By the time I came back with the hot water, I was no longer angry. I’d fix the latch the next day, I decided.

I brought a toolbox from home the next day, and after school I went straight to the hardware store. All the latches looked similar, and I hadn’t thought to bring the old one with me to compare. I got a couple in different sizes, which clanked in my pocket as I ran.

I got to the third floor and found the door ajar. Shadows flickered in the light of the doorway, and yelling was coming from inside, a familiar partridge squawk among the jumbled voices. I shivered, steadied my nerves, and walked in.

Auntie and Granny had their backs to me, facing the window, where Luhan was standing.

“Stop pretending, Wang Luhan, I know it’s you,” said Granny.

“What are you up to, sneaking in here?” Auntie was so worked up she sounded like a different person.

Luhan’s lips remained firmly sealed.

“What are you plotting?” Auntie walked over and shoved her.

“I suppose you’re angry that the old man is still alive? You think your father was wronged, and you won’t be happy till you’ve killed my husband? Let me tell you, if you did such a thing, no revenge would be enough—not even if your whole family was wiped out,” shrieked Granny.

Auntie shoved Luhan again. “Who sent you here?”

Luhan staggered and steadied herself against the sill with both hands.

“God sent me.” She was looking ahead, her gaze fixed beyond them.

Auntie and Granny exchanged glances.

“God brought me here for a chance of redemption.”

“You want redemption? Then do what your dad did, and hang yourself,” screamed Granny.

Luhan shook her head. “Suicide will only increase our sin.”

“You could die a hundred times and that wouldn’t be enough.” Granny spat at her. “There’s something wrong with your brain. Probably inherited from your mom. Get out of here!”

“You can’t make me leave. God sent me here to take care of him.”

“Don’t let us see you here again!” Auntie grabbed Luhan’s arm and dragged her towards the door, looking like a fairy-tale monster. Luhan held on to the bed.

“You have no right. God wants me to stay.”

“To hell with your god. You just want to feel good about yourself.” Granny laughed icily. “I’ll never let you feel good. While I’m around, you won’t set one foot in this room ever again.”

“Why not ask what he wants?” Luhan pointed at Granddad. “He knows everything. His soul is still in there. He said he wants me to stay.”

“Enough of your nonsense!” Granny caught hold of Luhan’s hair while Auntie wrenched her arm. Luhan was still clutching the bed, which rattled as if it might fall apart. Granddad remained placid. Stuck full of tubes, he was like a goldfish in a bowl, living in an invisible container. Could he really see everything that was happening in front of him? I looked at him curiously. His eyes were still swiveling around, and his lips wore an enigmatic smile.