Liang's Story
*The following content is strictly fictional*
Liang stares at the small round ticking clock. Each second passing represented by a jerk clockwise from a bent arrow. Liang lays on the cot she shares with her little sister as she quietly counts down the last few seconds till the clock strikes twelve. “Three, two, one. Happy Birthday Liang,” she whispers to herself as she turns to face her little sister Li. Liang closes her eyes, Li’s peaceful face is the last thing she sees, just as sleep takes over.
It’s seven o'clock, Liang has already made breakfast and tea for her family. She’s washed her and Li’s clothes by the river, before hanging them on the thin line of twine that’s tied between her family’s small tin house and the neighbor's house. Liang returns to her room to grab her lightweight backpack, preparing her self for a two mile walk to school. Just as Liang is about to exit her home, a thin and fragile Li whisper’s her name.
“Happy Birthday Liang, you’re fifteen. Ready for the big day?” Says Li, her voice is calm and soft, unlike Liang’s deeper tone.
“Ready as I’ll ever be, and thanks Li. Go back to bed. You need to rest” Liang says as she walks Li back to their room.
Liang stares at the small round ticking clock. Each second passing represented by a jerk clockwise from a bent arrow. Liang lays on the cot she shares with her little sister as she quietly counts down the last few seconds till the clock strikes twelve. “Three, two, one. Happy Birthday Liang,” she whispers to herself as she turns to face her little sister Li. Liang closes her eyes, Li’s peaceful face is the last thing she sees, just as sleep takes over.
It’s seven o'clock, Liang has already made breakfast and tea for her family. She’s washed her and Li’s clothes by the river, before hanging them on the thin line of twine that’s tied between her family’s small tin house and the neighbor's house. Liang returns to her room to grab her lightweight backpack, preparing her self for a two mile walk to school. Just as Liang is about to exit her home, a thin and fragile Li whisper’s her name.
“Happy Birthday Liang, you’re fifteen. Ready for the big day?” Says Li, her voice is calm and soft, unlike Liang’s deeper tone.
“Ready as I’ll ever be, and thanks Li. Go back to bed. You need to rest” Liang says as she walks Li back to their room.
Liang walks to school through the muddy path of Dongxiang County. For the next thirty minutes she thinks only of Li. Li, her baby sister. Only ten years old, and suffering from cystic fibrosis. A genetic disease that Liang’s great-great-granduncle was rumored to have. This disease is Liang’s worst nightmare. Li’s case seems to be getting more critical as the days go by. Due to their family’s poor economic status, Li hasn’t able to get proper treatment for her disease. Their parents work at a nearby clothing factory, and barely make enough money to buy food. Liang’s insistence to go to school has only added to their parents burden. In addition to this Liang and Li’s father Kai, has a slight attitude of resentment towards the two sisters. Liang believes this is due to the fact he always wished to have a son.
Liang’s only support comes from her mother Jia, who takes Li for monthly checkups at the local Dongxiang clinic. Regardless of the fact that the clinic is unable to offer treatment for Li, Jia believes that good will eventually come to her family for her daughter.
After walking for nearly half an hour Liang spots her destination, a small school house. Today is her last day at Dongxiang County’s Local Primary School. After today Liang will join her parents at the factory, a promise she had given to her dad. It has always been a greater dream of Liang’s to go to a place called the “college.” A place where people, girls and boy go to learn, and use their knowledge to help others. Liang can only dream that she could help her sister Li, her shadow.
Liang’s only support comes from her mother Jia, who takes Li for monthly checkups at the local Dongxiang clinic. Regardless of the fact that the clinic is unable to offer treatment for Li, Jia believes that good will eventually come to her family for her daughter.
After walking for nearly half an hour Liang spots her destination, a small school house. Today is her last day at Dongxiang County’s Local Primary School. After today Liang will join her parents at the factory, a promise she had given to her dad. It has always been a greater dream of Liang’s to go to a place called the “college.” A place where people, girls and boy go to learn, and use their knowledge to help others. Liang can only dream that she could help her sister Li, her shadow.
Unlike other days, today school is different. Liang stands with her classmates in a long single filed line. Approximately 300 students are lined up with their books in hand, to be returned to the school. As Liang hands her books to her teacher she feels a crumpled up piece of paper shoved into her hand. Liang looks up at Teacher Wu, who is a trusted friend of her mothers. Teacher Wu gives Liang a curt nod and motions her to exit the school, like every other student.
On her way home Liang reads the paper. A strange word is written across the wrinkled sheet.
“Scholarship” Liang says aloud.
An opportunity for young women interested in pursuing a higher education followed by a two year clinical medicine training program in Beijing. Without fully processing what she just read, Liang takes a sharp left turn, away from her home. A new path, leading her towards the Dongxiang county train station.
“I’ll see you again Li, soon” Are Liang’s last words in Dongxiang County.
“Scholarship” Liang says aloud.
An opportunity for young women interested in pursuing a higher education followed by a two year clinical medicine training program in Beijing. Without fully processing what she just read, Liang takes a sharp left turn, away from her home. A new path, leading her towards the Dongxiang county train station.
“I’ll see you again Li, soon” Are Liang’s last words in Dongxiang County.