Elizabeth (Liz) Wong - Vivian Leung Siu Bing
Jason Cheung - Wong Hei
**Dedicated to Odie and Clair ^_~ **
The winter season was coming quickly, she can tell by the snow falling lightly outside her window. The fireplace was warming up the little house, she sat down by the fire reading her book. It was a suspense thriller and she couldn't wait to get to the end. She read a few chapters and suddenly put it down. The cold air seeping through the cracks of the doors, windows, floors and into her skin. She wrapped her arms around her legs to keep warm. Shanghai wasn't the number one place to live because of the cold weather. Even for Liz, who love the warmer climates. But somehow this was different, she was drawn to the city many years before when she was pregnant with Trina. Her sweet baby girl, who's close to five now. "Mommy?"
The cute voice of her little girl interrupted her thoughts "Yes, sweetie?" turning around to find her at the edge of the hallway.
"There's someone outside my window." the girl said innocently.
Getting up as she picked up her girl, her heart beating so fast, she thought it would jump out. Slowly entering Trina's room, she looked inside. It was dark, the only sound was the wind howling through the windows. There was no one in sight. "Are you sure, Trina?" turning to her daughter.
"Right there!!!" she pointed to the window.
In a flash the shadow was gone by the time Liz looked out the window. "Honey, I don't see anyone. Maybe you are seeing things? Come on, you can sleep with mommy tonight and you'll see that there's.." she heard a tapping at the window. Looking up, she saw a full grown male figure dressed in dark clothes. The hood on his jacket covered his face. Jumping back when she saw the figure, she covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming. She didn't want to frighten Trina. Taking in a deep breath as she approached the window. He looked like he was hurt and probably frozen. Her caring heart instantly went out to him. She pointed for him to go around to the front door. When he nodded and walked towards that direction. She went to her front door.
When there was a knocking, she opened it. It was a fairly medium built guy. He looked like he was cold and hungry. Trina had an instant liking to him. "Mister you look cold." she dared said to him.
The man smiled at the adorable girl. She was tiny with hair falling to her shoulders. Bending down to be eye level with Trina "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."
"Let me get you something warm to drink." Liz said politely. Turning towards the kitchen, she expected her little girl to follow her instead she showed the new guest to the couch facing the fireplace. Shaking her head as she smiled to herself. Understanding why her daughter was so eager to befriend this new stranger. There weren't that many people that lived in their town, not to mention the cold season was coming up. No one wanted to leave the comfort of their warm home. Making a warm cup of hot cocoa as she brought it out to the stranger. "Here you go, Mr..." she looked at him questioningly. Waiting for him to introduce himself.
He looked at her puzzled, "Im afraid I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know who I am or how I got here." he looked sincere as he said this. Yet there wasn't a touch of fear in his voice.
Liz sat down on the couch next to him. Pulling off his hood as she saw his bruise on the corner of his left forehead. The blood was long dried, probably from the cold wind. She saw his hands, which were scraped and some parts were still bleeding. Her eyes suddenly hardened as she looked at this man. Her mind searching on what to do, but finally she got up to get her first aid kit. As a nurse, she was always ready for emergencies. Cleaning up his wound and putting a bandage on it, she sat there quietly wondering why he came to her home. She was studying his face when she noticed his necklace. "What's that?" she pointed to it.
It was a silver chain with a charm shaped in a heart. One side it said Cheung Yiu Wai and the other said Wong Siu Yu. "I didn't even notice this." he turned the charm to look at the name. "Cheung Yiu Wai...."
"I think that's you." Liz said quietly.
"Maybe...then who's Wong Siu Yu?" his question was more for himself.
"I don't know...maybe a wife? Or a girlfriend?" her voice was tense. She just wanted him to find his family and leave her alone.
"I don't know." he didn't know what else to say. He didn't remember anything except now he guessed that his name was Cheung Yiu Wai.
They were so busy talking that they didn't realize Trina fell asleep on the floor near the fireplace. When her slight movement caught Liz's eyes, she turned and instantly picked her daughter up "I'll take her to sleep first. Tommorrow is the weekend, so I'll have time to help you get any answers." She had connections with the police department in Shanghai.
