Don't Lie to Your Therapist—She Already Knows Your Fate

Chaochao’s mother left Wen Ying’s hospital room in a daze.

Wen Ying stared after her for a few moments, then tugged on Aunt Zhang’s arm. "Auntie, can you go check on Chaochao’s mother? I feel like she’s lost the will to live."

At first, Aunt Zhang didn’t understand why Wen Ying was asking her to go, but after hearing that, she took off after her without looking back.

Chaochao’s mother held the item Wen Ying had given her. She tucked it into the clothes of her daughter, who lay with her eyes closed, never to wake again. She whispered softly, "Chaochao, don’t be afraid. Mommy will be with you very soon."

Her voice was so low, it was almost inaudible.

They didn’t plan to cremate the body. Chaochao’s father had arranged for an ambulance to take her back to their hometown.

Their hometown was a village nestled amidst beautiful mountains and clear waters. Chaochao’s father felt it was the most suitable place for Chaochao.

Whenever they missed Chaochao, they could go back and see her.

Aunt Zhang stood a short distance away, watching Chaochao’s mother. A doubt crept into her mind. ’She’s not really going to kill herself, is she?’

This was a human life at stake.

Those who have passed are gone; the living must find the courage to go on.

Just as Aunt Zhang was lost in thought, she saw Chaochao’s mother heading for the stairwell and followed her.

The stairs kept going up, all the way to the rooftop.

Aunt Zhang hurried to catch up. Her old bones were screaming with exhaustion from the run, but thinking of the life at stake, she could only force herself to keep going.

"Hey, dear! Wait up!"

Aunt Zhang’s voice echoed across the rooftop. Chaochao’s mother turned to look at her with a suspicious expression but didn’t say a word.

"What are you running so fast for? You’re going to be the death of these old bones."

"Ma’am, did you need me for something?" Chaochao’s mother tried her best to act normal, but there was no hiding the gray emptiness in her eyes.

"I don’t need anything. I want to ask what you’re doing up here on the roof. And don’t give me any of that ’getting some fresh air’ or ’enjoying the view’ nonsense."

Hearing this, Chaochao’s mother said nothing.

"Sigh. I know how you feel, but you have to keep living! If that little girl knew what you were thinking right now, do you think she could rest in peace?"

Chaochao’s mother remained silent.

"You’re not in any state to listen to me right now, so I’ll just tell you the truth. Little Ying sent me. She said you were having dark thoughts and asked me to watch over you."

"I... I’m truly grateful to Doctor Wen, but I can’t help it. My mind is filled with nothing but Chaochao. She was my whole world. She can’t feel anything anymore, can’t see this world, can’t even see me. She won’t know whatever I do."

"Thank you for caring about me, but there’s really no need." Chaochao’s mother’s voice was filled with despair, with a bleakness that saw no light in the future.

Aunt Zhang was helpless. She couldn’t reason with the woman, but if she left, she was afraid Chaochao’s mother would immediately go to join her daughter. That was the last thing she wanted to happen.

Suddenly, Aunt Zhang had an idea.

"Little Ying is a capable person. Maybe she can let you see Chaochao."

Chaochao’s mother stared at Aunt Zhang without a word, but her eyes said it all.

There was no need to persuade her, no need to weave lies to trick her into living.

She knew perfectly well her daughter was never coming back. What did she mean, "see" her?

How was that even possible?

"I know you don’t believe me! But Little Ying... she’s not a normal person. Just trust me this once, can’t you? If it doesn’t work, I won’t ever stop you again. Don’t you want to take this one chance?"

Chaochao’s mother still didn’t answer. Instead, she turned and walked toward the edge of the rooftop.

Aunt Zhang immediately ran after her, reaching out and grabbing her arm.

"If you don’t get to see your daughter, it’s not too late to die then, is it? If you die now, you’ll really never see her! My old man used to say the world below is vast, and you might never find each other in a lifetime! Can you accept that?! Besides, Chaochao is down there now. Aren’t you worried they won’t find a good resting place for her?"

Aunt Zhang used all her strength to pull Chaochao’s mother back from the edge. "Let’s go find Little Ying right now and ask her about this face-to-face."

Before Chaochao’s mother could answer, Aunt Zhang was already dragging her off the rooftop.

In Wen Ying’s hospital room, the old man in the next bed stared at the white wall. "Little girl, were you able to tell what was going to happen to her?"

"Even if you don’t say anything, this old man can tell. You’re no ordinary little girl."

After speaking twice and getting no reply, the old man couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Wen Ying, only to see her watching him with a wide smile. "Old Sir, are you still mad? You’re as temperamental as a child."

The old man huffed, clearly still angry.

"I can indeed tell what she was going to do. I’m a psychologist. I can infer what sort of things a person might do by observing their expression, tone, and actions."

"Psychologists can read faces these days? The world outside has really changed." After this remark, the old man fell silent.

Aunt Zhang came in, bringing Chaochao’s mother with her.

Aunt Zhang, who had been about to speak, found herself looking at the old man in the next bed for some reason.

The old man hadn’t been looking their way, but he seemed to sense something. "If you have something to say, just say it! This old man is deaf, I can’t hear a thing!"

After saying this, the old man promptly pulled a pair of earplugs from under his pillow and stuck them in his ears.

Aunt Zhang felt a little awkward, but there were clearly more important things to do at that moment, so she paid no mind to the old man’s little tantrum.

"Little Ying, can you let Chaochao’s mother see Chaochao?"

Chaochao’s mother looked at Wen Ying with a lifeless expression, seemingly without a shred of hope.

Wen Ying looked at Chaochao’s mother and was silent for a few moments. "If you see Chaochao, what will you say to her? That you don’t want to live anymore?"

Chaochao’s mother opened her mouth, but still, no words came out. She didn’t know what she could say to her daughter.

Chaochao was always so understanding. ’If she knew I wanted to kill myself, she would probably be angry, wouldn’t she?’

Chaochao’s mother remembered that as her daughter was passing, she had looked at her and said to live a happy life.

’So I can’t even fulfill my own daughter’s dying wish?’

’But it’s just too painful. In a world without my daughter, I really don’t know how to go on.’

’Not even for a single second.’

"Chaochao told me that even without her, she wanted her mommy and daddy to live happily. If you go, I can’t guarantee you’ll get to see her."

"But now... can I really see Chaochao?" Chaochao’s mother finally spoke, her voice thick with tears and confusion.

"Yes, but not right now. Place the item I gave you against Chaochao’s body."

Hearing this, Chaochao’s mother clung to the words as if they were a lifeline. "But Chaochao will never wake up again. Her father is taking her back to our hometown to be buried. How will I see her? Should I stop him?"

"In a dream." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"I can let you see Chaochao in your dreams. As for her funeral arrangements, proceed as planned. Find a beautiful place with nice mountains and clear water to lay her to rest."