二十年前——476Please respect copyright.PENANAmFwPBGLWBK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAimoYFaMtUx
小荷是個人見人愛的六歲小女孩,胖胖白白的臉配上一雙水靈大眼。她每天穿著荷媽親手做的一雙由彩色布碎拼湊而成的小鞋子到處玩耍,有時會跟同村的孩子們跑上山頭採菇,有時會為獨居老人送上新鮮採摘的漂亮花朵,有時會在湖邊遊蕩。476Please respect copyright.PENANAz6RiFP4ox5
476Please respect copyright.PENANA7X9PCSZ4MR
荷媽曾多次提醒她切勿走近湖邊,但小荷偏偏喜歡看蓮花,說蓮花是仙女的化身。荷媽忙著預備晚餐,不甚耐煩地反譏小荷幼稚。小荷不堪被譏諷,激動嚷著會帶蓮花仙女回家,然後頭也不回衝出家門。476Please respect copyright.PENANA9tCk2Ezvz0
476Please respect copyright.PENANAJu9aytS2xk
傍晚,晚餐備好了,小荷還沒有回家。荷媽心緒不寧,深怕小荷遇上意外。她挑燈外出,急步走往湖邊。476Please respect copyright.PENANAmr1GKwNRhq
476Please respect copyright.PENANA2ouzF5wIz6
小荷不在。476Please respect copyright.PENANADAMmGt0qSB
476Please respect copyright.PENANAtx1ZzMyMuP
荷媽的心頭涼了大截,連忙前去村長家求助。沒多久,大伙兒在湖邊叢林間搜索。476Please respect copyright.PENANAh7HiqcCB0C
476Please respect copyright.PENANAzWcHQKkPX0
無發現。476Please respect copyright.PENANAupQJ0Y186P
476Please respect copyright.PENANAnxHlvTKqE8
村長打算重新部署搜索行動之際,有人指著湖中央的一朵蓮花大叫:「看!湖中那朵蓮花上有一隻鞋!」476Please respect copyright.PENANAkaeI5LwWhh
476Please respect copyright.PENANAYRfu5Bx0AA
大伙兒定睛細看,卻因光線不足而未能確定那是否一隻鞋。荷媽救女心切,不理眾人勸阻跳入湖中游向那朵蓮花。游著、游著,她的身影突然消失了。476Please respect copyright.PENANAZelaxAGbTT
476Please respect copyright.PENANAittaVyb7q3
為免有更多人命犧牲,村民只得待天亮才落水找荷媽。不出所料,荷媽的腳踝被水草纏住,溺斃湖底。村民認得蓮花上的鞋子確是屬於小荷,但找遍湖底亦找不到她的身影。唯有繼續在林間搜索。無果。個多月後,眾人認為找到小荷的機會渺茫,於是停止搜索。476Please respect copyright.PENANAu4bu591K4T
476Please respect copyright.PENANArF4TFzzXBf
村裡開始流傳蓮花仙女帶走小荷的傳聞……476Please respect copyright.PENANAyeT3vD7N06
476Please respect copyright.PENANAUSL50fgM0Z
「那是在你出生前發生的事情?」阿夏一邊聽得著迷,一邊望著車窗外的油油綠草地,驚嘆著這寧靜山村背後竟有這種可怕事。476Please respect copyright.PENANA0MATgxrvV1
476Please respect copyright.PENANAU753sFtiYf
「不。當年我十歲,和小荷挺熟絡。」芙兒沒心情欣賞風景,逕自倚著椅背,微微仰首凝視車廂天花那色調偏冷的米光燈。476Please respect copyright.PENANABNSM0mr0WF
476Please respect copyright.PENANATHc0wEFjQT
「小荷失蹤一事是你當警察的原因嗎?」阿夏與芙兒作伴數年,不難看出芙兒心事重重,尤其今趟「回鄉之旅」是離鄉別井十多年的芙兒主動提出,可見其別具意義。476Please respect copyright.PENANAoiW8ZpB2Uz
476Please respect copyright.PENANACieKMjIrPJ
「嗯……一部份吧。不能說是完全因為她,也不能說是與這事情毫無關係。」芙兒苦笑,些許後悔無故主動提及這大煞風景的陳年往事。回鄉目的不是向各位鄉親苦老宣佈自己與阿夏的婚訊和設喜宴嗎?不是要歡天喜地、眉開眼笑嗎?476Please respect copyright.PENANAakajh2pDjF
476Please respect copyright.PENANADC2TQyWrGj
「不管如何……」阿夏是個聰明人,明明對案件內容細節有興趣,但也知道要適可宜止。他輕拍芙兒的手背,安慰道:「事情已然過去,多想無益。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAXVRR5UL3MV
476Please respect copyright.PENANAgpOx069Ijj
「是的。過去了。」芙兒吁一口氣,似是釋懷,奈何揪心的感覺難以單憑幾句安慰說話連根拔起。476Please respect copyright.PENANAoJvKx5NFH5
476Please respect copyright.PENANAajo0YqiSnv
顛著、簸著,好不容易來到村口。大城市發展一日千里,隱世小村亦逃不過時間巨輪的輾壓,已然根據政府的規劃建議打造成「山村旅遊區」。生來就是城市人的阿夏未曾到過農村,覺得這地方別具風味,但在村內待了十多年的芙兒卻嗤之以鼻:不也就是電視劇裡的假農村嗎?476Please respect copyright.PENANAAlQXpRQldH
476Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hbo7PxHzy
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。476Please respect copyright.PENANAoFZPPdhbc7
476Please respect copyright.PENANALVbD2s3uKD
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAacaiz5bAsN
476Please respect copyright.PENANA7b5sdng28l
不出芙兒所料,蓮花池已面目全非。池邊的泥地與草叢變成了磚路與涼亭,上了漆的鐵製圍欄整齊繞池而立,蓮花換了個品種,顏色更亮麗奪目,尺寸亦比以往的大上數倍。唯一不變的是頭頂上的烈日,仍然熾熱得惡毒。476Please respect copyright.PENANA8hJZV6NflR
476Please respect copyright.PENANA6q9natry1a
芙兒逕自繞著蓮花池逆時針方向拐圈踱步。時間彷彿隨著步伐逆行,日落月出,瞬間回到二十年前那個夜晚……476Please respect copyright.PENANA8pJKNMpQSl
476Please respect copyright.PENANA4nm9s3CGXh
「我帶芙兒外出散步散心。」晚飯後,芙爸病懨懨地對妻子說。476Please respect copyright.PENANAzf6y3P8Kgn
476Please respect copyright.PENANAA3IzI5X3Ru
「嗯。」芙媽忙於照顧病兒,分身不暇。476Please respect copyright.PENANAsoO8XQ32cK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAXTShU2LD8M
夏夜有月,月下有蟬,蟬聲擾人又煩人。路上,芙爸眉頭鎖得更深。芙兒乖乖不作聲,默默尾隨他快步走。476Please respect copyright.PENANA4HvF6x0b8N
476Please respect copyright.PENANAdvuZ9oFDrc
「芙兒,你愛媽媽嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAKVgdTlXZEW
476Please respect copyright.PENANAGzGrfC4EBr
「愛。」476Please respect copyright.PENANANXFtKUVA4e
476Please respect copyright.PENANAurpMFCodwP
「你愛爸爸嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA8ux8Y43rVH
476Please respect copyright.PENANACO2aBImj6l
「愛。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAXmDfhNQvZD
476Please respect copyright.PENANAKPUTdAMMUQ
「你愛哥哥嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAcUnL299g7b
476Please respect copyright.PENANAc4HkUJFPBb
芙兒心裡一寒,不自已停下腳步——她早前無意間發現爸爸向前任村長秘密查詢有關人口販子的事。難道爸爸為了替哥哥籌措醫藥費而打算賣掉她?476Please respect copyright.PENANAsqJLeKeSBf
476Please respect copyright.PENANADyn2mNK8aD
「你愛我嗎?」芙兒無力反問。476Please respect copyright.PENANArEElmdnUlK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAXfc2sHifGo
芙爸沒有回答,繼續低頭開步走。476Please respect copyright.PENANANAuHFUb9ax
476Please respect copyright.PENANACFiS6C8uIN
芙兒想要跑回家去,雙腳卻不由自主隨著爸爸走,縱然明知那是不歸路。476Please respect copyright.PENANAnqWZ5AIEuW
476Please respect copyright.PENANAWn2M5RtbVt
途經蓮花池,巧遇小荷。芙爸倏忽衝前打昏小荷。芙兒明白爸爸的意圖,連忙拉住他。476Please respect copyright.PENANAqRpFsVa3Hm
476Please respect copyright.PENANADuuTIbvua0
「小荷是無辜的!」476Please respect copyright.PENANAgnI06Q7ILc
476Please respect copyright.PENANAEnksA9jjo5
「但我捨不得你啊!」476Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZNMUlXaGw
476Please respect copyright.PENANAfiYqVP1mBj
芙兒不期然鬆開了手——她聽得出話裡的割捨與堅決。爸爸向來善良老實,日子艱難亦不會做鼠竊狗偷的勾當。奈何今次關乎兒子的生命安危和女兒的命運!他寧可割捨良知,亦要保住家人。476Please respect copyright.PENANAbSGRgFUXiv
476Please respect copyright.PENANA9oB3M5hNdK