That night he slept on the couch, he didn't want any covers since the fire was still burning. But Liz knew that it wasn't enough wood for the whole night, so she came out when he was deep asleep with a thick blanket. Covering him with it as she was careful not to wake him.
The next morning, the snowing had stopped. Liz smelled a delicious fragance coming from outside her bedroom. She finish getting ready as she walked down the hall to her daughter's room. It was empty, 'Strange, Trina never wakes up early.' she thought curiously. As she got closer to the kitchen she saw him cooking with Trina standing on top of a chair right next to him. He made scramble eggs and some toast. "You cook?"
"Morning to you too." his smile was warm as he went back to his cooking.
Trina instantly jumped off her chair "Mommy, mommy. He's making eggs!!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes, dear. I see that." she picked up her little girl. "Thank you. That's very sweet of you."
"So, you're little girl here has been telling me alot of stuff." she sensed a seriousness to his voice.
Putting her daughter down "Trina, you didn't make your bed today. Be a good girl and go do it." she watched as Trina ran down the hall to her bedroom. Turning her attention to Yiu Wai "What did that nosy little girl tell you?"
"Did he really leave you?" he was talking about him, her boyfriend of 5 years. When she got pregnant, he insisted that he wasn't ready for marriage. It took her a couple months to let that idea sink into her head. She even gathered enough courage to start her life all over again.
Liz's face was solemn as she recalled her situation over five years ago "Yes."
"But why? Didn't he know you were pregnant?" he was amazed that there was such an irresponsible man out there.
"I guess he just wasn't ready for a child. I don't really care because I don't want any pity from anyone. If he didn't want to get married, who am I to make him?" he sense the bitterness in her voice. She must have been hurt pretty bad.
"You're the mother of his child. Isn't that enough? How irresponsible could he be?" his face fell as he thought about his own identity "I wonder how I really am."
Liz looked at him questioningly "What do you mean?"
"Well, I lost my memory. I don't remember what kind of person I was. What would I have done in that situation?" his question threw her off.
"I...I don't know." she said finally.
"Jason!!" they instantly smiled at the sight of Trina running out from the hallway. "Jason, you said you would take me to play in the snow later."
"Jason?" Liz looked at him confused.
"Oh, little Trina here gave me a new name. She didn't like to call my name Yiu Wai. I would feel strange too since this name doesn't ring a bell. I told her that I would play in the snow with her today." he picked up the little girl as he bounced her on his lap.
"I was going to take you to the police department and have them help you find your family." Liz got up to get the food.
"That can always wait. A promise is a promise. We're going to make snowmans today!" he said excitedly.
Liz had to smile as she watched them giggle with excitement. Of all the five years that she's lived there, Trina never onced wanted to go out to the snow. It was just too cold for her. "Well, remember to put on your jackets and gloves." setting down three plates of food.
"Yes, mother." Trina said obediently.
"Yes, mother." Jason mocked Trina as he smiled at Liz.
The winter season seemed to fly by with Jason's company. Usually, Liz dreaded this season because it always dragged on and on. The days seemed to be longer and the cold weather seemed to get colder. Its been three months since she opened the door to Jason. He always changed the subject when she wanted to take him to the police department. He's avoided it for three months now. It made Liz wonder at times if he was really lying about his memory laspe. She stood outside the front door as she watched the two having a snowball fight. They looked like they were having so much fun. She couldn't help but smile, if only he came around sooner then she and Trina wouldn't have to live in lonliness for the past five years.
Her thoughts were disturbed by a painful bang on her leg. Looking down as she saw the crushed snow falling down her pants. He had hit her with a snowball. "Hey!!" she exclaimed as she wiped the snow off her pants.
The two laughed out loud as they watch Liz, who was now bending over to pick up the snow and balled it up. Aiming at Jason as she threw it at him. He was quick as he dodged it and threw the snowball he was holding in his other hand at Liz. It hit her arm this time as she screamed out at the contact. He quickly picked up Trina, using her as a shield when Liz made another ball. The little girl cried out in glee as he spinned her in all directions.
Liz new this happy moment couldn't last forever. He would have to leave sooner or later when he remembered. There was no way she was going to let him stay. One night after Trina was asleep, she sat on the couch with Jason. "How about we go to the police department tomorrow?"
