二十年前——258Please respect copyright.PENANATbkyqEJXir
258Please respect copyright.PENANA3S2RH6E4Pt
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAVLsdgqi6T1
258Please respect copyright.PENANA2iOMhgFEkH
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAid3J28Mg93
258Please respect copyright.PENANAt5VgogLRJo
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAypXw8JXFPg
258Please respect copyright.PENANAViSoEBNCSA
小荷不在。258Please respect copyright.PENANAJGFbm61uXg
258Please respect copyright.PENANAGP4fFq07YU
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAIj0dE5SZwP
258Please respect copyright.PENANABuVgPpv8jb
無發現。258Please respect copyright.PENANAanrd2P8mh9
258Please respect copyright.PENANAZvZC8Mycig
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!」258Please respect copyright.PENANAAdmRiUYg9d
258Please respect copyright.PENANAChOKqCnDdH
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAgvQPEzvbZl
258Please respect copyright.PENANA91IZz3prZQ
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAqNJwIGVPcK
258Please respect copyright.PENANATJF8Por9mI
村裡開始流傳蓮花仙女帶走小荷的傳聞……258Please respect copyright.PENANAENQD0XZcMj
258Please respect copyright.PENANAZgt0CPYTUf
「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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAPxF2QNMU8k
258Please respect copyright.PENANAAUhWfg0kZY
「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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAh0vbnKzowb
258Please respect copyright.PENANAjaowbCf1v3
「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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAjGe6AnvJaT
258Please respect copyright.PENANAhFa0VF6Jxb
「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?258Please respect copyright.PENANAHzd2ghwQyx
258Please respect copyright.PENANAL9tyvNJTlt
「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。」258Please respect copyright.PENANACpxpYMxykQ
258Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1dUf8YnIV
「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。258Please respect copyright.PENANA9dV9mNt9bp
258Please respect copyright.PENANArFTB2eRl5G
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?258Please respect copyright.PENANAICS80UuNcq
258Please respect copyright.PENANAB87sqYFoy2
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。258Please respect copyright.PENANAYKbtqqs3bk
258Please respect copyright.PENANAWMVoNFHsBt
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAqGeWxliUzF
258Please respect copyright.PENANAnFXbJNXU9z
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAc8sm64naIY
258Please respect copyright.PENANAOP97FLRncZ
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……258Please respect copyright.PENANAYbS4Dkuj71
258Please respect copyright.PENANAShChvIsZLf
「我帶芙兒外出散步散心。」晚飯後,芙爸病懨懨地對妻子說。258Please respect copyright.PENANAlo3WO6m1qf
258Please respect copyright.PENANA1Btq3Y0UUv
「嗯。」芙媽忙於照顧病兒,分身不暇。258Please respect copyright.PENANACtGnihgg3N
258Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ko2sJWmmv
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANA1hqH6MauTu
258Please respect copyright.PENANAZiwiFSDbfW
「芙兒,你愛媽媽嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANA8gfiM9ddfE
258Please respect copyright.PENANARhiZ8NPS2U
「愛。」258Please respect copyright.PENANA15B0LBvUsC
258Please respect copyright.PENANADQtmMnJY0t
「你愛爸爸嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAFschFvnnKA
258Please respect copyright.PENANAC7Zx5Si6wJ
「愛。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAPSLuF2BUuO
258Please respect copyright.PENANAAPHgIHnrCS
「你愛哥哥嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAMsC9eeqZ5z
258Please respect copyright.PENANAquOo601MHO
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?258Please respect copyright.PENANA1UrqKnVNVi