芙兒理解了、妥協了,芙爸眼神反倒更為悲憤不安。他脫下小荷的一隻鞋,使勁拋向蓮花池。鞋子剛好不偏不倚落在池中央的一朵大蓮花上。476Please respect copyright.PENANA7jkmVZnI5i
476Please respect copyright.PENANAIQ2EM5SDnS
父女兩人不約而同望向那朵大蓮花。純白蓮花被夜色沾污成帶有瘀青的淡灰色,悉才看來色彩繽紛的小鞋子亦被迫融入夜色,成了一個若隱若現的小黑點。476Please respect copyright.PENANA7JZ7SeHCfP
476Please respect copyright.PENANAgT7vefQc4Y
小黑點,人生裡的大污點。476Please respect copyright.PENANAue2OGn1QtA
476Please respect copyright.PENANAU7zjCcNPJv
來到約定的地方。人口販子沒有芙兒想像中的鼠頭獐目。他相貌平凡,打扮平凡,舉止平凡,有如田裡的一顆穀粒,獨一無二卻平凡普通。476Please respect copyright.PENANAnIBR5tqPYh
476Please respect copyright.PENANAcvkhvkt220
二人無聲的奉上小荷,默默的收下金錢,不能見光的交易在無光的樹林中順利完成。476Please respect copyright.PENANAuFZwDjcdY8
476Please respect copyright.PENANAzF8N9qsGpq
芙兒自此在這夜池邊中無限輪迴。476Please respect copyright.PENANA0n7uNiNQDA
476Please respect copyright.PENANA4DinE4gmdn
晝如夜,夜是夜。此人是小荷,那人是小荷,異裝同臉。池中有蓮,家中有蓮,路中有蓮,蓮上有鞋。476Please respect copyright.PENANAIm4JjbZZ9l
476Please respect copyright.PENANAXOc2C7QOfH
瘋了。芙兒的世界瘋了。476Please respect copyright.PENANAzzdGluTijo
476Please respect copyright.PENANAOmWHvRxhwn
需要救贖。無人能救。只得自救。476Please respect copyright.PENANAxNlDouTZ3Q
476Please respect copyright.PENANAn5iX59tkxU
救哥哥,犧牲小荷。救自己,犧牲誰?476Please respect copyright.PENANAIFwjoFDrZK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAhP54T0oMk4
「記住,賣掉小荷的人是我,不是你。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAckgMrmQiGz
476Please respect copyright.PENANAuIVBKepIfL
「我沒有阻止你。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAPDUM8BL9hl
476Please respect copyright.PENANAU0qlcqwzJt
「阻止得了麼?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAlocgUYjaVV
476Please respect copyright.PENANAAOttbGhZa8
「至少,我該要嘗試。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAUu1meToZfX
476Please respect copyright.PENANAVMslrOZ9pk
「嘗試有用麼?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA44xFjp8VjA
476Please respect copyright.PENANALprdgeQJ09
芙兒如夢初醒——芙爸企圖獨自扛起一切責任,救贖芙兒。她不自控笑著流淚,內心得到救贖的同時又跌落另一深淵——自己得救,爸爸犧牲。476Please respect copyright.PENANAxzxBlvBvBg
476Please respect copyright.PENANAmgiJeYSZEo
真的得到了救贖嗎?不肯定。476Please respect copyright.PENANA6mmYnr8Xsn
476Please respect copyright.PENANATvwEyY4JDJ
她離鄉到城市尋找工作,輾轉當上警察。對失蹤案尤感興趣。找人,找救贖。找到人,找不到救贖。476Please respect copyright.PENANAUx5JqTkRp2
476Please respect copyright.PENANADo12zSAR5o
收到來自家鄉的信,提及哥哥病逝。她丟掉信件,假裝未曾收到。根本沒意義,根本誰也沒能得救,無論犧牲多大。476Please respect copyright.PENANAVEs4gwp4KG
476Please respect copyright.PENANAYMuWaN2S1F
芙媽來了,問芙兒為何不出席哥哥的喪禮。她說不知道哥哥逝世一事。芙媽低頭掩面大笑,笑了很久,然後哭了很久。「你爸說你不會為此回來,我說你不是狠心的人。原來我們都錯了——你根本不知情。」476Please respect copyright.PENANA40TLCmc8wB
476Please respect copyright.PENANAVtNkaQ96N5
有甚麼值得笑或哭?芙兒不明白。或許媽媽也不明白,純粹為笑而笑、為哭而哭,無謂卻有為。至少她的情緒得以紓緩,面容不再繃緊。476Please respect copyright.PENANAdRJe77ZHK6