"Lizzy, why?" he sighed out loud. He didn't like the way she kept pushing him away. "I really don't want to find out who I was. Maybe I wouldn't like me? Anyways, Im really happy here. Unless you don't want me here." he always had a feeling that she didn't like him.
"Its not that...but well, don't you think about your family? Maybe they are worried sick about you? And how about your wife? Or girlfriend?" she said quickly.
"Why don't you just admit that you don't want me around Trina?" his voice turned harsh as he tried to control himself from screaming and waking up the little girl. "I can tell from the way you always want me to go to the police department. Im not stupid, Lizzy."
She looked at him with angry eyes, but her voice was soft "Im sorry, I just don't want you to regret anything."
"I don't." his voice softened as he smiled gently at her "I really don't. I don't remember ever being so happy. Sure, I don't have any memories of anything but I do know that meeting you two have been the happiest day of my life." he took her hands in his "I do mean that with all my heart." his little eyes digging into hers.
She quickly pulled away as she got up "Its getting late, Im gonna go sleep now. We'll talk about this tomorrow." her face was hidden behind the light, she didn't want him to see her blush.
That night, Jason had the strangest dream. The backround was dark except a light shining on her. Her long dark hair seemed to shine. He didn't know who she was until she turned around. "Lizzy!" he cried out in his dream. She shook her head slowly as he watched her hold onto her stomache and walked away from him. "Don't leave me!!!" he cried out over and over. Yet she seemed to ignore him as she kept walking. "No!!" opening his eyes as he sat up on the couch. Clutching his head as he massaged the bruise on his forehead that's been long gone. It was hurting him.
"You okay?" Liz asked him from where she stood. She heard him mumbling then he yelled out. Worried that he was hurt so she came out to see him.
"Yeah." he nodded. When he turned to look at her. He saw her turning away heading towards her room. "Lizzy?"
"Yes?" she stopped, her heartbeat racing as she sensed a question in his voice.
"Can you help me? I want to know who Iam." a pleading in his voice. He was finally curious.
"Of course." she smiled through the dark as she returned to her bedroom. Closing the door behind her as she let out a deep breath. She was afraid that he might have remembered. As she reached her dresser, she stopped and gazed at the tiny jewelry box sitting on top of the dresser. She opened the box and pulled out a little silver necklace. The charm was a heart shaped, after over five years she finally looked at it again. Dropping it back into the box as tears began to drip down her cheeks. Thinking about him for the first time in five years. Sitting down on the ground as she hugged her legs together, tears streaming down her face as she cried.
At the police department, everyone seemed to be helpful as they tried to look for a name called Cheung Yiu Wai in their system. The computers wasn't updated but it was enough for the little town. With every name of any residence living within 100 miles from Shanghai, they searched for his name. Jason was quiet as he watched the policemen running back and forth as they searched through other city's data basis for his name. There seemed to be no matches. He began to wonder if he was from around the area, but why would he come there if he didn't live there? He was so busy thinking that he didn't notice Liz's long gaze at him. Her eyes still red from crying the night before.
"Im sorry, Mr. Cheung. We can't seem to find your name anywhere within 100 miles. Im guessing you are not from this area. But Im assuming you don't know why you came here?" the lieutenant was a kind man. With just one request from Liz and he was quick to get his men to work. Jason instincts told him that he was in love with Liz but sensed her tensed up everytime the lieutenant touched her, he guessed that she had no feelings for him.
"I guess it wasn't meant to be." he was half relieved that they couldn't find anything and half of him nagged him about his past. He couldn't remember a single thing.
That night he stayed home by himself while Liz took Trina to work with her. There was a little school right next to the hospital where Liz enrolled her little girl. It couldn't have been more perfect and convenient for Liz.
Jason was home the rest of the night because Liz wanted to pick up some groceries before she went home. He was restless after he finished cleaning the house. He was ready to clean Liz's room as he opened her room door. Suddenly, he touched the charm he wore around his neck. It was the first time he looked at it since Liz first found it on his neck. Shaking the erie feeling away as he prepared to clean her room. She had neatly made the bed but he saw the jewerly box on her dresser was out of place. There was a part of the chain that was hanging out of the box. He opened it slowly and placed the chain back into the box, when suddenly the charm caught his attention. Pulling out the necklace as his eyes widened in surprise. It was the exact same charm that he wore...the names. 'bbbrrrnnng' the phone rang loudly through the house. Still holding onto the necklace as he ran to the living room. Picking up the phone "Hello?"