258Please respect copyright.PENANAkwqixJMsYK
「你愛我嗎?」芙兒無力反問。258Please respect copyright.PENANA81SMsyF9K0
258Please respect copyright.PENANA46nfoCS4Mw
芙爸沒有回答,繼續低頭開步走。258Please respect copyright.PENANA7GMgKhC7Y7
258Please respect copyright.PENANArU3yUKl3Ed
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANANmsEdlmCGV
258Please respect copyright.PENANAs9K7qpxewC
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAnbhJ0OrtUW
258Please respect copyright.PENANA2ItLBo4ci0
「小荷是無辜的!」258Please respect copyright.PENANAkMvsEhsuSt
258Please respect copyright.PENANAOIcrgXgUYk
「但我捨不得你啊!」258Please respect copyright.PENANAxGHhPZU0WT
258Please respect copyright.PENANA7Vbm7rpYuz
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAfobmjopqb7
258Please respect copyright.PENANAwgcBBnCMlR
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAvUpeY2Sh3t
258Please respect copyright.PENANAX07xwf3LVp
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANARiwfUO2OlY
258Please respect copyright.PENANAfXMJZ4OuTp
小黑點,人生裡的大污點。258Please respect copyright.PENANA7DtEaCaHoc
258Please respect copyright.PENANA2scw79hAOG
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAE8LaNidsV1
258Please respect copyright.PENANAy8t1IJTkG1
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAGtinZ6QiPs
258Please respect copyright.PENANAKynFj7Lp4k
芙兒自此在這夜池邊中無限輪迴。258Please respect copyright.PENANASzgdCrjiBO
258Please respect copyright.PENANARODuw31ptH
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANA7YDag5Yb7U
258Please respect copyright.PENANAeYjSTQxCBN
瘋了。芙兒的世界瘋了。258Please respect copyright.PENANAvN82okKxFQ
258Please respect copyright.PENANAIgugk8BxG3
需要救贖。無人能救。只得自救。258Please respect copyright.PENANAg3TxFI2BNi
258Please respect copyright.PENANAUsMgFnlYi1
救哥哥,犧牲小荷。救自己,犧牲誰?258Please respect copyright.PENANAmPxh3A4iCg
258Please respect copyright.PENANAUsIaa6Elpg
「記住,賣掉小荷的人是我,不是你。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAtN5OmdPGji
258Please respect copyright.PENANAJyky7bP1XU
「我沒有阻止你。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAkbeKsnRk3z
258Please respect copyright.PENANAKsj9tAmKGd
「阻止得了麼?」258Please respect copyright.PENANANi6EwC32WX
258Please respect copyright.PENANAUhmgEdxpJF
「至少,我該要嘗試。」258Please respect copyright.PENANA84AdxmZ0pq
258Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2rE9RYNIY
「嘗試有用麼?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAyIKTx72WvG
258Please respect copyright.PENANA8WFskh9b4a
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAhjln9fhm54
258Please respect copyright.PENANAoqmDvFFfYy
真的得到了救贖嗎?不肯定。258Please respect copyright.PENANAZHAqTn6ffr
258Please respect copyright.PENANAy3nT7SQSbM
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAxD7cOhHwIB
258Please respect copyright.PENANAX3pF4atl2f
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAmBPINcMTUd
258Please respect copyright.PENANATcGqAFqzMs
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。」258Please respect copyright.PENANATY98mNMvJT
258Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7xixUJzbO
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAPPz639s8b7
258Please respect copyright.PENANADufXO5ScZH
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANALdNdju9Gq1
258Please respect copyright.PENANAzQuONUaRlv
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANASBrNeFS0Yg
258Please respect copyright.PENANAyV0OlLXiiG
阿夏不解。258Please respect copyright.PENANAJVmL5teMhp
258Please respect copyright.PENANAIgAf7ScP1L
「你不似是水性楊花的女人。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAGPdMQw5bMC
258Please respect copyright.PENANACBnrAUii9x
「你不似是諸事八卦的男人。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAN8Zd60QwkC
258Please respect copyright.PENANAvwvYpiLDVV
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANA6jytoC6MPI
258Please respect copyright.PENANA5YzMTJmBNI
