Chapter 4A Brother's Vengeance

Hospital, 1 AM.

I sat on the cold bench, staring at the closed door of the operating room. Every time a nurse went in or out, my heart trembled.

I am twelve years older than Lily. Mom gave birth to her when I was in sixth grade.

When pregnant, uncle teased me saying, you are going to have a sister, mom and dad won't want you anymore.

So I disliked her at first.

Until one day at noon after school, I saw mom discharged from the hospital, holding a pink and tender little thing.

She was sleeping biting her finger, emitting a nice milky smell all over.

The way mom looked at her, gentle like water overflowing.

I felt sour in my heart.

At this time, Lily woke up, two big bright eyes staring at me, suddenly giggled.

Mom said pleasantly: "Crying and making a fuss in the hospital, smiles as soon as she sees brother. Lily likes brother too much."

Only then did I feel she didn't seem that annoying.

When Lily grew to three or four years old, she liked to follow behind me. Every day when I came home from school, as soon as I opened the door, I saw her pouncing over with open arms.

When I did homework, Lily stood quietly beside me watching, little head resting on the table.

Mom asked: "Julian, want to eat fruit?"

I shook my head.

So Lily said: "Brother says no."

"Want to drink milk then?"

I nodded.

So Lily ran over happily: "Brother says yes."

Mom smiled: "Lily is really brother's tail."

She carefully put the milk on the table and asked: "Brother, what is a tail?"

"Just likes to follow behind others."

She said proudly: "Then I am brother's tail!"

Growing a bit older, because of heavy family financial burden, I wanted to drop out of school to work and earn tuition for Lily.

When skipping class, I was caught back by dad and punished kneeling at home to be beaten.

Lily stood in front of me and said: "Not allowed to beat brother."

Dad threw away the belt and suddenly covered his face crying.

That was the first time I saw father cry. He said he was useless, didn't give the two children good conditions.

Later, Lily told me: "Brother, you have to study hard, so you can find a good job and marry a good wife in the future..." Forgot half way reciting, turned to ask, "Mom, what's next?"

So I agreed with Lily, never skip class again, will study hard and get into a good university.

Lily extended her little finger: "Pinky promise, no change for a hundred years."

This is our contract. Since childhood, things pinky promised, can't change even if the sky falls.

Then, I went to college, Lily in middle school.

Went home a few times before, found Lily talked less.

I thought she just reached adolescence and was unwilling to tell me everything.

I should have discovered earlier.

How did I fail to discover earlier?