Romantic short stories: The Love of Fish
Swimming in the silent sea, I felt so small. A life without her felt like losing my soul. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, spending each day in a daze, but unable to forget “Lotus,” the one who stole my heart.
I am a little blue fish named “Zhan.” Before meeting her, I was a carefree fish, surrounded by happiness, never knowing what sadness or heartache was. Until that day, on my way to the beautiful coral reef, I saw a red figure flash past me. It was as if I was struck by lightning, and a sudden inexplicable joy rose in my heart. It felt like I had found a soulmate in life, an unknown force drove me to chase after her. When I swam to where she had been, it was already empty, with nothing but a few beautiful corals in sight.
Back home, I tossed and turned all night, accompanied only by loss and anticipation. I didn’t know what was wrong with me or why I had changed. In the days that followed, I swam to that beautiful coral reef almost every day, hoping to meet her again. Whether it was heaven’s mercy or destiny, I finally saw her again one day. She proudly held her head high, swaying her graceful body, playing among the beautiful corals. Seeing her serene appearance, I was stunned. At that moment, she also noticed me and swam towards me.
“Hello,” she said to me. But I was too stunned to respond. She smiled slightly.
“Oh, you’re mute! How pitiful!” she sighed.
“What?” I didn’t expect her to say such a thing at our first meeting. I blurted out in anger. Hearing me speak, she was first surprised, then said:
“That’s not polite! How can you not respond when I greet you? Are men always so arrogant?” She pouted. Her words pierced my heart like a sharp sword.
“No, I was just…,” I hurriedly explained, but my face had already turned as red as the sun. Actually, I was touched by her, so I honestly spoke my mind. She was stunned after listening, then smiled and said:
“But we’ve never met before?”
“No, a few days ago, in the afternoon, you appeared in front of me like an angel and then left gracefully.”
“Hehe, really?” She laughed, and her smile was as dazzling and charming as the most beautiful coral.
Blushing, I asked her, “Can we be friends?”
“Sure,” she readily agreed. The sunlight above the water gradually faded. She smiled at me again, “Sorry, I have to go. It was nice meeting you.”
Blushing, I said, “Me…me too.”
“Goodbye,” she said with a smile. I could only helplessly say “goodbye.” As she swam away, I asked, “Can we meet again?”
“Of course, I’ll come here often because it’s so beautiful.” With that, she turned and left. I could only helplessly watch her disappear from my sight. I wanted to catch up and tell her how much I adored her, but I had no reason to convince myself to do so.
In the days that followed, I went to the coral reef every day, staying there all day, afraid of missing the chance to meet her. The azure water flowed quietly over the beautiful coral reef, and time passed slowly in waiting, day after day.
Until one day, I was resting on a large coral in the reef, and somehow fell asleep. “Wake up,” a gentle voice woke me from my dream. I looked at her drowsily. She looked at me and said, “Sleepyhead.”
She teased me with a smile. “No, I was just too tired yesterday, so…”
“Excuses,” she interrupted. I was speechless, lowering my head.
“Don’t be like that, Mommy will comfort you.”
“What? Mommy?” I was surprised and angry. “You’re taking advantage of me.”
She said nothing, just smiled silently, but soon sadness crept onto her always smiling face.
“I have to go,” she finally said, but those words shocked me.
I looked at her in surprise. “Why?” I asked anxiously.
“Because my father is going to the Amazon River to visit an old friend, so our whole family has to move.” She said this with such melancholy. I hurriedly asked, “Will you come back?”
She said nothing. I felt a twinge of loss. When I looked at her again, her face was already covered in tears, crying so sadly. Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but feel melancholic. I wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know what to say, so I could only silently watch her. Seeing her sad expression, my heart ached. Finally, I couldn’t suppress my turbulent desire, swam to her, and hugged her. She also embraced me like a child. At that moment, I wished time could stand still so I could hold her forever and never let her leave. But time was so harsh to me, and in the end, she still left.
That day, she left late. We held each other, watching the sky above the sea and the countless stars. We talked a lot. I asked her if she would be my wife if she didn’t leave. She responded with her angelic smile, then nodded slightly. I knew this was a girl’s unique shyness, and she was no exception. I didn’t ask further. We leaned on each other for a long time without saying a word, but gradually I realized my eyes were wet. That feeling must be called sadness, right? I looked up and cried out, “Why, Heaven? Since you brought her to me, why are you taking her away from my life? Why?” I choked. A warm hand held mine.
“Don’t be like this, I will come back,” she said firmly. I turned to look at her, but her beautiful face was already soaked with tears. This promise became my spiritual support. Although it was just a promise, perhaps one that could never be fulfilled, I didn’t mind, because I would wait forever.
Finally, the morning sun shone on the coral reef, making it even more beautiful and dazzling. She looked at me and stood up.
“You’re leaving,” I looked at her helplessly. I knew the answer, but still hoped to hear what I wanted from her mouth. But things didn’t go as I wished, and in the end, she still left. Before leaving, she swam to me, kissed me deeply, and said:
“I love you. Believe me, I will come back.”
I nodded deeply and said, “I will always wait for you to come back. Then I will build a house here, so we can live in this beautiful place forever.” I wiped away her tears, touched her delicate cheek, and said affectionately:
“Live well, I will wait for you to come back,” I said with a forced smile, and her smile reappeared.
“I really have to go,” she said, kissed me deeply again, and left in tears, leaving me, a lonely fish, standing there.
In the days that followed, I went to the coral reef every day, reminiscing about the moment we met, the moment we fell in love, and the moment we parted. These memories had become my most precious treasure. Every time I came here, I would bring a golden stone because I wanted to use them to build the most beautiful home for her and me. Time quietly passed by me, and the stones piled up like a mountain, but I was still waiting, waiting for her to come back and build our dream home together.
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