“I—It’s a letter from my birth parents,” Alice says, her voice trembling as she looks at him, tears welling in her eyes. The kitchen is filled with warm light, the late afternoon sun streaming through the window and illuminating the wooden table where they sit. The comforting aroma of something baking in the oven lingers in the air, a stark contrast to the emotional weight of her revelation. Her companion immediately senses the gravity of the moment and shifts closer. “Hey, don’t cry,” he replies gently, trying to comfort her. “What does the letter say?” Through her tears, Alice manages to convey the essence of the message, saying, “It says they can’t wait to meet me, and they miss me so much, and they hope I had the best childhood I could have ever had.” Confusion crosses her face as she asks, “What do they mean, meet me?” The gravity of her discovery hangs in the air, thickening the atmosphere of the cozy kitchen. Her father lets out a sigh, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon him. Just then, her mother walks in, her demeanor shifting from casual to concerned as she senses the tension in the room. “What’s going on?” she asks hesitantly, glancing from Alice’s tear-streaked face to her husband’s serious expression. “Honey, it is time we tell her,” her father responds softly. They gather around the kitchen table, a focal point for family discussions, and Alice sits, anxiety brewing in her stomach. Her mother takes a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the table before she begins, “When we went to China and adopted you, we made a promise to your birth parents that we would have an account set up for you so that when you turned 18, you could go meet them.” The atmosphere is thick with emotion, every word resonating with the complexity of love, identity, and connection.
Deslizar: 2
The scene shifts to the interior of the airplane, its narrow aisles and rows of passengers settling in for the long flight ahead. Alice, carrying the weight of her emotions, quietly makes her way down the aisle and finds her seat by the window. The muted hum of conversation and the shuffling of luggage create a subdued background noise, while the overhead lights cast a soft, artificial glow across the cabin. She sits down, her body tense with anticipation and uncertainty. The seat feels confining, adding to the heaviness of the moment. As Alice settles in, she puts her headphones on, seeking some solace in the music to drown out her thoughts. She exhales a deep, resigned sigh, her gaze drifting toward the small window beside her, where the tarmac and planes are lined up, waiting. The anticipation in the air is palpable as the final preparations for takeoff begin. Just then, the pilot's calm voice crackles through the intercom, breaking the stillness: “This is your pilot speaking. We will be leaving in just a few minutes to head over to Beijing.” The cabin settles into quiet expectation as the announcement hangs in the air. Alice shifts in her seat, her eyes closed behind her headphones, bracing herself for the journey ahead. The plane's engines roar to life, but her mind is elsewhere—on the uncertainty of what awaits her across the world, on the parents she has yet to meet. As the plane prepares to take off, the weight of her decision settles in, marking the beginning of an entirely new chapter in her life. The scene fades, and the episode ends with Alice on the verge of something unknown.
Deslizar: 3
Alice and her friends are lounging by the pool, the warm sun reflecting off the water as they relax in the backyard of Alice’s house. The air is filled with the sounds of quiet splashing and the soft hum of cicadas in the background, a peaceful scene of summer tranquility. Jill breaks the calm, her voice carrying a hint of disbelief. “So you’re actually going to leave in like a few days. How long are you going to be gone?” she asks, looking over at Alice from her chair. Alice, reclining in the sun, answers casually, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but yeah, I’m leaving this weekend.” Avery, surprised, sits up quickly, her sunglasses nearly falling off. “That’s so soon,” she exclaims, her voice rising. Sarah, lying on the other side, turns to Alice and smiles warmly, “We’re so happy for you, but we’re definitely going to miss you,” she says, her tone filled with both excitement and sadness. Alice, touched by her friends’ words, sits up as well, lifting her sunglasses to meet their gazes. “Aww, I’m going to miss you guys too, but don’t worry—I’ll be back soon enough,” she reassures them, flashing a grateful smile. The group shares a moment of silence, the weight of the upcoming departure sinking in, but it quickly passes. Soon, the conversation shifts back to lighter topics, and the air is filled again with their laughter and casual chatter as they continue tanning by the pool, soaking up the last few carefree days before Alice’s big journey. The sun continues to shine, casting a golden glow over the scene, as they enjoy these final moments together.