1 ...never be lost.

Nanjing, China. 1806

The old lady who walked up the almost lonely streets of ta-xia leaned tiredly on the cane that supported her weak legs and dying strength.

She shouldn't have embarked on this little assignment, but what is a child to understand about aging and all that comes with it. He was hungry, and he needed food. So she had gone out to get him something, and now her strength fails her.

Her grandson was all she had left, and for six years now, it has been the two of them left of their family. He brought her joys and laughter on every bad day, making it better. Though she lacked much, she could proudly say she didn't lack the love he showed her. That innocent, seemingly unconditional love.

She couldn't let death meet her here, and so she struggled with every step she took.

Faint footsteps sounded behind her, alerting her of the presence of another. "Please help," she called out faintly stretching out a shaky hand that told of how life has been hard for her to the stranger that passed her by.

A look of disgust was all the response she got. It was Chu Wang, the only son and heir to the Wang building cooperation.

"Please, my home isn't far off. I just need to get home to my grandson. He's….He's hungry and he needs to eat," she pleaded.

Chu crouched down, imitating her form, wearing a look of mockery on his face. "You wasted your youth, and now you ask for help from strangers. Your problem isn't mine."

"Please, it doesn't have to be yours, I do not beg you to take my troubles away, but to look upon an innocent child with a little compassion and kindness, if you will."

"Help yourself," he replied now walking off.

"Isn't there love, kindness, somewhere in your heart?" she continued

"You know what, here," dropping eleven coins in front of her. "Here you go, I'm sure money can solve whatever problem it is you have."

"Your money can't help me right now, please-"

"Money answers all things, especially for people like you." He cut her off smoothly.

"What about your people?" She fell on her stick as pain worse than any she had previously felt shot up her leg up to her spine. "You've decided to not feel any atom of kindness, even though truly you owe me nothing. But hear this, there will come a time where this," she picked up a note in her hand only to make it disappear in seconds, scaring the man who looked on. "-will not save you. Ten coins for ten generations to come, the first born of the tenth generation will not live past thirty-" she took a minute to catch her breath. "- and no amount of wealth you, your family will have will be able to save his life," her voice ending on a soft note.

"What did you just spit out?" Chu asked out of sheer shock and surprise.

"A time will come where your money, this money that you place so much value on, will answer to everything else, but his life."

Chu Wang took off for his life out of fear. First son of his tenth generation. An innocent soul, he thought. What about the innocent child you were asked to help out, a small voice said.

He tried to shake it off but couldn't, deep down he knew that something was changed and destiny's were rewritten, and it was not to his family's favor.

.

.

Nairobi Kenya, Present day.

"Papa!"

"Not again! Leave me alone please," Thabiti stood up to close the curtains his daughter had just pushed aside, leaving her standing outside on the corridor.

Pushing it aside again to step inside his studio, she sat down to carry out her task. "Pleaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeee," she coughed to give herself a break before continuing her plea. "Pleaaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeee-"

"Hashiki Ling!" he yelled making her silent instantly. He had raised his voice, but it wasn't his daughter he was angry at. Staring at a blank canvas that truly caused him his frustration, he has waited on inspiration all week for a new painting, and nothing had come to him. He was simply tired.

He finally turned his back to see her looking down at her fingers twisted in her laps. Her hair shielded her face but he could tell she was sad. "I'm sorry Hashiki, lay it on me again."

"You already know what it is papa. You told me, when I was old enough, I would get all the answers I need about my mother. Why didn't she come to us, for us? You said she loved me, loved us. Did that love vanish into thin air? What exactly happened? I just have questions I need answers to, and she's the only one that can and will give it." She sounded confident but kept her voice low.

"What happens if you don't like the answer you get, what happens if –"

"We have been over this a lot of times papa, I am ready. I'm grown now aren't I? she asked genuinely.

"Yes, yes you are," he smiled wondering how being twenty four for only a week was all grown up in her book.

"I can do this, I just need your support and your blessings," she pleaded.

He knew his daughter was a good child and would hate to disobey him. "I know you do, but this journey is bigger than you and me. There's so much to it that I doubt you will understand."

"Do you not have faith? You believe me to not be smart or wise enough to handle this?"

"I do believe in your strengths, I do. You can't fault a man for worrying over his child, can you?"

"I'm sorry. But I need you to trust me and just believe that I got this."

"You want to leave to another continent," he pointed accusing fingers at her.

"Papa, you had me in that continent. I'm sure I'll be good." She laughed.

"Promise you will be back in one piece, and you have to call every day, no day will be missed."

"That means yes!" she got up to celebrate. Her hair following her every move as she swayed from side to side. "Thank you papa!"

"When do you wish to leave?"

"In five days." She revealed. If she had more time, she feared she was going to lose the confidence she had and choose to rather settle in the safety of the unknown. They say ignorance is bliss, but what do you do when that bliss just isn't enough?

He looked on helpless, trying to search for the right words to say. "I love you, ok?"

"Always," she gave him a quick hug before bouncing happily out of his studio.

"Always." He repeated to the empty room.

Thabiti decided to stop fighting with himself and put down the paint brush, letting himself get carried away by the pains and joys of a memory that could never be lost or forgotten.