476Please respect copyright.PENANAvqAiVlZbv3
數年後,芙媽死了。芙兒同樣沒有出席喪禮。她向上司請假數天,躲在家裡,足不出戶。不斷憶起媽媽當日又哭又笑的癲狂模樣。真羨慕。沒有隱藏,沒有秘密。476Please respect copyright.PENANA8WkSQsnP2g
476Please respect copyright.PENANAFXzwQ0wsOs
假期完結後,芙兒重投工作。警局來了一個新丁,名叫阿夏,比芙兒年輕數載。他長有一張孩子臉,胖胖白白,水靈大眼,像小荷。芙兒的目光離不開阿夏,主動接近他、勾搭他。二人由相識至同睡一床,僅是三天內的事。476Please respect copyright.PENANATsh2mZpBYW
476Please respect copyright.PENANAOCi5PBUgnq
阿夏不解。476Please respect copyright.PENANAilhNyIUU9D
476Please respect copyright.PENANA2yGRVH8sLr
「你不似是水性楊花的女人。」476Please respect copyright.PENANARQIUMC8VS7
476Please respect copyright.PENANApBwrwzR7jI
「你不似是諸事八卦的男人。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAL4XHZxwIfl
476Please respect copyright.PENANARAkV1SworE
阿夏開始追求芙兒。芙兒不接受,卻偶爾與他同睡。為何不愛他卻會與他睡?是發洩,是鬱悶,或是對往事的情感投射?芙兒解釋不了,亦不想解釋——找到解釋之時,另一個問題就會隨即出現。476Please respect copyright.PENANAJxkBE1M1wm
476Please respect copyright.PENANAjAZZ2jb5gQ
繼續同睡,繼續被追求,繼續找人找救贖。生活不過如此,平平凡凡,無無謂謂。476Please respect copyright.PENANAXAOy7VHvvP
476Please respect copyright.PENANA4R8sXOujuW
數年後的某天,芙兒收到來自兒時鄰居的一通電話。對方說芙爸病重,行將就木,希望她回鄉探望。476Please respect copyright.PENANAK53pX6KILH
476Please respect copyright.PENANAatUFYLSvFL
「是他希望我回去,或是大家希望我回去探望他?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAxNl7UmBTCx
476Please respect copyright.PENANAD6GaOWpaYt
「他堅持不要通知你,但大家還是決定要告訴你。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAHbI2YnwJZN
476Please respect copyright.PENANAsIE3YqAcMw
「我明白了。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAuUz1lil4jA
476Please respect copyright.PENANAw5Q1EYyjLa
當晚,芙兒跟阿夏說要盡快回鄉宣佈婚訊、設喜宴。476Please respect copyright.PENANAkWxJ7RkTtp
476Please respect copyright.PENANASLZCLDWRcF
「你跟誰結婚?」阿夏詫異。476Please respect copyright.PENANAC13Hhz30iI
476Please respect copyright.PENANABgbfMMDQE7
「你。」芙兒明白阿夏的不明白。476Please respect copyright.PENANA8RHmECg1il
476Please respect copyright.PENANAEhBSDcxmsg
顛著、簸著,好不容易來到村口。大城市發展一日千里,隱世小村亦逃不過時間巨輪的輾壓,已然根據政府的規劃建議打造成「山村旅遊區」。生來就是城市人的阿夏未曾到過農村,覺得這地方別具風味,但在村內待了十多年的芙兒卻嗤之以鼻:不也就是電視劇裡的假農村嗎?476Please respect copyright.PENANAnv4YtWtQG0
476Please respect copyright.PENANAP9kCDg7UYx
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。476Please respect copyright.PENANAjussLUCBX1
476Please respect copyright.PENANAwuyjwyD2eM
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAuq0rUIHu60
476Please respect copyright.PENANAmoj0ezd5ku
不出芙兒所料,蓮花池已面目全非。池邊的泥地與草叢變成了磚路與涼亭,上了漆的鐵製圍欄整齊繞池而立,蓮花換了個品種,顏色更亮麗奪目,尺寸亦比以往的大上數倍。唯一不變的是頭頂上的烈日,仍然熾熱得惡毒。476Please respect copyright.PENANANPBwbNNIJY
476Please respect copyright.PENANAh2QIvMfBmG
芙兒逕自繞著蓮花池逆時針方向拐圈踱步。踱踱踱,時間有可能隨著步伐逆轉,帶她回到二十年前的那個晚上嗎?若明知結果,她還是會不阻止爸爸賣掉小荷嗎?476Please respect copyright.PENANAIqGDzAj2k7
476Please respect copyright.PENANAsqhZTZdxcs
