The night was as dark as ink, the moon shaped like a hook.
The cat slept, and so did my daughter.
Xu Li closed the storybook, quietly rose to close the curtains by his daughter's bed, then returned to sit under the kerosene lamp. He unlocked the old iron lock on the cupboard, and from its deepest part, he took out an old diary.
The diary was well-worn, its edges rounded from countless readings.
The handwriting in the diary was exquisite, but the blue ink had discolored and looked somewhat dirty.
"August 6, 1965. I became Xu Li's bride... I want two children, a son and a daughter. I must have the son first so he can protect his little sister with his father…"
"March 3, 1967. Today, I permanently lost my first child because I discussed Newton's first law in class… I am truly scared, really scared."
