Baby sits by herself, sitting in a patch of sunlight in a still house. Dust motes hang in the air. The house is sparse but neat - bare.
It's 3pm. There’s too much time and nothing to do.
She could find something to do to [[occupy herself->blocks]], as she usually does. She doesn't want to disturb her [[parents->check]] .
Baby plays with the wooden blocks, trying to make a perfect square, but her thick paws keep shifting the blocks in the corners and she can’t get it perfect.
[[walk around->check]]
She gets up, roams around the house, touching things softly, feet padding on the ground.
It's a small house, and it doesn't take long to check that everyone is where they are meant to be - a quick peek into the [[bedroom->bedroom]], and a tip toe to peer out the [[kitchen window->kitchen window]].
(if:(history: where (passage:it)'s tags contains "check")'s length is 1)[[Baby is done making her rounds and returns to the living room. She walks towards the door, glances back to make sure no one’s watching, and then opens the [[front door->front door]]]]
Baby silently pads down to the hallway. It's windy out today, so the windows are all closed. The floorboards creak with every footstep. Up in the eaves of the roof, a spider sits still in her web.
She stops at the closed door at the end of the hallway, and gets on her knees to put her ear to the crack under the door. Cool air tickles her face, and she can hear the hum of the AC.
When she clambers up the doorknob is at face level, and she uses both paws to carefully turn it and pull the door open a crack.
Three immaculate beds, and the middle one occupied by a small hill that rises and falls. Mother is sleeping.
Father's hunting - the world operates on some sort of game mechanism, so a rabbit pops up and he grabs it silently, without struggle. He is focused. A shot that pushes back; starting with clean view of baby opening the door. The world outside is absolutely still - Tall green lallang field in the foreground partially obscuring the house in the middle, grey stone Putian house, dark trees in the back. The immediate heat of high noon.
As she steps out, camera then pushes into grass. The world in increasing motion, the further out she steps. Grass rippling so violently it’s about to rip off its roots.
She didn't expect this amount of wind - it's blown the living room into a mess. she should probably head back in to clean up.
[[go further->roof]]
[[Go back->go back]]She ambles to the side of the house, pipe going up the side, drainage system neatly cemented around the perimeter, gardening materials neatly leaning against the wall. She’s hidden a way to get up the house; a hidden paint can for her to step onto, which gives her a grip on the pipe, and she gets all the way up to sit on the roof of the house.
Very wide birds eye shot - a tiny red roofed house in the middle of a sharply rectangular clearing within a forest, like duct tape ripped off a hairy leg.
She is careful to sit out of view of Father, and not to move and wake up Mother. Baby sits there quietly for a while, observing.
The sun is setting. It's time to [[go in for dinner->dinner]], but the roof tiles are pleasantly warmed by the heat from the day. It may be nice to sit a little [[longer->longer]].
Baby retreats and stares for a while. Peeking into the house, there’s still a lot of time before Mother wakes.The sun is low enough that it is directly over the banyan tree by the creek, which is the signal to go back. She clambers down quietly and reenters the house, sitting back in her corner of the house.
The clock hits 6pm, and 2 doors open at once, Mother and Father coming in for dinner.
[[goodnight->day 2]]The sun over the trees.
Baby notices a child staring at her in the distance. Hair in a tangle, unreadable expression, huge eyes.
Baby is scared and averts her eyes and goes back into the [[house->dinner]]. The next day, baby steps out once again, and the angel is still there
Go to her
[[goodnight->day 3]]When father returns and mother wakes, baby suggests they take a walk - insisting on seeing the sunset. Parents let it, because baby never asks for anything. Baby leaves the back door open, and notices Angel focus in.
[[jump->jump]]There is an unspoken agreement here. Angel will take Baby’s place. Angel walks her to the door, and they stand for a while looking out. Baby sees promise - she wonders, what does Angel see? They look at each other for a while, then Angel puts her hands on either side of Baby’s head, and tiptoes to kiss it gently. It is a goodbye, and a good luck. Angel stands in the house and Baby walks away.
10 years later. Baby is grown up, but she keeps the name. She moved to the city, and it was ok. Angel was found out like 1 week in, but the parents didn’t care. Idk. they talk, and they come across a baby abandoned in the forest, and they take it together.