I've Been There Before

Mrs. James stopped a taxi. The driver asked her where she was going. The people here were friendly and hospitable. Picky as Mrs. James was, she was not in the mood to judge the driver’s substandard Mandarin at this moment.

Just as she was about to answer the driver’s question, her cell phone rang. She nervously picked it up and stared at the caller’s name on the screen for a long time.

She hesitated. If she did not answer, she could still stall for a while. Once she answered, she could no longer refuse.

The long ringing of the phone finally stopped. Before Mrs. James could breathe a sigh of relief, the demonic ringing of the phone started again.

Helplessly, she pressed the connect button and said, “Payne.”

“Mom, did you get off the plane?”

Payne asked anxiously from the other end of the phone, “Mom, go to find Grace directly. She is at a homestay called ‘Memory Inn’. I’ve told you before.”

Payne kept urging Mrs. James to look for Grace. He knew from WeChat that Grace was running a homestay called Memory Inn. A woman, who used to drink with Payne before, had recognized Grace in that picture in their WeChat group. She said that she probably had seen Grace’s photo on a forum.

Then, Payne followed the evidence and worked hard before finally getting the news of where Grace was staying.

He didn’t want to wait for death… Payne held his phone tightly and said to his mother in a hurry, “Mom, tell little Grace that her brother will die if she doesn’t save me.

Grace looks tough, but she is actually very soft-hearted. She definitely doesn’t to watch her own brother die.”

Mrs. James’s eyes turned even redder behind the sunglasses.

She felt extremely sad, and she choked with sobs as she said,

“Payne, I know. You should stay in hospital and take care of yourself. I will tell Grace about it. I’ll beg her to save your life.”

Mrs. James cut off the phone and spread herself out in the back seat, “Memory Inn. Go to Memory Inn.”

“The homestay?”

“Yes.”

beautiful the scenery was, it was impossible to touch her anymore. She felt extremely worried and

and rested it on her

glanced at the screen that was still on. She saw the photo of her

this moment, it was totally

James’s

a long journey, the wilderness at the sight confused Mrs. James.

and said, “This is it. That’s right.” He opened the window

Memory Inn. Standing in front of the gate, she felt complicated. She wanted to turn away and leave several times,

the door

the front desk, a woman said in a clear but calm voice, “Welcome--” The woman at the front desk raised her head. Gentleness of her face faded away as her eyes suddenly widened, and her voice abruptly

shocked the moment she raised

“Little Grace…”

just leaning against the front desk suddenly turned around and left without saying a

James caught up to her like a gust of wind and reached

Grace’s body froze. She lowered her head… Little Grace? Little Grace. Little Grace.

suddenly turned

couldn’t stay calm anymore! She couldn’t

me Mrs. James.” Mrs. James broke down in

hurt people because they were

was already a tearful Mrs. James. The world did not need

stop crying. It’s useless…” she said

isn’t the first time I’ve called you Mrs. James. Naturally, it won’t be

at the woman in front of her, Grace said calmly, “I don’t have

finally realized the gap between she and Grace was unbridgeable. She softly loosened her grip on Grace’s arm.

James’s constraint, Grace quickly turned around and

meters away that Mrs. James suddenly regained her senses. She strode

brother—he has got leukemia!”

moment, Grace felt like she was hallucinating. After