老家陋宅裡,趁著阿夏上廁所的空檔,芙兒湊近芙爸耳邊直接問:「若明知結果,你還是會賣掉小荷嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA38DWmbw0b5
476Please respect copyright.PENANA0oYXqRA9H7
「會。」氣若柔絲的芙爸斬釘截鐵:「因為我是當爸的。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAQqllANo97C
476Please respect copyright.PENANAWtvfmXWjN5
「若沒有遇上小荷,你會賣掉我嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA7jTbJMmLPU
476Please respect copyright.PENANADXu3GBqukr
「會。因為你們兄妹倆都會活著。活著才會有希望。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAmSoimPmRK6
476Please respect copyright.PENANASedJEOOLly
芙兒大受刺激,轉身奪門而出。476Please respect copyright.PENANAiGzCFhkxj7
476Please respect copyright.PENANAr1OlBAhp39
夏夜有月,月下有蟬,蟬聲擾人又煩人。路上行人疏落,卻異裝同臉,小荷的臉。路中倏忽生出白蓮朵朵,蓮上皆有小彩鞋一隻。芙兒知道自己瘋了,眼前盡是幻覺。理智脫軌,她不再恐懼,像個十歲的少女那樣跳脫輕盈,一步踏一蓮,來到池邊。476Please respect copyright.PENANAHIToyHE5kB
476Please respect copyright.PENANAK7TKGk690L
池邊有人,像小荷,像芙爸,像人口販子,像阿夏。她握著一隻彩色小鞋,木無表情直盯池中那朵大蓮花。芙兒走近女子,女子報以微笑,遞上手中小鞋。476Please respect copyright.PENANAt2u26oatuK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAmFVILEDCx4
芙兒接過它,模仿爸爸當晚的姿勢,以完美的拋物線弧度拋出小鞋。小鞋不偏不倚剛好落在池中央的蓮花上,有如二十年前的那夜。純白蓮花被夜色沾污成帶有瘀青的淡灰色,悉才看來色彩繽紛的小鞋子亦被迫融入夜色,成了一個若隱若現的小黑點。476Please respect copyright.PENANA7QoMmy3dPD
476Please respect copyright.PENANA9Bvl4hDzuC
女人哈哈大笑起來,笑聲豁然開朗。芙兒腳下的白蓮和小鞋驀地消失隱去,唯獨女子依然完好站在面前。笑過以後,女子轉身離開,身影沒入林間不復見。476Please respect copyright.PENANAx3p4c4Zxlo
476Please respect copyright.PENANAH6No97i9hL
芙兒惘然——她不肯定對方是幻覺或是確切存在的真人。476Please respect copyright.PENANAUYd8eMCsTG
476Please respect copyright.PENANAeosJoijR4n
數日後,芙爸與世長辭。476Please respect copyright.PENANAa0zNFr651d
476Please respect copyright.PENANAKMwgMzJ9OV
「既然不需要沖喜,你還會跟我結婚嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAuuJN5Sozwq
476Please respect copyright.PENANAMkozCKWRDF
「你想跟我結婚嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA6OE8QIBINb
476Please respect copyright.PENANAWH2exgO0Q3
「想。我愛你。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAoQEWIOBHRV
476Please respect copyright.PENANAjRAeapJZQJ
「那就繼續吧。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAkAdfHwweZY
476Please respect copyright.PENANAZPXHmt2icz
喜慶夜,大排筵席。此人是小荷,那人是小荷,新郎是小荷,老爺是小荷,奶奶是小荷,滿堂皆是小荷。芙兒帶醉喜極而泣,感激小荷前來祝福她。476Please respect copyright.PENANAltOVMkwB2D
476Please respect copyright.PENANA8O9X2RqKXd
宴後,賓客散去。醉得幾近失去意識的芙兒被攙扶到新房去。滾燙的臉龐忽爾涼涼的。她知道有人為她用濕毛巾抹臉抹汗。476Please respect copyright.PENANARiOsEd3cJK
476Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZtOwF9dKt
「謝謝你……小荷……」476Please respect copyright.PENANARTEWIAufHW
476Please respect copyright.PENANA98754xkEeO
「不用客氣……」476Please respect copyright.PENANAjmCzlA2758
476Please respect copyright.PENANAc6idiQhMrF
說著說著,阿夏哭了。晶瑩淚水沿著胖白的臉頰下滑,水靈大眼楚楚可憐。像小荷。