My eyes were bloodshot as I spoke, each word filled with rage, wishing I could tear her apart:
“You don’t deserve to call her ‘mom.’ She treated you so well, and you killed her!”
“Jade, you’re nothing but a murderer!”
Her body trembled, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Her eyes were filled with terror, her mouth opened wide, but no sound came out.
Overcome with grief and anger, I couldn’t control myself, and a mouthful of blood surged out.
“Corey, I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please, don’t scare me…”
Jade scrambled towards me on her hands and knees, reaching out to wipe the blood from my face, but was kicked aside.
“You have no right to touch Corey. Get away from him.”
“I’ve already called the police! I’m charging you with assault. Everyone here is a witness!”
The girl gritted her teeth as she spoke, then turned and crouched beside me, gently wiping the blood from my face with a handkerchief.
“It’s me, Corey. Don’t worry, I’ve called the police, and the doctor will be here soon to help you. Hold on!”
I forced a smile. “Holly, you’re back…”
She nodded tearfully. “I’m back. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you again!”
“Good…”
My vision blurred, and I could no longer hold on. I fell into unconsciousness.
I had a long dream.
In the dream, I saw my mother again.
She was standing on the opposite side of the river, dressed in red, her once loving face now filled with resentment.
I called out to her desperately, wanting to ask if she was doing well.
“Don’t call me ‘mom’! I don’t have a son like you. Why did you insist on marrying Jade? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be dead!”
Her voice was sharp, her face twisted in anger, with tears of blood streaming down.
“I was wrong, Mom. Please forgive me! I’m sorry…”
I cried out, wanting to jump into the river and swim to the other side to beg for her forgiveness.
But in the next moment, she transformed, now dressed in white, her expression filled with urgency.
“Don’t jump! This is the River of the Dead! If you jump in, you’ll never come back!”
I stopped in my tracks, staring at her in confusion.
Her face softened with love and concern. “My child, I’ve never blamed you. It’s your own guilt weighing you down.”
“You’re my beloved son. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. How could I ever resent you?”
I fell to my knees on the riverbank, crying as I asked her if she was alright now.
She smiled and nodded, saying to me,
“What you saw earlier, the red clothes, that wasn’t the real me. It was just something you imagined.”
“My dear son, listen to your mother. Don’t be trapped in guilt and blame. I want you to live a happy and joyful life.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her body began to glow with a soft white light.
“Goodbye, my child. Remember your mother’s words. This is my final wish…”
The light grew brighter, and my mother slowly dissolved into tiny white particles, scattering into the air.
“No! Don’t go-Mom!”
I screamed, waking up from the dream in tears.