依稀記得事發時正值春季,放眼盡是一片青蔥翠綠。419Please respect copyright.PENANAyEiEZhGIvH
419Please respect copyright.PENANAPvBurvko9B
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?419Please respect copyright.PENANA1hYcwtdx3N
419Please respect copyright.PENANAZkCWvRaZ34
害怕,但他似乎更害怕樹林外的……419Please respect copyright.PENANAhuDqaKCNhH
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甚麼?樹林外有甚麼?419Please respect copyright.PENANAcTcrAahPvb
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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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAvAmIBXpCpZ
419Please respect copyright.PENANAnhqXNr93RK
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANA5yGLxcQiRK
419Please respect copyright.PENANAQHJyXx2L7e
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAnj1j7FRCV9
419Please respect copyright.PENANAERGQ9ItWZm
就這樣,湯米在這地方待了二十二年。419Please respect copyright.PENANAN9Lu9lVAzK
419Please respect copyright.PENANAKHtgzD37zq
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAN5GbvBGFxh
419Please respect copyright.PENANA7iA733xThC
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAu294U7bDZs
419Please respect copyright.PENANATvJo2rOKNE
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAwIk67BxRWq
419Please respect copyright.PENANAbTCIHPyyMs
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANANzFIJDgTI3
419Please respect copyright.PENANAFLeQ2EY59l
湯米瑟縮被窩中,連續七日無眠。419Please respect copyright.PENANAtI0c26fTir
419Please respect copyright.PENANAd9SHxTfEjX
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……419Please respect copyright.PENANAvoMDzTAchd
419Please respect copyright.PENANAVdsnqQwhUW
湯米知道自己快要瘋掉。419Please respect copyright.PENANANzhgMScpf1
419Please respect copyright.PENANAM0hfC3POou
他不甘心。419Please respect copyright.PENANAxxLh8KHM6L
419Please respect copyright.PENANA14FiHGRKpw
鼓起勇氣,衝出家門。419Please respect copyright.PENANAmotVNFnR4F
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夜深,身穿酸臭睡衣的湯米在無人大街上赤腳狂奔。419Please respect copyright.PENANAXAsgXpXxXN
419Please respect copyright.PENANA5FAUjCTLc9
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAKxRgB3CcRk
419Please respect copyright.PENANA2yIsnSQwhH
跑呀跑。路不盡,夢無窮。419Please respect copyright.PENANAzlwaADyxIW
419Please respect copyright.PENANAkFfTqX3KLE
湯米在一片樹林前停下腳步。419Please respect copyright.PENANAEYlKhQUvgo
419Please respect copyright.PENANAIAOkUYDhLd
是當年那片樹林嗎?419Please respect copyright.PENANAboknMkJN7l
419Please respect copyright.PENANAzcpgK5VyD9
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAJZG0kcu6nD
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怎麼會在這裡?幻覺嗎?419Please respect copyright.PENANAD46kipBlQK
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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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAbhBHVHWj6O
419Please respect copyright.PENANAz2fwHhcpMr
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!」419Please respect copyright.PENANAfUCyP7kZEc
419Please respect copyright.PENANAwj07MM4qof
湯米循男孩目光望去,只見媽媽與男鄰查理叔叔擁作一團。419Please respect copyright.PENANAMoLQ5bQl5i
419Please respect copyright.PENANAeabcMweUBz
「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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAJZAaeZJCQJ
419Please respect copyright.PENANA87kpcSgFwm
「我被電話鈴聲吵醒了。」男孩打呵欠,伸懶腰。419Please respect copyright.PENANAfBnTSZ5853
419Please respect copyright.PENANAv4xRCnn4zU
「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。419Please respect copyright.PENANArgrMTbHfVv
419Please respect copyright.PENANAwY11Yy7aLo
「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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAogdUzPG2PL
419Please respect copyright.PENANADG06irYnh1
「噢!湯米真乖!媽媽這就去辦!」媽媽匆匆帶著湯米回到屋裡去。419Please respect copyright.PENANAO2RZCLpbkP
419Please respect copyright.PENANAbkjJxXsO7R
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……419Please respect copyright.PENANAA7zzSSYLAE
419Please respect copyright.PENANAWIMm8B7D7X
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAuZfRoLjiV7
419Please respect copyright.PENANAtJvw8CBKpe
相顧無言,唯有淚千行。419Please respect copyright.PENANAhbZqMCCucI
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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。419Please respect copyright.PENANABO3TfyvG8x
419Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6PL9eryqp
「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……」419Please respect copyright.PENANAV12HiGmZt5
419Please respect copyright.PENANA3WW78RW9rB
「但你同時是個人。在恐懼面前,人類甚麼都不是。」419Please respect copyright.PENANAlHaYpqrMwg
419Please respect copyright.PENANARkIaTOrEBj
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAfpWqMlXaHC
419Please respect copyright.PENANAEznDhQ9bSB
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANANcy1nX2NB2
419Please respect copyright.PENANADpJpwshfls
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。」419Please respect copyright.PENANAEkNblAb3LG
419Please respect copyright.PENANAJYnbcelPj7
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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAdKRtTKYOiR
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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。419Please respect copyright.PENANAX5yWOHBmUr
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又一個春日。又一個開始。過去就此成為過去。419Please respect copyright.PENANAf1Rp4D98uk
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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。