The ticket to the other world

In an autumn afternoon of 2006. She was sitting in a coffee house, where she spent most of her leisure time. It was a small place, right around the corner of the street. From outside, it made no difference from another coffee shop in the city. Only the inside showed the special taste of the shop owner. Japanese colorful paper-made toy, Indian earrings, and Egyptian carpet, it seemed not like a coffee house but an exotic art exhibition. The cafe area was placed on the second floor. Everything was arranged in quite a unique way, such as the huge bookshelves, wooden tables covered with green and white grid cloth, and the bundle of wild flowers in a small jar as well as the antique recorder with music playing on and on.

She chose to sit by a window where she could catch a view. The autumn sunlight filtering through branches danced vividly over a kitty lying easily on the wooden floor. Through the creamy color curtain flapped by the mild breeze, she could see the shining outline ofa church far away. Chorus sound from the church was in harmony with the music played in the room. 'I do not belong here but somewhere else. Somewhere far away, away from you and the world.' So familiar the music sounded. She drank the coffee, closed the book, put the cup down, opened the book, and closed it again. She was completed distracted by the music. Scanning around the room, her sight finally landed at the glass framed picture hung on the wall. She stared at the reflection of herself in the glass. Gradually, her image melted into the picture in the frame--the firework on the sky.

People strolled along the Central Circle street in Hong Kong to celebrate the most beautiful firework display of the year. Pushed by the crowds, she walked into the Maria Cookie House as today was HIS birthday. Her eyes were caught by some heart shaped cookies, packed in a purple paper box with a butterfly knot attached. The music playing around her was the one she was so familiar with. ' I donot belong here but somewhere else. Somewhere far away, away from you and the world.'

Voice(the old woman):

Sometimes people ask me why I quit my previous job to come to this isolated small town. It takes quite a burden to make my reasoning justifiable, as they never know things deep inside can not be explained, but only felt.

Voice(J.J)

SHE once told me that she was prepared not to get married all her life. That shocked me a lot. I could not imagine a life without any companion. I get so used to the hilarious social life, surrounded by millions of people.

Voice (the old woman)

But have you ever thought that what if those people left you, and you ended up a lonely lady in a unit apartment. No one ever give a knock on your door.

When I was your age, such thought never came to me. I was never satisfied with guys I met. But all of a sudden, I woke up, realizing that I was 42 instead of 24. My heart dropped to the freezing point as well as the chance of meeting anyone right for me.

Without any hesitation, she took that box and left the store. Outside, people were strolling on the street to celebrate the year's most cheerful event. They looked up on the sky where colorful firework was on display. She was pushed forward by the crowds without any specific direction.

Voice (the old woman)

Once in a while, I felt quite puzzled and depressed. There were things supposed to be on top of my agenda. Marriage, Job, Family and Children. But the more I was pushed by people surround me, the more I found myself sucked into that deep hole.

As the last bit of firework ash fell off, people disappearred into the darkness in all directions. She wandered on the street alone and suddenly she FELT that she saw HIM walking towards from a couple of meters away. Such feeling was vague but intensive if her eyes did not cheat her mind. The final distance between she and he was so close that she couldn't dare to open her eyes but gave the 'heart' cookie box to him and made a wish to herself.

She was back to the coffee house again.

'You wanna try some cookie today? ' He asked,

'Excuse me, What?' She was still immersed in the other world.

'We are offering a kind of home-made cookie, it is fabulous.'

'I would like to, but, but I am afraid that I have no more apetite today.'

'Do you know that there is a story behind the invention of this cookie?'

'Oh, really?'

'Many years ago, there was a man who was an old customer of us. He ordered some cookies. Though coffee is our main product, we do offer other accessory items, such as cookie. But the cookie he ordered was a little bit out of our expectation. He wanted the cookie in a heart shape. Anyway, customer is everything. So we made it and listed it as a new item on the menu ever after.'

'May I ask where he is now? I mean that customer.'

'It is quite weird. we have never seen him again. As if he had evaporated into the air without any trace left behind.'

She looked quite puzzled, finally she said:' I'd like to give it a try. But please put the cookie in a box. I want to take it out.'

She walked out of the coffee shop, took a turn at the crossroad, and came to an area, where along the street were many fancy stores and restaurants. In front of the'Dior', she stopped her step.

