Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Actually, Qiao Ning wasn’t wrong; I really haven’t been to those places.

But the reason I knew she was lying was because of my mother.

I wasn’t born without parents.

She was an international news correspondent who eventually became a permanent fixture in war zones.

In those days, it was considered practically scandalous for a woman to work abroad while the man stayed home to raise the child.

The neighbors would always mock me.

“Your mom doesn’t want you anymore!”

I would clench my fists and hit them, fiercely defending my dignity as a child, only to be met with even more heartless ridicule.

When I was little, it was hard to see her even once.

But she would often send letters bearing postmarks from all over the world.

She wrote about her life there in meticulous detail and included photographs.

The happiest part of my childhood was sitting on my father’s lap, listening to him read those letters.

In my mind, I would sketch the image of that high-spirited female journalist.

She said: “Lanlan, for most women, the world is very small, but the real world is vast. When you grow up, you must see it for yourself. Only by seeing the world and broadening your horizons can you truly know what you want.”

She was my eyes.

At an age when I hadn’t even read many books, I caught a glimpse of the world through her.

But when I was five years old, she died in the line of duty.

She was killed for exposing the massacre of civilians by the military during the Kosovo War.

The newspaper office only managed to recover her camera.

Inside, besides the precious visual data she had protected with her life, was a photo of me-I don’t know when it was taken.

At the time, I didn’t quite understand what “killed” meant.

But those people who used to love gossiping at our doorstep were all gloating.

“See that? Women who love showing their faces too much never come to a good end!”

After that, I no longer had a mother, but I always remembered her advice.

Go see it for yourself; record this world yourself.

Only then will you know what you want.

…

This afternoon, among the cameras I dug out, the oldest and most battered one belonged to her.

The fever rushed to my head, making me dizzy.

I buried my face in my hands.

“Mom, I miss you so much…”