Hold Hands

They met as youths—the school heartthrob top student and the genius underclassman. From acquaintance to friendship to love, their passion burned brightly. No one could have known: the most radiant moments in life would eventually be repaid with solitude. A decade apart. Upon reuniting, both had crossed into their thirties. Tentatively drawing closer, they realized too much time had passed. In the silent years of his absence, the crabapple blossoms had bloomed and withered. People, like trees, had grown—branches lush, trunks tall and proud. Gu Yi’an stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. After a long silence, he said, *“We’ve lived separately all these years. I’ve been fine, and you’ve grown so much. It seems we’ve both moved forward well, even without each other.”* *“But I still feel regret.”* *“These ten years… I missed every change in you. Every carol you sang on Christmas Eve. Every bloom of the crabapples. Even your ‘good morning’ and ‘good night,’ every single day…”* Gu Yi’an’s voice remained low and hushed. Pausing here, Yu Rui watched him close his eyes lightly before repeating— *“Yu Rui, I still feel regret.”* --- *You have the freest soul and the one who loves you most. So, in this world, there’s nowhere you cannot reach.*