(In her room, J.J is typing something on the laptop)

'Yesterday, I bought a lot of skin care stuff online. You can't believe what a loyal customer of 'Dior' I am. It is on sale right now. Buy one and get one free. I love the package so much. Nail polisher, mascara, lipstick, lip gloss, comb, brush, cream, and four fragrance sample, everything is there. I have been using this brand for quite a while, and my skin develops a kind of resistence to any other cosmetic product. I will buy some more for my Mom.

Hi, do you have any preference on cosmetics?'

(She is staring at the displaying window of Dior, where promotion of new product is on show.She thought, )

'No, I never use things which cost more than $10. '

(J.J typing quite fast)

'Oh, that's too bad. If our skin couldn't get proper care, it will age quickly. So you might fail to recognize yourself tomorrow when you look at the mirror.'

(She is looking at herself in the displaying window, smiling, )

'I never recognize myself through the mirror, but I did lose myself--my real self, when wearing those makeup.'

(J.J)

That's weird.

(She is saying to the reflection of herself in the shop window.)

'I know. The only time I wear makeup, is when I have a strong desire to disguise my identity, which allows me to act in a way different from usual. Actually, I am quite aware of the fact that I am not a normal human being.'

(J.J)

'Oh, Sorry. I did not mean it. Well, I am afraid that I have gotta go. My friend asked me out for dinner today. There is a good sushi restaurant near my home. Their sushi boat is amazing! '

(She)

'Have a good time!'

(J.J)

'Oh, by the way. Do you have any plan this weekend? Please forgive me if it seems to pry on you.'

(She)

'No, never mind. I am alone, walking and window-shopping.'

(J.J)

'That's too bad. I can do nothing without companion.'

She looked into the store, where girls were trying samples and picking up things they liked. Excitement could not be concealed when one or two praising words were generously offered from their friends.

(She thought:)

'It is quite understandable.'

(J.J)

'Anyway, I am gonna go. Talk with you next time. '

Realizing that she had been standing in front of the window for quite a while, she left.

She passed by the business area, walked in the beautiful sunshine of autumn, and somehow she found herself in the central park of the city. Under a big maple tree, there was a wooden chair. A woman like fifties year old sat on one end of the chair, reading her book. It was quite strange when she walked toward that chair as ifshe was driven by some kind of mysterious force. She went over, and asked:

'Do you mind if I sit here?'

Old Woman did not give her a glimpse but said,

'No problem.'

(She)

It is such a lovely season! I like it.

(The Old Woman)

Yeah, me too. Maybe I am too old to enjoy summer. But not yet to appreciate winter.

(She)

As I remember, someone writes that he likes the best of autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colors are richer.

(The Old Woman)

Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.

(She)

It knows the limitation of life, so it is content.

(The Old Woman)

Content is a good thing, as it teaches us to accept what we have and not expect what we don't.

(She)

But we are human beings, how can we live without a bit of desire?

(The Old Woman)

But if your desire can only increase the weight of pain, why do you wanna carry itall the way along?

(She)

Because it has already been part of my body, something couldn't be peeled off.

(The Old Woman)

Oh, that's good.

(She)

What?

(The Old Woman)

That means, it hasn't reached your soul, even though your body's been encroached.

Pondering for a while, She asked

Have you loved someone so much that you wanna do nothing but abandon yourself to follow him all your life?

(The Old Woman)

Then, do you know what he wants to do?

(She)

I guess that he feels the same way.

(The Old Woman)

So you never get the answer from him directly?

(She)

No, but I could not think of it in any other way.

(Silent for a while, the Old Woman said:)

He is not living in this world, but the other one;

You are living in this world, but not the other one.

How can you two meet each other?

(She)

I bought a ticket to the other world.

(The Old Woman)

Then, did you see him?

(She)

Yes, I did

(The Old Woman)

Did he see you?

(She)

I think so.

(The Old Woman)

If that is the case, why did you come back?

(She)

I don't know. (She cried)

(The Old Woman)

If you really love him, let him go. Buy yourself a ticket to somewhere your true love belong.

(She)

I am afraid that I have nothing left to buy one more. (She cried again)

(The Old Woman)

You can find it if you do not waste it on something unworthy of.

After she wept off her tears, suddenly she found that the old woman disappeared.

The box of cookie was still in her hand. She could not help but open it and found:

Nothing.

Is life a dream?

If so, how come she felt it so real?

Is life not a dream?

If not, how come she failed to see it right in front?

The end