Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“Mommy, no. Not my feet.”

Her little lips puckered up like rose petals and reached out to hug Xia Ruoxin’s neck while she shook her head continuously. She didn’t want that. Not that.

Xia Ruoxin rustled her daughter’s hair, but her fingers paused, afraid to touch it again.

She hid her hand behind her back. There was a lock of her daughter’s soft hair on her fingers. Her heart ached as she held her daughter closer.

“Mommy, I will be good. Please don’t let Xiao Tong touch my feet. Please?” Rainy grabbed a bunch of Xia Ruoxin’s hair and played with it from time to time. Her favorite was her mother’s hair. It was black, and it smelled nice. She wanted her hair like her mother’s, to be a beautiful Rainy.

“Alright.” Xia Ruoxin nodded.

“Mommy, I’m hungry. I want to eat your noodles.” She heard what she had been wanting to say. She had become bolder being at home. It made her less afraid, compared to the hospital.

It has been a while since she last ate the noodles cooked by her mother.

“Okay. I will cook for you.”

Xia Ruoxin agreed. She lay her daughter on the bed and placed Dolly in her arms to let her play with it on her own. Then, she made her way into the kitchen again. In fact, it had also been a while since she last cooked noodles for herself to eat.

At times, she really missed the old days when she and Rainy shared a bowl of noodles. Even now.

Xia Ruoxin portioned out some noodles from her own bowl into another smaller bowl and put them on the table of modest size. Rainy held her chopsticks clumsily as she stared at her bowl of noodles. When it was placed before her, she lowered her head and began eating in small mouthfuls.

“Mommy, delicious.” She grinned, showing her tiny white teeth. A look of satisfaction was written all over her face.

Xia Ruoxin watched as her daughter ate the noodles, and her eyes began to redden. She hurriedly lowered her head and ate her own noodles. When they were together, a simple bowl of noodles to them was already a delicacy.

When they were done eating, Xia Ruoxin brought the dishes to the kitchen while Rainy resumed playing with her doll in silence. It was all she had now.

“Rainy.” She sat by the bedside and put her fingers gingerly on her daughter’s cheek.

“Mommy has to go to work. You have to stay at home and wait for me to come back. Okay?”

Rainy looked up as her tiny hand pulled at her clothes. “Mommy, can I come with you? Like last time? I will be good and wait at the side for you. I won’t be noisy.”

Xia Ruoxin shook her head gently as she tried to explain to her daughter, “I can’t bring you to the place where I work now. Besides, Rainy, you are sick, and you have to stay at home and rest. But, I promise you. I will rush back after work. It won’t be too late.” Her fingers quivered as her smile turned bitter.

Rainy bit on her pink lips. She finally nodded.

“Then, Mommy must come back soon. I will wait for you.” She looked up at Xia Ruoxin with tears swirling in her big, bright eyes.

Xia Ruoxin stood at the doorway after she shut the door. She simply had no other way but to leave a three-year-old child alone at home. There was nothing here, only a doll to keep her company.

Rainy sat on the bed and hugged her doll tight as she coiled her body into a fetal position.

At last, she gave in and started to sob. So did the woman who was on the other side of the door.