The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao and Laohubai stood at the gates of the orphanage. The boy took a deep breath, his resolve to handle the tragic situation was rattled once again as he saw the place that always used to be filled with cheers and laughter. He did not know how to walk in and tell the people about what happened to those three children.

Laohu Bai sensed his turmoil and placed her hand on his shoulder. She squeezed it gently and said, “Stay strong, Young Master. Life and death are just the two sides of a coin. They are never apart and they are never the end.”

Her calm voice eased the storm inside Yang Dao’s heart a bit. After a couple of deep breathes the boy moved his steps forward. The white-haired girl followed him in silence. The Orphanage used to be a school earlier. But later on, the building was renovated and the city government changed it into an orphanage. There was one big entrance with a concrete shed over it. Two Pillars supported the shed, these pillars all had the name of all the children who grew up and walked out of the orphanage to a new life.

The whole orphanage was painted with cheerful bright colors to make it more children-friendly. In front of him stood an Oak-wood door. The boy pushed it. The door was old and heavy, it opened with a creaking sound, shattering the silence of the early morning. He stepped in and saw an empty reception counter.

He walked slowly with his eyes gazing at his old home, soon he came to a stair case. Turned to Laohu Bai and said, “Sister Bai, wait here. I will get the rest to come and help.”

Laohu Bai nodded, she was worried and grateful to Yang Dao. Her only weakness was being emotionally expressive and understanding the people she did not know. The children in the orphanage were unknown and she did not know how to deal with it. She watched as Yang Dao climbed the stairs slowly.

She came back to the reception counter sat down on a chair with a sigh when she heard her phone buzz. The girl jumped off the chair in fright and picked up the phone. The called were the eldest and Feng Yun. It was a multi-call.

She spoke, “Hello, eldest brother, Sister Yun.”

Feg Yun spoke, “Xiao Bai, where is the Young Master?”

The white-haired girl replied, “He is upstairs, waking up the children. He asked me to stay here.” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

The old man spoke, “Why is he dealing with it alone?”

Feng Yun spoke, “He might have sensed that Xiao Bai cannot deal with unknown people. Too stoic. Her military training comes in the way of emotions.”

Laohu Bai just hummed silently. The Old Man spoke up in a solemn voice, “How is he holding up and narrate the whole story.”

The white-haired girl told them what happened from the moment they started to kill the terrorists and now. The two listened in silence. Just as they were talking Laou Bai heard crying sounds. She sighed and said, “Young Master, told them about the death of the children. The whole orphanage is echoing with wails. What do I do?” her own eyes turned red.

…

Yang Dao climbed up the stairs and came to the second floor where the elder children used to sleep. He first woke up the boys and walked up to the female dorms alone. After he woke up the girls, the 13 children above the age of ten all gathered in the corridor. Yang Dao glanced at them and said in a heavy voice, “You guys know that yesterday something happened in the orphanage when Sister Tina took the young ones out.”

The rest nodded, they all could sense that it was a bad thing from his heavy tone. Yang Dao took a deep breath and said, “There was a terrorist attack in the city. The three children were held hostage when they tried to protest and break away. They were brutally murdered.”

The boys in front of him were stunned while they covered their mouths with a palm and some girls held each other’s hand tight. They could not believe what their elder brother was saying. Yang Dao said, “I am telling you the truth. I saw them there, sleeping forever. I joined the army from the training. Do you know that elder sister with me? She took me and helped me avenge our brothers. But even then I could not bring them back.” his eyes were already covered with tears.

Cao, the 14-year-old boy, who told him everything last night, said, “It is not your fault big brother Dao. You avenged them and saved a lot more. The three will be happy.” although he said that, he was also tearing up.

Children in the orphanage all grow up relying on each other and thus they have a greater sense of unity and the circumstances make them more responsible and mature. This is also what sister tina instilled in them when they all grew up. Yang Dao nodded slightly and said, “Can you wake up the others, we need to prepare for the burial ceremony. Sis… sister Tina. I will go to her.”

The rest of the children nodded and left to wake up the others. Yang Dao walked back to the first floor where Sister Tina resided, his pace was slow. His heart was as if being squeezed by grief. The pain was unbearable. This pain was not from the death of the children but the sadness, he shared with everyone. He has not even reached the doors when he heard the wailings behind him.

The boy came to a double door and raised his shivering hand to knock on it. After knocking twice, he noticed that the door was open already. He pushed it open and said, “Sister Tina.” as he peeked inside.

He shivered as he saw sister tina sitting on the bed wearing a black habit. She never wore the colors of grief but today she was wearing them. She raised her head to glance at him and said, “Come in Dao.”