Shush & Marry Me

Victoria sat up in shock by the sound of thunder and saw a flash of lightning flashing through the gap of the curtains. Then, there was another sound of thunder and the rainstorm started pouring again. Even her dream refused to let her calm down.

She touched the phone next to her pillow to look at the time. It’s only four in the morning and she didn’t want to sleep anymore.

When she woke up, she felt pain all over her body, especially on her arms and palms. Something pricked her fingers when she’s moving the ladder. This pain reminded her of the hospital, the bloody scene, the ear-piercing noise, the wailing of the patients, and her panic.

“It’s enough! Don’t appear anymore!” Victoria buried her head in the blanket and tightly covering her ears. After losing her job, losing herself, losing Frank, what rights does she have to return to Jincheng? To return to that place that let her feel happy, terrified, and discontented?

Once a person is frustrated, even the hometown could cause a broken-heart.

At five o’clock in the morning, Victoria got of bed. She turned on the laptop and started working. Although her camera was lost, the photos remained. All of these photos were her all. The scenery of Tibetan areas, all the people and things that she encountered along the way, could somewhat calm her frustrated heart, when she recalled it.

The job as a photographer might be bizarre but it’s easy to get started with. There were a lot of professional and amateurs photographers in the circle and they also formed their own smaller circle.

Victoria edited the photo well and sent it to the magazine editor, Lisa, for the cultural edition of Geographical Magazine. Victoria had been contributing as an amateur there since college.

The editors of the magazines were very busy. As soon as Victoria’s email was sent, Lisa immediately pings her on QQ, “Vicky, since you turned into a freelance photographer, you’ve worked so hard? Are you getting up so early to work?”

Victoria had always used her pen name ‘Vicky’ as a contributor and editors were used to calling her this way.

Victoria typed, “Not as hardworking as you. Did you pull an all-nighter again?”

over there, “I don’t want to do it anymore! Being

of all, you have

emoticon with a bloody knife and said angrily, “Don’t burst my bubble! I’m so busy that I don’t have time to fall in love! A trustworthy man is clever! Money is still the best in

you say that you want to shoot something different? Since you’re going back to Jincheng, why don’t you try the fashion circle? Our editor-in-chief said that your photos are very ingenious. Whether you take the picture of a person or an object, it was very special. If you can earn money and choose not to

sentence in a daze, a fashion circle? She clearly knew that it’s a minefield but she still

she step inside? Was it because she would meet Ashley frequently since

drive from Jincheng. She didn’t want to drive there, so she stuck herself in the

Her phone rang again, this time it

“Where are you, Victoria?”

When the phone was connected, her mother was straightforward

Victoria was silent.

said, “Your sixth sister is getting married. Don’t return home, to avoid the awkward situation in the family. I’ve sent money to your card. You can go anywhere you want to calm

after learning for so many years, Shirley’s tone was gentle. There wasn’t any hint of dictating or commanding in her tone and sounded as if she’s in a discussion with Victoria.

Frank is my boyfriend. He hooked

choice in the future, but your sister won’t. It’s rare to have such a good man like Frank. Your sister might only be able to meet such a good man for once in her life that didn’t dislike her disability and able to offer her love and marriage. Just yield to

and her whole body was trembling. Instead of crying, she laughed, “Her love and marriage? Mother, have you ever thought that there’s also a possibility that I only have one love in my life and can only meet Frank! I’ll give my legs to Ashley. I’ll be the one in the wheelchair and I’ll return everything that

sentence, “However, Victoria, when Frank got together with your sister, you’ve already broken up. Nobody wants your legs, nobody wants you to be in a wheelchair. You don’t understand my word, child. Your love is gone. Frank will be your brother-in-law. It’s useless for you to cry. Even if I love you as your mother, I can’t side with

a daze. She felt that the rest of her life turned

never witnessed those five years of her and Frank. The only person that she loved in five years wholeheartedly was gone. Her family, her mother, and everyone pointed at her to say that she’s

and a large sum of money was transferred to her account. Victoria smashed her phone

the third floor. She continuously drank another glass of wine but she wasn’t