
依稀記得事發時正值春季,放眼盡是一片青蔥翠綠。571Please respect copyright.PENANAGuk6NB2mE9
571Please respect copyright.PENANAEdVXEpBs4N
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?571Please respect copyright.PENANAMKCPn3FhMn
571Please respect copyright.PENANAq8tDov36b7
害怕,但他似乎更害怕樹林外的……571Please respect copyright.PENANAXjdnVUPDew
571Please respect copyright.PENANAxF1M2iIScT
甚麼?樹林外有甚麼?571Please respect copyright.PENANACWslHIm9HR
571Please respect copyright.PENANADW7yjIbnDc
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAebA9SXAQGa
571Please respect copyright.PENANA1r7ht2g2Hr
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANA7hsi6AYiMJ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAKnMbe30wMl
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ar98Ukfzf
571Please respect copyright.PENANAfEtcsA8r3e
就這樣,湯米在這地方待了二十二年。571Please respect copyright.PENANATjKewQdseM
571Please respect copyright.PENANAdY4Re12R68
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANADYSnC6XiXt
571Please respect copyright.PENANA9DWQvQeyki
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAlPvvfjN51H
571Please respect copyright.PENANAZlbRi5YiBo
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANA5KWMIjGh1B
571Please respect copyright.PENANAaiOO9PQFmc
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAWvt26iO5oF
571Please respect copyright.PENANAh0v7Fm2hWz
湯米瑟縮被窩中,連續七日無眠。571Please respect copyright.PENANAsVXb0uR8NZ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAalmDTCAPWv
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……571Please respect copyright.PENANAszdJw80ObQ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAaAWX9i8U3e
湯米知道自己快要瘋掉。571Please respect copyright.PENANAqaBvgHgdCd
571Please respect copyright.PENANARrv5TYHgpW
他不甘心。571Please respect copyright.PENANAPBgxU0M6Ri
571Please respect copyright.PENANAwqC5QcZ9iX
鼓起勇氣,衝出家門。571Please respect copyright.PENANAcaAeLDUyZZ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAFUP58aZG5z
夜深,身穿酸臭睡衣的湯米在無人大街上赤腳狂奔。571Please respect copyright.PENANAxmBsKr96gQ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAuCr2tqbd9m
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANACc2C1hbmDe
571Please respect copyright.PENANAU8I7GxyKAn
跑呀跑。路不盡,夢無窮。571Please respect copyright.PENANA9X103bfz87
571Please respect copyright.PENANAIlm4HT2Wmn
湯米在一片樹林前停下腳步。571Please respect copyright.PENANA71bIukKbMR
571Please respect copyright.PENANAeHxyBjgXrP
是當年那片樹林嗎?571Please respect copyright.PENANAhKo2B4p51W
571Please respect copyright.PENANARi4rtKmYUh
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAIkqlRsp5il
571Please respect copyright.PENANAaOBjMNOk2a
怎麼會在這裡?幻覺嗎?571Please respect copyright.PENANAE1JNgX336K
571Please respect copyright.PENANAdbGcB3goGV
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAbiiTAdfQrn
571Please respect copyright.PENANAEtMi1GaWGL
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!」571Please respect copyright.PENANA8TtU2KalyM
571Please respect copyright.PENANAY7vsvYPEL5
湯米循男孩目光望去,只見媽媽與男鄰查理叔叔擁作一團。571Please respect copyright.PENANAq3dY70L94P
571Please respect copyright.PENANAPheAA03aXw
「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。571Please respect copyright.PENANABJ08CvfaKG
571Please respect copyright.PENANAFW76tUcPZE
「我被電話鈴聲吵醒了。」男孩打呵欠,伸懶腰。571Please respect copyright.PENANAc7tZU2JYI6
571Please respect copyright.PENANAs1yjojfCkh
「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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAzA2z6N6ELi
571Please respect copyright.PENANAPUFA66TASK
「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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAtk6n0BJA8A
571Please respect copyright.PENANABZGbrlzdxs
「噢!湯米真乖!媽媽這就去辦!」媽媽匆匆帶著湯米回到屋裡去。571Please respect copyright.PENANAaCkXFfp4DZ
571Please respect copyright.PENANAhVRdeF2S76
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……571Please respect copyright.PENANAm19OTMhYyg
571Please respect copyright.PENANAa4jyRAutvb
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAtJC7MAJYXG
571Please respect copyright.PENANAcMA80r8IDg
相顧無言,唯有淚千行。571Please respect copyright.PENANA7CUtK39LfB
571Please respect copyright.PENANAcP1HVgOSBi
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAHLCM0lIj26
571Please respect copyright.PENANA3RJYZI8JTJ
「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……」571Please respect copyright.PENANAg18dYYcWKT
571Please respect copyright.PENANAxKQQ8yXe02
「但你同時是個人。在恐懼面前,人類甚麼都不是。」571Please respect copyright.PENANAHZDmQgE9Xj
571Please respect copyright.PENANAUn5fGNJX9C
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAXjXGw2STNK
571Please respect copyright.PENANAjCfK1NaVeL
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAquz9TYbUqd
571Please respect copyright.PENANA83RTy2Fcjl
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。」571Please respect copyright.PENANAAAx9G7slj3
571Please respect copyright.PENANAwjzNsP7b7v
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAE1JmxWyY3l
571Please respect copyright.PENANA3JPwJHLGjb
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。571Please respect copyright.PENANAVRt6rxaCTX
571Please respect copyright.PENANAqnL2RzOmUR
又一個春日。又一個開始。過去就此成為過去。571Please respect copyright.PENANALlbkK9Y9dn
571Please respect copyright.PENANAFESilo7NXW
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。