I believed that once she grew up, she'd understand what it meant to be human.
9
By the seventh month, Mona had grown into a girl of about fourteen or fifteen.
She refused to let me bathe her anymore, always turning her back to me, trying to hide her developing body.
I stroked her hair and said, "Darling, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. I know everything about you, just as I know myself."
By now she'd reached about five foot three, and the acrylic tank could barely hold her anymore. I had to order a custom oversized bathtub, filling it with fresh, sweet water and colorful flower petals.
We lay side by side in it, embracing, kissing. Her fingers slid over my body like snakes, and she said enviously, "Melody, will I become as beautiful as you someday?"
"Of course," I answered. "Because you are me, after all."
After ten months, Mona finally emerged from her cocoon.
That evening I came home, pushed open the door, and found a beautiful woman gazing at herself in the mirror. She was wearing my white dress from the closet, and everything about her—from her figure to her aura—was so familiar it made me dizzy.
I called out "Mona" and walked over, hugging her from behind. Tightly, so tightly. Body pressed to body, heart pressed to heart...
We kissed each other's tears and made a solemn promise: "We will never, ever be separated!"
10
Now fully matured, Mona left the bathtub and began growing in sync with me.
I bought her beautiful clothes; she cooked delicious meals for me. We bathed together, slept together, depended on and cherished each other—like twin flowers from a legend.
I rejected every pursuit from men, expelling love from my heart entirely. Yes, this life was so much better—no need to worry about betrayal or hurt...
I was truly, deeply grateful that I'd walked into the Heartbreak Doll Shop that night!
11
Mona had never been outside.
Because I'd told her it was dangerous out there.
"Then why can you go?" She blinked her big, innocent eyes.
"You'll understand someday," I could only pat her head.
I studied sculpture and taught at an art academy. Worried that Mona might be bored home alone, I taught her to make plaster casts. She was very smart and picked it up quickly...
Once, she even made a replica of the Statue of Liberty, scale-model after seeing it on TV. It was incredibly lifelike!
But I couldn't smile.
The freedom she yearned for was something I couldn't give her.
12
Besides my teaching job, I was also a web novelist, serializing romance novels on a platform where I'd gained some popularity.
In the evenings, after finishing work, I'd type away on the computer. When Mona wasn't sleepy, she'd lean over and watch. Sometimes she'd discuss the plot with me like a little fan.
One night, I got up from the computer to stretch on the balcony. When I came back, Mona was sitting in my chair, typing something on the keyboard.
"What are you doing? Don't touch my computer!" I rushed over to stop her.
"I... I just wanted to help..." She was startled.
"You don't know how to do this. If you accidentally delete everything I've worked so hard on, that'll be a disaster!"
"Who says I can't? You said we're one and the same—if you can do it, I should be able to as well." She argued righteously.
I was stumped. "Alright, let me see what you've written."
One look, and I was shocked. "Wait, why did the heroine kill the hero?"
"Because she hates him!" she proclaimed. "Look, when he hugged her, she said she hated it. So let him die!"
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You don't understand—she was just being coy! And even if she really did hate him, you can't just kill someone off like that. Even in a fictional world, you can't go around slaughtering people."
She rolled her eyes. "Writing a novel is too much work. Boring!"
13
Another night, a neighbor came by about something. Hearing the knock, I hurriedly told Mona to hide. Though she was reluctant, she obeyed.
After the neighbor left, she pouted as she came over. "I really don't understand why you never let me go outside or meet anyone."
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell her everything.
"The truth is, you're a clone. As a clone, you can't appear in our world— it would upset the balance and cause chaos..."
She was first stunned, then tears streamed down her face. She rose and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her...
Worried, I followed and found she'd filled the tub with water and submerged herself entirely.
I knew she was in terrible pain right now.
She was a clone, but also an independent being—an independent being with her own self-awareness!
14
Mona rapidly wasted away. Her eyes sank into her cheekbones, her collarbones jutted from her neck, and her whole body became listless—like a flower on the verge of wilting.
I consulted a doctor and got her a pile of medication...
But nothing worked.
I knew her illness was an ailment of the heart.
But I was powerless to help.
One morning, while I was teaching a class, a friend called me. He said, "I just saw you at the amusement park. Did you take the day off?"
My heart sank. I immediately called home, and as expected, no one answered.
I found Mona at the amusement park—she was sitting alone on the carousel, arms spread wide in the wind, smiling so radiantly...
And I, I cried.
I walked over and held her close, heart aching. "Mona, I'm sorry. It was selfish of me..."
15
After that day, I made more time for Mona. We played computer games together, went shopping together. We strolled hand in hand through the crowds, our bellies full of tasty snacks...
If we ran into anyone I knew, I'd say we were twin sisters. After all, my hometown wasn't here, so no one knew my real background.
I made up my mind to treat Mona well from now on.
Since I'd created her, I had to take responsibility for her.
The first time I took her outside, she shook her head excitedly, marveling at everything like a happy little fool.
Passing a bakery, she was lured in by the aroma. She grabbed pastries off the display shelves and bit into them one after another, like a bear shucking corn—tasting each and dropping it...
Shopping in the mall was the same—if she saw a pretty outfit, she'd throw it on over her clothes, leaving a trail of discarded garments. That day, I followed behind her paying for everything, nearly maxing out my card...
It wasn't that I didn't feel the pinch, but whenever I saw her bright, innocent smile, all my exasperation melted away.
That day at the mall, she fell in love with a red silk scarf. Though it wasn't cheap, I bought it for her. She was overjoyed, wearing it everywhere she went...
She seemed drawn to intense, vivid colors, while I was not.
Even though we were the same "person," our personalities were truly quite different.
16
If things had continued like that, we would have been happy. But then we ran into Greg—my ex-boyfriend.
Greg was an excellent doctor, acclaimed as a surgical prodigy at a young age. We'd dated for three years, and our relationship had been steady. Then one day, he broke up with me, saying he'd met someone more suitable...
The new woman was one of his patients, glamorous and alluring. He said every day with her was full of passion... Men, truly creatures of desire.
That evening, I unexpectedly ran into him. He was holding his new love's hand, strolling through the bustling streets. The sight of their intimate silhouette tore at my heart...
I thought I'd long forgotten him. I hadn't.
Mona said, "Don't be sad. I'll help you get revenge."
She said she'd impersonate me, win Greg back, and then dump him cruelly so he'd know what heartbreak felt like. Though I felt this wasn't right, I went along with it.
I admit, I had too much resentment. And I admit, I wasn't as brave as Mona.
Mona went into action. A few days later, she announced triumphantly when I came home: "Melody, I did it. Greg has had a change of heart and left that woman.
"Greg says he regretted it long ago—only after we broke up did he realize how much he cares about you!
"He also said he'll cherish you from now on and never be fickle again!"
From then on, she reported their progress every day: Greg took her to the park, Greg took her to the movies...
Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, her spirit more and more radiant. Yet she never mentioned getting revenge on Greg or dumping him ever again...