Love Began with the First Meeting

Many people fall into despair because they feel that their past was too beautiful compared to the terrible present and the uncertain future.

*

The night was chilly and damp. Snow had started to fall and the flakes danced slowly as it swayed to the rhythm of the light wind. A City was quickly dressed in a beautiful white robe.

Brian leaned against Shirley's shoulder, the mask of lies removed from his sculptural cold face. Like a heartbroken kid, he yearned for comfort in his mother's embrace.

His eyes remained closed as Shirley sat quietly beside him. "Shirley," he said, his hoarse voice sounding heartbroken, "don't let her know..."

Shirley turned her head slightly to look at her only son. He didn't have to make it clear; she knew that he was asking her not to tell Molly that he hadn't lost his memory. She heaved a heavy sigh, "Brian, I hate to see you in so much pain."

"This is nothing compared to the pain of losing her forever," Brian answered dully. "Letting her go is the best choice, Shirley. She can live a peaceful life just like she has always dreamed of, and Mark can grow up in a better world, away from all this danger. As his father, it's the best gift I can give him."

Shirley wrapped her arms around her son tightly and rubbed his head softly against her cheek. She felt his overwhelming pain, but she could do nothing about it. Her lips quivered as she said, "Okay, I won't tell her." Her eyes fell on the divorce agreement and the ring, which had fallen to the ground beside Brian. Her eyes itched as they started welling with tears. She said with a heavy heart, "Brian, if you believe that you've made the right decision, then I won't stop you. Richie and I will always support you. And Wing will always have your back."

Brian listened to his mother's comforting words. But when he closed his eyes, the defeated backs of Molly and Mark leaving hand in hand appeared vividly in his mind. His heart tightened in his chest. He asked, "Shirley, Wing will wake up, right?"

Shirley wanted to cry out loud, but she put a restraint on her sadness. Right now, she needed to be strong for her son. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Yes, she will wake up. Everything will be all right. We will be fine. All of us..."

"Yes, everything is going to be fine." Brian's voice was weak and his words were empty. He couldn't express his pain in words. It was beyond measure at this point. Everyone he loved was in pain. The least he could do was free Molly from the shackles. It was easy to take the decision to let her go, because it was the best thing he could do for her and Mark. But to actually let her walk away from him was a painful task. His grief was so much that he wished he could die the moment she turned away from him. But now, it was over. She was gone.

*

Weston sat beside Wing's bed, carefully trimming her nails as he ceaselessly talked to her. Everyday, he talked to her about everything that had happened between the two of them from their fights at the kindergarten in their childhood, to their reunion at the Royal University in Dragon Island, and their music dreams. He repeated the stories day after day, hoping she would get bored and get up, asking him to shut up already.

Wing had been in a vegetative state for more than four months. Nothing had changed since her leaving A City. She still maintained a steady heartbeat while she stayed isolated from the outside world.

"Wing," Weston placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed it gently, "How much longer? Are you planning to keep me waiting forever? Please, wake up."

He was answered by the sound of the heart rhythm monitor. Without that continuous beeping and the slight rise and fall of her chest, there was no way of knowing if she was alive or not. Sometimes, he would have nightmares that he couldn't hear the beep sound anymore and he would wake up with a jump, covered in cold sweat. Then the first thing he would do by instinct was to look at the heart rhythm monitor which indicated her normal heartbeat. He would crumble into the seat beside her in relief, looking at the steady lines on the monitor. He was afraid. He feared so much that Wing would leave him one day without saying goodbye and he could never accept that reality. He could not even bear thinking about a life without her.

"Wing, I know how much you hate being away from us. I know how much you miss playing the piano. I miss your beautiful melody too. Let the world hear your music once again," he said, closing his eyes slowly. "No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you. I will not leave your side, Wing, till the moment you wake up...'

*

In A City

Molly stood at the door of her old family house. It was deathly silent in the quiet snowy night and the cold air sent a terrifying chill up her spine.

"Mommy..." Mark looked up at her and wondered why they were standing outside for so long, staring at the old house.

Drawn back to reality by her son's voice, Molly realized that she had been standing in front of the house reluctantly for too long. She said, "Mark, we'll stay here tonight, okay?"

"Okay!" Mark answered, pressing his lips to wear a small smile. He tried to be obedient and strong, so as not to add to Molly's burden and sorrow.

Loosening her grip on Mark's hand and the trolley case, Molly knocked at the door. She waited for a while, but nobody answered. She frowned slightly and looked around the house through the window. It looked deserted. Finally, she squeezed her hand into the small hole near the door frame. When her hand touched the cold metal, she pulled it out with a faint smile. The copper key was in its usual place.

Molly sighed and unlocked the door. She held Mark's hand and walked into the house. As soon as she walked in, she was hit with the smell of accumulated dust. It looked as if the house had been unoccupied for quite a long time.

Frowning, Molly turned the lights on. Looking around, she wondered, 'Where is Papa? Isn't he living here anymore?'

She was too tired to dwell on the thought. Pushing the trolley case aside, she squatted in front of Mark, stroked his head and said softly, "Mark, Mommy will help you take a quick bath and then we'll go to bed, okay?" Mark nodded. Molly smiled, and walked towards the bathroom.

She had lived in the house for more than a dozen years. She was familiar with everything there though she hadn't been back for several years. After bathing Mark, Molly replaced the bedsheets on her bed with clean ones she took out of the wardrobe. Since the sheets hadn't been basked for too long, they smelled a little moist and musty, but Molly couldn't be picky at the moment. 000