Never Let Go
That year, she was the head of the Secretariat of the County Cultural Bureau. Beautiful and graceful, with especially captivating dimples, she had many suitors. She wasn’t picky and soon fell in love. Perhaps because of her innate beauty, she sought a perfect love, and perhaps love is inherently selfish, allowing no impurities. So, when she saw her lover walking with another woman, she was heartbroken and built a high wall around her heart, keeping all suitors at bay.
One time, the bureau organized a performance in the countryside, and she went along. When they reached a Yao ethnic village deep in the mountains, they discovered a natural cliff, about 10 meters high, steep and smooth. There was a thick rope hanging from the top to the bottom.
The cliff showed signs of human modification, with smoothed protrusions. Could it be that someone in this remote mountain village was passionate about rock climbing?
Seeing everyone’s puzzled expressions, an older colleague from the bureau smiled, approached the cliff, and pulled the rope. “This isn’t rock climbing,” he said. “This is a local Yao village performance to attract tourists, a test of courage in love.
Adult men, to show their love for their desired women, must climb to the top and then pull the woman they love up as well before they can officially start dating.”
She had heard that Yao women evaluate whether their suitors are diligent or lazy by inviting them to help with plowing, building houses, harvesting, etc. Only after passing these tests would the women secretly give the men a token to confirm their affection. Having been mischievous since childhood, she had a sudden idea and suggested an impromptu rock climbing performance. She wanted to experience it herself.
Her suggestion caused a stir, and several men accompanying her were eager to try. However, upon hearing about the difficulties and dangers of the performance, requiring professional training to succeed, they backed down, each shaking their heads in resignation at the base of the cliff.
At this moment, a recent university graduate who had just joined the Cultural Bureau approached the cliff. Wearing glasses and looking scholarly, he had yet to secure a position in the bureau. He grabbed the rope and said to her, “Dare to try?”
She bit her lip, recalling her failed love and envying the love at the top of the cliff. Resolutely, she said, “Let’s try. If you can’t pull me up, I can always give up.”
He firmly grasped the rope, struggling to climb the small notches in the cliff. It took him a long time, climbing and resting, to everyone’s surprise, before he finally reached the top. Before anyone could react, he shouted down to her, “Tie yourself securely with the rope and hold on tight.”
Everyone doubted him, waiting for him to fail and make a fool of himself.
She looked up at him atop the cliff, tied herself, and grabbed the rope. He lay flat on the cliff, carefully pulling her up inch by inch. When he had pulled her about 5 meters up, it was clear his strength was waning, his hands red from the rope.
The rope swung several times, and he almost lost his grip. But after a few minutes of effort, he managed to control the rope again.
Two meters, one meter, half a meter… he finally pulled her to the top of the cliff. Everyone cheered for them. Overwhelmed with excitement, they embraced passionately. In that moment, her eyes welled up with tears.
On the way back from the countryside, she noticed his hands were covered in blisters, some even bleeding. She asked him, “Why didn’t you let go when you couldn’t hold on?”
“Once I’ve grabbed hold, I’ll never let go,” he smiled, looking at her.
Back at the bureau, she secretly knitted a sweater for him.
Two years later, they walked down the aisle, much to the confusion of her former suitors. However, happiness did not favor them. During a health check-up, he was diagnosed with uremia. The high cost of surgery and the need for a suitable kidney shattered all their dreams of happiness.
She borrowed over a hundred thousand yuan for him, and he underwent a kidney transplant. After the surgery, the doctor told her that his immune system would be as fragile as a child’s for the next six years, requiring constant vigilance. Even a common cold could lead to complications, possibly even death. He would need to take anti-rejection medication for life.
He endured the six-year danger period and gradually entered a stable phase. She cared for him like a baby, pampering and encouraging him. Seven years later, she gave birth to a lovely daughter for him.
The long years were filled with endless pain and dangers, but they held hands and made it through. Real life was harsh, unlike the cliffside scene; it was she who pulled him, step by step, toward the end of life. Though there were many times when she almost couldn’t hold on, she never let go.
When he was in the depths of despair, she held his hand tightly and said, “You said, once you’ve grabbed hold, you’ll never let go. I won’t allow you to regret it.”
Indeed, love is an invisible rope binding two lovers together. Only by working together, facing hardships and pain with courage, and holding each other’s hearts tightly, never letting go, can two loving hearts grow closer and eventually merge into one.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
