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依稀記得事發時正值春季，放眼盡是一片青蔥翠綠。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvP1oRnG9O
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucc3JyDkM6
對於當時年僅八歲的湯米，獨自闖進這片渺無人煙的樹林裡，不害怕嗎？503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoQpT3ofK3
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRfJ17xdT6
害怕，但他似乎更害怕樹林外的……503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x0A2oiuOB
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny8LSB27NM
甚麼？樹林外有甚麼？503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLgU018Y4u
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfo4YkLeSU
他記不起。
湯米花了二十二年時間去回憶，卻仍然想不起自己在樹林外遇到甚麼。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnnUKdUAGo
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxROWCd7Gq
媽媽曾提及過，搜救隊在樹林裡找到他時，他已陷入昏迷，一絲不掛，頭部重傷。原以為湯米被變態色魔拖入樹林施暴，誰料醫生檢查後卻說他身上沒有被侵犯的痕跡。加上湯米記不起進入樹林前後的遭遇，案情變得更為撲朔迷離，警方無從入手調查，只得在半年後將此案列為懸案。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1TET2sLIX
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12HMWYYcn2
由於受驚過度，湯米性格大變，變得陰沉。朋友不敢接近他，說他的表情很可怕。童年不再愉快。媽媽數次為他遷居、轉校，直至湯米說累了，想要安定下來。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SV11C6h9Q
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5nqUIZ5PB
就這樣，湯米在這地方待了二十二年。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4V0iEPiK4
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmDxnYXrBa
這是一個老舊的住宅小區，居民大多是上年紀的老者。他們早上會到公園晨運散步、互相打招呼，然後會認為生活很美好。老者不需要夜生活。晚上十時許，整條大街已然烏燈黑火。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4733RQZR
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwlYdt9q9r
對年輕的湯米而言，這種生活平淡乏味。惟每當他對外界感到好奇或是鼓起勇氣打算到別的地區閒逛時，零碎的回憶卻同時湧上心頭，恐懼再次通體蝕骨。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0NqHsXm0L
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8geUd9yQhi
記起了？不。記憶過於散亂，根本沒法拼湊出事情的來龍去脈。牽制他的僅是那股莫名的恐懼。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08FbYX9XSV
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2s2KgJq0g
湯米哭了，渾身顫抖。媽媽上前安慰他、擁抱他。驚恐的湯米在媽媽的懷抱裡安然入睡。
媽媽死了。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yXxUo17ce
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEPZiuueY4
湯米瑟縮被窩中，連續七日無眠。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlNWPzVFcq
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ4JaRJOwj
他看見那片樹林在眼前。他置身於樹林當中。他從樹梢葉子之間的隙縫間看見灰濛濛的天空。他嗅到草腥混和霧水的清新氣味。他感受到腳下有大小不一的石塊……503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qnpEwGzso
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMpRwN40WC
湯米知道自己快要瘋掉。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrMojnt1kx
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYSniTZLGl
他不甘心。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjDBWxmuDG
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeqZ6r11Fy
鼓起勇氣，衝出家門。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VJxOXwr4g
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcafbC1nRFy
夜深，身穿酸臭睡衣的湯米在無人大街上赤腳狂奔。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cuwkPs5ze
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApQkPBz7Ax
路面偶有雜物垃圾或是醉漢摔破酒瓶遺下的玻璃碎片，但在湯米眼內，那都是大小不一的石塊；馬路上車輛漸多，灰黑的廢氣在湯米鼻腔內變成了草腥混和霧水的清新氣味；連花園的住宅平房往後冉退，身邊景物換上奢華時髦的裝束，高聳入雲的參天大樓在湯米眼中成了百年老樹，閃爍繽紛的霓虹就是葉子隙縫間那片灰濛濛的天。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFZWonnjEt
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxslKiScZIE
跑呀跑。路不盡，夢無窮。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9qXPvGoyK
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoT7rCtVqM
湯米在一片樹林前停下腳步。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueePT7NL9y
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFeLUnqZIF
是當年那片樹林嗎？503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iIUmxy692
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWK8ElYA9u
他喘著粗氣，窮目細望夜月下的樹林輪廓。發現樹林前有一小屋，像極兒時居所。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs0YlPRYyb
