The Ipdite Temple was serene and seldom visited. Those who were willing to climb a mountain and kneel before the ancient Buddha were truly devout.
Callie had been staying here for a few days, helping the abbot with daily chores. She had cut off all ties with the outside world and felt mostly at peace.
Ipdite Temple was high and perilous, often a retreat for the wealthy. Thus, most visitors were of notable status, but they all knelt before the Buddha with the same devotion.
“Auntie, do you think praying works?” Callie gazed at the curling incense smoke, lost in thought.
She was an atheist and had never believed in such things, but after everything she had been through, she couldn’t help but waver. If praying to Buddha worked, it would be wonderful.
“Belief makes it real, Callie. Don’t overthink it,” Sienna said, dressed in simple clothes with a serene expression. She was a person of clear mind. “Most of the time, you don’t need to cling to what you’ve lost. Buddha will guide those with fate.”
Callie smiled and nodded. “Understanding it is one thing, truly accepting it is another.”
She hadn’t told Sienna what she had been through when she came to Ipdite Temple, and Sienna hadn’t asked. But she likely guessed that Callie was troubled.
“Time will help you let go of everything.” Sienna cleaned the incense ashes from the altar with a small broom and asked, “Does your family know you’re here?”
Callie pondered. To reassure Reuben, she had sent word that she was on a business trip. She hadn’t informed the Oconnor family but had told Nelson she wanted some quiet time, which was an explanation of sorts.
“They know.”
Sienna took three sticks of incense from nearby and handed them to Callie. “If you want to pray for something, give it a try.”
Callie hesitated for two seconds but took the incense. She stepped forward, lit them with a candle flame, then knelt before the towering Buddha statue, holding the incense above her head and closing her eyes.
Buddha, if you can truly save people, please let my child who had an unfortunate fate have a better life in the next world.
The insurmountable obstacle was here.
After her meditation, Callie bowed three times and placed the incense in the altar.
Seeing her finish, Sienna took her hand. “Come, the monk in the dining hall made new vegetarian curry today. You should try it.”
Sienna’s large hands were wrinkled but very warm. Following her, Callie felt she wasn’t alone.
“Auntie, how are your legs? Does your daughter visit often?”
Sienna waved her hand with a helpless smile. “I’m old; no matter how good they get, they won’t improve much. My child has grown up and has her own life to attend to. Even if she comes, I can’t keep her company. Over time, her visits have become less frequent.”
Callie couldn’t understand. If she had such a mother, she wouldn’t let her stay by the ancient Buddha alone.
Feeling inspired, she asked tentatively, “Auntie, if I may ask, do you also have someone or something you can’t obtain?”
Sienna raised an eyebrow, feeling even more connected to the woman before her. She seemed to see right through her heart.
“The person I seek is probably never coming back.” Sienna forced a smile, looking somewhat desolate.
Callie didn’t press further. It must have been someone very important for her to spend the rest of her life here in their memory.
“Eat more. If you want meat, you can sneak down the mountain,” Sienna whispered with a smile, genuinely liking this gentle girl.
Callie laughed at her words and shook her head. “I think staying here is quite nice.”