"Hi, is Miss Wong Siu Yu there? This is the police department."
His heart skipped a beat. The name, it was so familiar. Placing the receiver between his shoulders and ears as he pulled out his own charm and turned it around. The name Wong Siu Yu was written on the other side of his name. But how? That was her? How...? questions filled his head, it was quickly interrupted by the person on the other line, who was still talking. "What? Im sorry... she's not home."
"Well, just give her a message that we found out who Cheung Yiu Wai is, he's a laywer who lives in Hong Kong. Actually, Miss Wong put in a report about five years ago to find him. Can you please let her know?"
"Yes." his dazed expression turned white as he came to realize his true identity. The phone dropped from his shoulders with a loud bang as it contacted with the floor. He jumped in surprise as he picked it up and put it in place. Looking at the chain he found in her jewelry box, he saw the same names. She lied to him. Suddenly a flash of memory jolted through his mind. He saw her again, it was just like the dream except the backround was Hong Kong airport. She was rubbing her stomache as she entered the plane. He wanted to call out to her but no sound came out.
He sat there on the couch for the next hour. Never moving until she came back. She was carrying bag full of groceries with Trina close behind her "Oh my gosh, you could not believe the store today. It was so busy!" she was out of breath by the time she finished her sentence. When he didn't answer, she looked up at him. "Jason?"
His blank expression turned to her as he slowly held up the necklace in his hand. The other hand was touching his own necklace. "Were you ever going to tell me?"
Her face turned pale as she patted Trina's head "Sweetie, can you go to your room and do your homework? I'll come help you later."
Trina happily obliged as she skipped down the hall to her room.
"The police department called today, asking for Miss Wong Siu Yu. How could you lie to me? You knew all this time."
Tears quickly blurring her vision as she explained "I didn't mean to. I never expected to see you ever again. But when I let you in that one day, all I could think about was getting you out of my home. The pain you caused me five years ago was unbearable, when I saw you again, it was just bringing those feelings back." tears streaked her face as she looked at him "But the past few months, you were just the perfect father, doing everything that I hoped you would do. Then I remembered that you lost your memory. You couldn't possibly do all this if you were the real Cheung Yiu Wai."
His eyes filling up with tears as he listened to her words "Im sorry Lizzy. I didn't want to leave you that time. But I just wasn't ready to be a father. I saw you get on that plane but didn't stop you. I didn't have the courage to. After a few years of searching myself, I knew I wanted to do the right thing. I also knew that you went to China, so I searched for your name. But it was useless, so I decided to start looking in northern China. For some reason this city seemed to call out to me. So I came here, my car couldn't stand the cold so it died on me. Right outside this home a few blocks away. I only made it through a few yards of snow until I stopped, it was too cold for me. I didn't know I was close to a cliff until it was too late. I fell down and must have hit my head. I still can't remember exactly what happened, but I knew I crawled up the steep cliff to where I first fell. Although at that time I didn't remember anything." he slowly walked towards Liz as he reached out a warm hand and carressed her face.
Closing her eyes as she felt his warm touch, he wiped her tears away. "I guess fate brought you here."
"Im so sorry." his voice quivering as he hugged her. "Sorry."
She shook her head as she clutched him tightly afraid to let go "Im just glad you found us."
"Mommy?" Trina's soft voice stopped their embrace.
Smiling through tears at Jason and then waving for Trina to come over to her. "Trina, how would you like Jason to stay with us and be your daddy?" she didn't want to confuse the poor girl by telling her the truth.
Jason instantly understood as he smiled at his daughter "Would you like that?"
Trina face seemed to lit up at the idea "Yes!!" he put out his arms for her to hug him. She was quick to respond as she wrapped her little arms around his neck. Pulling Liz with his right arm into another hug. This time it was a family hug. The two smiled understandingly at each other. All the pain was finally burried with love.
**What gives you the strength to go on? If you find it, hold on to it because this will be your reason to go on.**
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