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAvhx6ncGckb
258Please respect copyright.PENANAb6gybhiDGP
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANALTCiRHRrbH
258Please respect copyright.PENANAlxvwTqVzpG
「是他希望我回去,或是大家希望我回去探望他?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAu8SOqCjXZc
258Please respect copyright.PENANAJQw3QOEeoF
「他堅持不要通知你,但大家還是決定要告訴你。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAda8g6geVde
258Please respect copyright.PENANAKbJuZB044p
「我明白了。」258Please respect copyright.PENANA6e2p7tPgMV
258Please respect copyright.PENANAUMdA0hLPqm
當晚,芙兒跟阿夏說要盡快回鄉宣佈婚訊、設喜宴。258Please respect copyright.PENANAePOgDoUAac
258Please respect copyright.PENANA62HeGpubi9
「你跟誰結婚?」阿夏詫異。258Please respect copyright.PENANAFRwgeuXaxa
258Please respect copyright.PENANADRCMc1dDgx
「你。」芙兒明白阿夏的不明白。258Please respect copyright.PENANAbKP2kE2r1x
258Please respect copyright.PENANAGIOdiNKOoC
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?258Please respect copyright.PENANAPdKYQTJSXb
258Please respect copyright.PENANA1CLCvcSc3k
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。258Please respect copyright.PENANAyyRjrTBzxZ
258Please respect copyright.PENANATYgDaXfImy
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAhlBXjfSo32
258Please respect copyright.PENANAHIi5ohGEG0
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAhM5N7eUEd9
258Please respect copyright.PENANAGdFGFjumW3
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?258Please respect copyright.PENANA6AXzemcJO1
258Please respect copyright.PENANAMwRZhdELzc
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?」258Please respect copyright.PENANA5n3kXe4fed
258Please respect copyright.PENANAoXe4UW8ZvY
「會。」氣若柔絲的芙爸斬釘截鐵:「因為我是當爸的。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAJEl38KXik6
258Please respect copyright.PENANAe5YqKDaHMe
「若沒有遇上小荷,你會賣掉我嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAsL4MWsYn0d
258Please respect copyright.PENANAdUkFTzWo0d
「會。因為你們兄妹倆都會活著。活著才會有希望。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAcZyPRmp0vV
258Please respect copyright.PENANAKyetZ33Uqt
芙兒大受刺激,轉身奪門而出。258Please respect copyright.PENANADDA5FxJ7Pn
258Please respect copyright.PENANA5Wl6vnFU6M
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAA9FLTCSrAZ
258Please respect copyright.PENANA0141LT9Ls1
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANA8jEq34kMUk
258Please respect copyright.PENANApuGLYdHldt
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAKC9vswRjIc
258Please respect copyright.PENANAApeFq7UWXg
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAlDIiCg9cOm
258Please respect copyright.PENANAaYP0oSauvO
芙兒惘然——她不肯定對方是幻覺或是確切存在的真人。258Please respect copyright.PENANAHO5wbZrj0y
258Please respect copyright.PENANAM3V1T6Fha7
數日後,芙爸與世長辭。258Please respect copyright.PENANAo5h1fhieEL
258Please respect copyright.PENANAvIcObPplLe
「既然不需要沖喜,你還會跟我結婚嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANA8PcwKmlp84
258Please respect copyright.PENANA4PU3CIFVeO
「你想跟我結婚嗎?」258Please respect copyright.PENANAVwcmjwCJwN
258Please respect copyright.PENANAslmCKJPZHi
「想。我愛你。」258Please respect copyright.PENANA1XvcipVCU8
258Please respect copyright.PENANAKdwnYxvOhe
「那就繼續吧。」258Please respect copyright.PENANAl6YunHichT
258Please respect copyright.PENANAB2RN3jUiqF
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAN2FmGKAEVw
258Please respect copyright.PENANA36YiuE1npv
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAnOWn5eLdK3
258Please respect copyright.PENANA6eoYsGFpgc
「謝謝你……小荷……」258Please respect copyright.PENANA9aegHtLa7h
258Please respect copyright.PENANACpCQwK4l4u
「不用客氣……」258Please respect copyright.PENANAf57DWeiBJE
258Please respect copyright.PENANA7XXwRx9kDC
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。258Please respect copyright.PENANAG6a3MVySjQ