Ride or Die

28 September 2004

I am Elise, dreaming of a place that can make me happy. Like a bed made of soft feathers that feels incredibly comfortable, like a fish pond filled with fish, a spacious three-story house, a large swimming pool, and a good school. But it's all just a dream that will never come true because I was born into a poor family, and I have a two-year-old sibling. Both of my parents are busy working, and my mother says I have a grandmother who is an indigo and looks like a sorceress, but I've never met my grandmother because my mother says she often travels to another world.

"Elise, your father has some good news for you!"

It's unusual for my father to come home so early, he usually returns late at night with a pile of work. It's still midday, why not today?

I descended the stairs and approached my father, who was smiling happily, holding a small piece of paper in his hand.

"What does dad have there?"

"Dad won the lottery, and look, I got the grand prize!"

"What's the grand prize?" I asked.

"Dad won a luxurious mansion with many luxurious amenities inside."

I jumped with joy, I didn't ask how my father could win this lottery because it wasn't important. What mattered to me right now was that I could fulfill my dream by having a luxurious mansion with luxurious facilities.

"This is amazing!"

I jumped with joy and went to cook dinner, afterward, I would wait for my mother to come home from work.

"Mom, dad won the lottery!"

Mom smiled, but she didn't seem excited. She just responded with a smile and joined us at the dinner table to eat.

"We'll move tomorrow."

I was surprised to see my mother looking shocked when my father said that we would move to the mansion tomorrow.

"Do we have to move so quickly?"

"Mom, aren't you happy that dad won the lottery?"

Mom just smiled. "I'm happy, but isn't it too rushed to move tomorrow?" She continued to come up with excuses.

"But sooner is better."

Mom fell silent for a moment and then continued her dinner. I went back to feeding my little sibling dinner.