Love and longing: The Loneliness of the Street
Your departure left the entire city in loneliness.
—Inscription
Meeting, getting to know each other, understanding, falling in love, parting. These scenes keep repeating on the ancient cobblestone streets.
“If life were as it first met, why should the autumn wind be sad? How easily the heart of the old friend changes, yet the heart of the old friend is easy to change.” Every morning, at one end of the small street, a silvery reading voice always rings out.
The clear voice echoes in the quiet morning, interspersed in the cool mist. Her voice is not loud, but everyone on the small street can hear it. People waking from their slumber slowly wake up to listen to this heavenly sound. No one complains about their beautiful dreams being disturbed, and no one casts a resentful glance.
He had long since woken up, waiting for her reading voice. Each word, each tone, was deeply imprinted in his heart. A faint smile gradually appeared on his young face. Since starting school, he had gotten used to waking up early.
They were not a couple, but they played together since they were young; they were not a couple, but he would ride his bicycle to take her to school every day; they were not a couple, but she would hold him tightly on the way to school; they were not a couple, but they deeply loved each other, even though they themselves did not know it.
Time quietly slipped through their fingers. Perhaps girls always mature earlier than boys. She gradually realized that she had a special feeling for him, beyond that of friends or confidants. In moments of joy and sorrow, he was always the first person she thought of. She liked being with him, liked watching his back. He also liked being with her, but his affection was still just that—affection. He did not know that a girl loved him deeply.
That year, when they took their high school entrance exams, they chose the same high school, which was very far from their small town. They both yearned for the big city and shared the same dream. So they encouraged each other and studied diligently. But heaven always likes to impose a tragic ending on a beautiful beginning. That year, she left, and he stayed behind.
That morning seemed colder and darker than usual. He still rode his bicycle with her, but this time, they were going to the station, not school. Sparse raindrops fell on his eyes. He did not know that she was already crying uncontrollably behind him. She held him tightly, as if letting go would mean forever. How could he bear to part? Just when they were about to separate, he finally understood—it was love. But was it too late?
“Hey! I can’t bear to leave you. Just one word from you, and I will stay.”
“Silly girl, why would you stay? Have you forgotten our dream? To live a happy life in the big city together. Although I can’t go, remember that your happiness is my happiness. So, you have to be happy out there, at least half of it for me.”
“But…”
“Don’t say it. I know we are friends, and you can’t bear to leave. But you must go, for our dream. And remember to find a boyfriend who loves you.”
“Yes!” she thought, “We are just friends. But I love you. If you hug me again, I’ll stay.”
She walked forward slowly, but he never gave her the warm embrace she awaited. Looking back, she saw his figure gradually disappearing in the fog. She cried desperately and ran into the station. From that moment on, she vowed never to return.
He pushed his bicycle, dragging his weary steps. He did not dare to look back, fearing he would cry. How he wished to hug her again, but he lacked the courage.
A beautiful relationship was forcibly cut into two. Since then, he got up even earlier and sat at the door, vaguely hearing the sweet sound of reading. Every day, he pushed his bicycle to school. He said, “Without one person, I’m not used to riding it, but without the bicycle, my heart feels empty.” Deep sleepers did not notice that a lonely shadow had been added to the lonely street.
He kept the lonely street company, waiting for her to return, to take her on his bicycle again. So he repeatedly wiped his precious bicycle, until it was rusted and he could no longer lift it with his hunched body.
After a long, long time, she returned. It was still morning, and the small street was still as quiet and desolate. She came to the stone bench where they once played. The passage of time could not erase the deep carvings on it. “If only we had never met, there would be no sorrow in parting.” She understood now that he had loved her.
That year she was 70, and he had turned into dust. Murky tears blurred her eyes. Why hadn’t she stayed? Why had she insisted he hug her again? Missing the chance brought lifelong regret.
Passing by her old home, she saw a little girl reading aloud. Passing by his house, she saw a young boy from Myanmar secretly listening inside. She knew that someone would fulfill their happiness.
What is happiness? The highest state of happiness is nothing more than loving an old person, guarding a house of old things, and leisurely counting an old period of time. On this lonely street, he and his bicycle grew old and died in happiness.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
