《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。
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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 exceedingly heavy, yet i do not sense the expected 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 next offering i leave to the family, the next \"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