XV | What’s Real

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After a long time,
'Let me show you something.'

Rowan leads me
into the back alley
behind the shophouse.

There's a giant blue dustbin by the backdoor
of every shop in the row.

Every shophouse alley in Singapore looks like this.

I don't think there's anything to see.

The alley is narrow,
paved with uneven concrete.

Like it used to be a road.

For some reason,
there's a hole in the gravel

right outside

the backdoor to the chicken rice shop.

A young sapling is growing
out of the hard infertile rock.

There's only one street lamp
(and it's a few shops away)
so i can't really tell what plant it is.

'It's a rowan tree,' Rowan says.

This rowan tree isn't big
like the one behind our school—

it's about my height.

But unlike the one at school,
this one has red berries.

Fruits.

I touch the smooth, small
beads.

They shy away from my finger.
Like they're alive.

So tiny.

Rowan trees don't grow in Singapore.

In the dark,
Rowan's face seems to have a soft expression.

There's a yellow light
in her eyes
from the faraway street lamp.

'Even stepping towards this portal
'leads you to the real world.'

I sigh.

'Listen, Rowan.
'I don't know what weird things
'you're learning in church

'but the real world and the "real" world you're talking about
'are the same thing.'

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]