One Foot and Two Lives
The story is recounted by a friend from the South, now living in Shanghai. The backdrop might be Wuxi or a similar place, and it’s a true story. The woman, a graceful TV host, and the man, a rising young writer, were both still young. They hadn’t planned to marry so soon, but when the woman unexpectedly became pregnant, they decided to wed. The woman, being romantic, insisted on spending their wedding night on a boat. They boarded a cruise on Taihu Lake. Late at night, they heard strange noises outside, followed by an announcement that the boat had struck a reef and was sinking, urging everyone to escape.
The man pulled the woman and jumped into the water. The wind and waves were fierce, and the woman, a poor swimmer, quickly began to struggle. She saw the man swimming toward her, thinking her husband had come to save her. Grabbing his arm, she was shocked when he shouted, “Let go of me!” and then kicked her hard in the chest. This kick shattered the woman’s faith. However, fate spared her, and she was eventually rescued.
Once ashore, the woman immediately annulled their marriage and went to the hospital to abort the pregnancy. Later, she received a thick letter from the man, in which he analyzed human nature and instincts in detail, without asking for forgiveness but simply hoping she would live well and take care of the baby. Feeling ominous after reading the letter, the woman rushed to the man’s place, only to find he had committed suicide in a particularly cruel manner, said to be the most excruciating way to end a life.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
