The Invisible Red String

Question

by Quen Law

With the exception of the slight rustling of dried stalks where the rice had once grown in the spring, the silence was as oppressive as the lump Ju-Lin felt in her throat. She gazed at the parched rice paddies and wondered when she had last seen a raindrop. The severe drought had dried all the crops and spread despair across the land like wildfire. Now, it had suddenly taken on an even more ominous meaning, for Ju-Lin had felt her world come to a crashing halt with her father’s words moments earlier.

“Ju-Lin,” her father had said that evening, “the time I dread has come. There is so little food left that even the crickets have failed to chirp.

Quen Law/YonSheng Xuan. Cricket Media Incorporated

Answer 1

“The families in the village are growing weaker by the day, and we must make a difficult choice. If the rains do not come soon, we may have to send you away to find work in the city. It's the only way to ensure your survival.”

The words echoed in Ju-Lin’s mind, each repetition deepening the weight in her chest. The city was a world away—a place of lights, noise, and people she could barely imagine. It seemed unthinkable to leave her family, her home, and the land that had nurtured her for so long. Yet that very land was now barren, and her father’s eyes, usually filled with warmth and hope, now only reflected despair.

She looked toward the horizon, where the sun melted into shades of orange and purple, casting long shadows across the dried earth. What would it mean to be separated from her family? To face the unknown, with only a promise of work waiting for her? The thought filled her with trepidation, but she also felt a flicker of determination. Her family came first, and if this was a chance to ensure their future, perhaps she could overcome her fears.

That night, as her family gathered around the small dinner table, Ju-Lin felt the invisible red string of fate tying them together. In some cultures, it was said that an invisible thread connected those who were destined to meet, but she felt its presence in the moments that mattered most, even when the world around them felt like it was falling apart.

“Ju-Lin,” her mother said softly, breaking the silence that had enveloped their meal. “Whatever path you choose, remember we will always be with you. Our love will guide you, even across the distance.”

Tears sprang to Ju-Lin’s eyes as she nodded, gathering the warmth of her family into her heart. “I won’t forget. I’ll work hard, and I will come back.”

As night draped its cool blanket over the village, Ju-Lin stepped outside, gazing up at the stars scattered across the vast sky. The city awaited, a new chapter in her life that brimmed with uncertainty. But deep down, she knew that the invisible red string connecting her to her family would never break. No matter how far she roamed, their love would follow her, guiding her steps and giving her strength.

And perhaps, just perhaps, the rains would come in time to transform their fields once more, allowing them to reunite under the shadows of the thriving crops. Until then, she would carry her family in her heart, embracing the resilience that ran through her veins.