Ghost Forest by Pik-Shuen Fung

Nina had always felt a connection to her grandmother, despite the language barrier that existed between them. Nina's grandmother, like many immigrants, had struggled to learn English, and Nina had grown up speaking Cantonese at home. But even though they couldn't communicate through words, Nina and her grandmother had always found ways to connect.

So when Nina's grandmother passed away, she was devastated. She felt as if a part of her had been lost, and she struggled to come to terms with her grief.

But then something strange began to happen. Nina started to see her grandmother's ghost everywhere she went. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, a manifestation of her grief. But the more she saw her grandmother's ghost, the more she began to believe that it was real.

One day, Nina decided to follow her grandmother's ghost. She followed it through the streets of the city, watching as it led her to places that were meaningful to her grandmother. It took her to the park where her grandmother used to take her as a child, to the restaurant where they had shared countless meals, and to the grocery store where her grandmother used to buy ingredients for her famous dumplings.

As she followed her grandmother's ghost, Nina began to feel a sense of peace. She realized that her grandmother was still with her, guiding her and watching over her. And she began to understand that her grief was not something to be feared or avoided, but something to be embraced and processed.

Nina also realized that her grandmother's ghost was not the only one she could see. Everywhere she looked, she saw ghosts. Ghosts of people she had known, places she had been, and moments she had lived. They were all around her, haunting her in a way that was both beautiful and terrifying.

She began to refer to these places as ghost forests, places where the past and the present converged. And as she explored these ghost forests, she began to learn more about herself and the world around her. She saw the city in a new light, recognizing the beauty and the pain that coexisted in its streets and alleys.

And as she navigated the ghost forests, Nina began to find a sense of purpose. She realized that she had a gift, the ability to see and connect with the ghosts around her. And she began to use that gift to help others, to connect them with the people and places that they had lost.

Nina's journey through the ghost forests was not always easy. She had to confront her own fears and insecurities, and she had to learn to trust herself and her instincts. But as she continued to navigate the ghost forests, she found a sense of peace and purpose that she had never experienced before.

And in the end, Nina realized that her grandmother's ghost had been leading her all along. It had led her to a place of understanding and acceptance, a place where she could connect with the past and the present in a way that was both haunting and beautiful. And as she looked back on her journey, Nina knew that she would always be connected to the ghost forests, to the people and places that had shaped her life.

As Nina continued to navigate the ghost forests, she also discovered a deeper understanding of the concept of time. She realized that time was not linear, but instead existed in layers, with the past and present constantly overlapping and interacting. She saw how events from the past continued to shape the present, and how the present had the power to influence the future.

Nina's experiences in the ghost forests also taught her about the importance of memory and remembrance. She saw how people and places could be forgotten or erased, and how it was up to individuals to preserve and honor their legacies.

Ultimately, Nina's journey through the ghost forests taught her that there was a beauty and a richness in the world that could only be seen by those who were willing to look beyond the surface. And as she continued to explore the world around her, she knew that she would always be guided by the ghosts of her past, helping her to navigate the present and find her way towards the future.