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZCTrWgTML
怎麼會在這裡？幻覺嗎？503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3TRPkBVoD
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NvrKeO9k8
疑惑之際，忽爾有一男孩從小屋正門蹦跳步出，熟練地拐進屋旁小徑。湯米認得那張臉——根本是八歲的自己。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfQF4BFQIw
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pjsjUm3Nc
湯米尾隨男孩去到屋後花園，誰料幼童突然剎停腳步，高喊：「媽媽！」503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIeR2TMZe9
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXuQlEN6Xc
湯米循男孩目光望去，只見媽媽與男鄰查理叔叔擁作一團。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBuDZKPHV5
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0KVxUUMOp
「湯米！你怎會在這裡？你不是在睡覺嗎？」媽媽大驚，連忙整理衣衫。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FfhDTDOaL
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz1KBOj2TM
「我被電話鈴聲吵醒了。」男孩打呵欠，伸懶腰。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNQZRUhvBj
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyuThTSL1e
「電話？媽媽現在去接電話。」媽媽神色慌張，與冷靜的查理叔叔形成強烈對比。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKU4gg32Kw
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0KnAhGW1q
「不用了。我剛接聽電話了。爸爸說他忘記帶重要文件，希望你能將夾萬內的文件放到餐枱上，方便他回來拿取。」男孩聰明伶俐，卻未能看明白眼前的事——他以為擁抱是普通不過的事，就像自己高興時會跟同學擁抱，不分男女。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp3FFJjX1Z
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk5kZ23w04
「噢！湯米真乖！媽媽這就去辦！」媽媽匆匆帶著湯米回到屋裡去。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuwy2s9Wnz
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0s0f0mK7n
媽媽在睡房夾萬前忙著的時候，查理叔叔走近坐在梳化看電視的男孩：「不如一起到樹林那邊散步，好嗎？」
「不！不要！」樹林內，湯米和男孩的聲音重疊起來，同樣的語氣和音量，同樣的驚恐與無助。他只能眼巴巴看著查理叔叔如何用石塊狠砸男孩的頭部，看著後來趕到的媽媽帶淚呆站一旁，沒有任何阻止查理叔叔的舉措……503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpxj3HJ1fw
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A2uDz9fQb
男孩頭部受傷昏倒的一刻，男孩跟查理叔叔的身影消失了，只餘雙眼通紅的媽媽愣在原地。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjWBJlbZkk
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtt9fmlUPh
相顧無言，唯有淚千行。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgqsVua1co
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8rTst8Yf6
月落日出之間的晦暗不明逐漸顯現，灰藍與橙白在天空柔和相爭。是分別時刻，無論願意不願意。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmXi6EJzZH
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22VLS4gymg
「對不起，湯米。我是你的媽媽，我該要不顧一切保護你，我該要阻止查理……」503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHkjbt62k7
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fh9YVyQY5
「但你同時是個人。在恐懼面前，人類甚麼都不是。」503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDJtivk2v6
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaN2mDX9b3
湯米雖失去事發時的記憶，但他清楚記得爸爸遇意外離世後，媽媽的手腳不再瘀青。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzb1BbEtyL
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxaGQ0ManR
曾有好一段日子，查理叔叔每天到來看望母子二人，會送親手栽種的盆栽給媽媽，也會為湯米帶來很多有趣的玩意。湯米雖沒有跟查理叔叔一起玩耍，但他感受到當中的關懷，打從心底喜歡查理叔叔，奈何媽媽對查理叔叔越益冷淡。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1tnoPP2yt
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBiYK05rNP
某日，查理叔叔要搬家到別的城鎮去。媽媽當日整天神色黯然，經常靠著窗玻璃呆望查理叔叔指揮搬運工將傢俬抬上車。湯米看不懂成人的心思，說要為查理叔叔送行。媽媽不依，只道不要妨礙人家：「媽媽已耽誤查理叔叔很多時間。」503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVDVb92guW
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TEBL2skHF
傍晚，搬運工已然備好一切。查理叔叔登車前，依依不捨望向湯米和媽媽的屋。媽媽立時退後遠離窗戶，湯米則傻傻向查理叔叔揮手道別。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSaLSqkXTD
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gOnziAODE
查理叔叔就此徹底退出母子二人的人生……
日出，光芒四射。灰藍橙白褪下舞台，柔和的金黃灑落青蔥樹林之上。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqd3gwSGDk
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXmp0GkzFU
又一個春日。又一個開始。過去就此成為過去。503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4eswnerck
503Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIZ1MmBVBH
湯米戰戰兢兢走入樹林。他感受到腳下有大小不一的石塊。他嗅到草腥混和霧水的清新氣味。他從樹梢葉子之間的隙縫間看見天空。不是灰濛濛的，而是藍得清澄、藍得可愛的天空。
