《祭祀》
    一
    当钟声响起时，我便知道，祭典要开始了。
    这是家族的传统，每隔十八年的今天，家族都会召开一场隆重而华贵的祭祀典礼，来供奉家族的无上的神明。
    二
    而我，是这场祭典上唯一的祭司。
    三
    我穿上复杂的祭司礼服，在母亲担忧的眼神中坐上了前往神庙的花轿。离开前，我按照家族旧礼，将祭司的祝福送给了母亲肚子里面还未出生的孩子。
    四
    神庙修建在山上，花轿停在山脚，我怀着虔诚的心，一步一步走上了前往神庙的楼梯。
    山路很长，此时的祭司服变得十分厚重，但我感受不到这该有的疲惫。
    我从出生起，便被教导要背负起祭司的责任。
    五
    在到达到神庙后，我看着所有人都饱含希冀、热泪盈眶。他们十分自然地退至我的身后，点燃了我手中的烛火。我知道，接下来的路，只有自己。因为神庙，是不容许除祭司以外的人进入的。
    六
    神庙很暗，那扇大门在短暂的打开后，又关闭了起来。我举着唯一的火光，慢慢向里面走去。我敢发誓，那些人绝对没有进来过，因为他们一旦走近，便会看到满地的尸骨。
    七
    在看到所谓的神明后，我没有一点意外。只是解开了衣服，方便“神明”的吃食。
    八
    从一开始，我就知道，我是这场祭典中唯一的祭品。
    九
    母亲肚子里面的孩子诞生了。那是我为家族留下的下一个祭品，也是下一个“我”。十八年后，他会同样成为祭司。
    十
    祭典不会停止，所有人都会沉溺于轮回，而我，为这个故事写上开头。
    。
    。
    。
    the offering
    one
    when the bell tolls, i know the ceremony is about to begin.
    it's a family tradition, held every eighteen years on this day, where the family hosts a grand and luxurious sacrificial rite to honor our supreme deity.
    two
    and i am the sole priestess in this ritual.
    three
    dressed in the intricate vestments of a priestess, i board the palanquin bound for the temple under my mother's worried gaze. before departing, i follow the old customs of the family and bestow the priestess's blessing upon the unborn child in my mother's womb.
    four
    the temple is built atop a mountain, and the palanquin stops at the foot of the hill. with a devout heart, i ascend the stairs leading to the temple one step at a time.
    the path is long, and the ceremonial robes feel ceedingly heavy, yet i do not sense the pected weariness.
    from birth, i was taught to shoulder the responsibilities of a priestess.
    five
    upon reaching the temple, i see everyone brimming with hope, tears welling in their eyes. they retreat naturally behind me, igniting the candle in my hand. i understand that the path ahead is mine alone to tread, for no one other than the priestess is allowed inside the temple.
    six
    the temple is dark; the door opens briefly before closing again. holding the only source of light, i slowly make my way inside. i swear that no one has ever entered here, for if they did, they would witness the bones strewn across the floor.
    seven
    upon seeing the so-called deity, i am not surprised. i merely undress, making myself ready for the \"deity's\" feast.
    eight
    from the very beginning, i knew i was the sole offering in this ceremony.
    nine
    the child in my mother's womb is born. that is the nt offering i leave to the family, the nt \"me\". in eighteen years, he too will bee a priest.
    ten
    the ceremony will not cease; all will be trapped in the cycle of rebirth. and i, i write the beginning of this tale.