound wrist, stunned by the overwhelming sense of freedom. Looking up, she saw her younger self laughing with wild joy, and tears sprang to her eyes.
The girl pointed at her and shouted, "No crying! We're winners, remember?" Mila's lips curled into a trembling smile.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Yes. We are winners." They shared a look-one young, one grown-and both smiled.
It was then that Mila finally understood the words of that strange blind monk she'd met near the church all those years ago.
"Miss, haven't you heard it?"* She hadn't understood then, but now she did. Now, at last, she could answer, "Yes, I've heard it. I hear it now." Deep inside her heart,
The fierce, indomitable child she'd once been-the one who'd pretended to be a hero, who'd never backed e down-had never truly died. That part of her had been fighting and roaring all along, and today, at last, it shattered the chains that bound her. It was her own voice, calling out from within.
"Mila!" Her younger self suddenly shouted, "Don't you ever forget-I love you! Love you! With all my heart! Don't ever forget me!" Hot tears spilled down Mila's cheeks. Choking back a sob, she whispered, "I love you too." I'll never, ever forget you.
Never again.
The girl grinned, spun around, and waved her arm high. "I'm off! No more tears- I'll be watching until you cback in triumph!" She strode into the darkness.
Mila instinctively wanted to follow, but stopped. She watched quietly as her younger self swaggered away, waving with carefree joy. Faintly, she could still hear the echoes of a cheerful song. She made no move to call her back.
Because, whatever happened, she knew that girl would always love her, always protect her again and again, she would pull her from the fire, lift her from the mud, and bring her back into the light.
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