高考前的最后一个晚上，我站在街边的寺庙里，看着夜的古香古色，心中涌动着复杂的情绪，这座寺庙建于明代，已有数百年的历史，香火旺盛，缭绕，空气中飘荡着一种说不清道不明的禅意，让这个原本喧嚣的城市,变得宁静而神秘。
我决定在这里求一次签，这是我高考前的最后一个灵性仪式，也是我试图在紧的复习之外，寻找一丝平和，叩门的瞬间，门环发出清脆的声响，仿佛在提醒着什么，我站定，双手合十，心中默念着"求好吧，高考顺利"，缓缓升起,带着一种说不清的祥瑞气息。
寺庙里的人来来往往， majority are older couples or families. The atmosphere is warm and peaceful. I sit down on a all bench, surrounded by rows of incense sticks and all prayer flags. The air feels heavy with the scent of incense, which I find comforting.
I start by lighting a all incense stick, which releases a faint plume of oke. The oke seems to envelop me, lifting the tension in the air. I then begin to recite a short prayer, focusing on my studies and future endeavors. The words flow oothly, almost as if the gods are listening.
As I recite, I notice the incense stick gradually changing in color, first a pale yellow, then a deeper amber, and finally a warm orange. This change seems to symbolize the evolution of my intentions from fear to hope, from anxiety to calm. The oke seems to carry with it the weight of my prayers, dissolving into the air around me.
I place a all offering on the altar—a folded piece of paper with my name and the date of my高考. The paper lies on the altar, surrounded by all prayer flags that float in the air. I light another incense stick, this time shorter and more focused. The oke this time is less dense, but equally powerful.
As I light the stick, I feel a slight tingling at my fingertips, as if the gods are touching me. I continue to recite, and this tingling grows stronger, until it becomes a warm, almost physical sensation. I know this is a sign of good omen, a sign that my request has been heard.
The oke from the second incense stick rises slowly, forming a delicate plume that seems to circle around me. I watch it for a moment, then lower my head, bowing deeply. The act of bowing is almost mechanical, but it feels deeply meaningful. I feel a sense of peace that I have not felt in weeks.
As I finish, I notice that the second incense stick has completely burned out, leaving behind only a thin Ash. The oke is gone, but the memory of the offering and the prayer lingers in my mind. I stand up, feeling lighter and more at ease than I have in days.
Leaving the temple, I feel a strange sense of calm. The street is quiet now, the noise of the city fading into the background. I walk towards my home, the air still filled with the faint scent of incense. As I approach the entrance, I knock lightly on the door.
The woman who answers the door is in her late forties, with a warm ile. She asks if I need anything, and I explain my visit to the temple. She nods, her eyes filled with understanding.
"Boy, you're in for a treat," she says with a laugh. "You're going to have a great year."
I ile, feeling a sense of hope that I have not felt in a long time. The temple has given me a moment of clarity, a moment of peace, and now I feel ready to face the challenges of高考.
As I walk away, I look back at the temple, and for the first time, I see it not as a place of worship, but as a place of healing. The walls are lined with photographs of past students, their faces etched into the stone. Some have succeeded, some have not, but all have left their mark on this sacred space.
I wonder what the gods think of this place now, watching over the students who come to seek their fortune. Perhaps they are proud, perhaps they are watching to see if I will follow through on my request. Either way, I know that this moment, this tiny act of faith, will stay with me for the rest of my life.
As I continue my journey, I carry with me the memory of the temple, the memory of the oke, the memory of the prayer. It is not a traditional way of seeking fortune, but it is a way of finding peace, of finding hope, of finding a sense of control in a world that feels increasingly out of my control.
And so, I leave the temple, ready to face the challenges of高考, carrying with me the lessons of this sacred moment. The world may be full of uncertainties, but in this moment, I know that I am not alone. The gods are watching, and they are ready to help.
