Kam Ha kee

3.Johns Hopkins

Your favorite lotus flowers are blooming everywhere in Yiyuan. That leisurely incense, as when you and I first met.

It was early summer, and a light rain had just fallen. The lotus flowers in the pond are in full bloom, and the light fragrance permeates the whole garden.

Lotus pond, white clothes and white pants you stand in the has come out of the charming Cheng Bi side, two black and soft long braids hanging next to the small delicate melon seed face, a pair of black translucent eyes quickly glanced at me, and immediately dropped his eyes.

I was shocked at your beauty and disappointed at the evasive look of your eyes, but you quietly raised your long eyelashes and looked at the direction where I stood.

At that time, at the age of eight, I did not know what "a glance is a lifetime". But my little heart was filled with joy and anxiety, and I hastened to stretch out my hand to fix my clothes, lest I should look ugly before you.

Mother said your name is Shuying. I don't know how to write it yet, but it sounds like the sweetest music. That night my dream was filled with your eyes and the smell of lotus flowers.

From then on, I called Cheng Bi sister, called your sister. I go to school with you, I play with you. I will give you the best gift I ever got. I will climb the tree to pick the flowers you like; I will insist on adopting a stray cat despite my mother's opposition, because you say it is poor; I will go in winter to warm your always cold hands; I will pick us up at home in the car from school, tell you the fun things in school, listen to your clear smile.

We were seven years old and loved reading, so we didn't often join our children's games. But Zhuozheng, the son of my mother's family friend, became our playmate. He was only one year older than us. So three children of similar age, digging holes in the wall, up the tree and down the lake, playing wild, often ask adults to look in the garden for a long time.

We often play the game of worship, the bride must be you, and I always groom. Zhuo Zheng also made a fuss about being the groom, and I gave him a look and said, "You can only be the master of ceremonies." Who let your name be 'witness.'" He can only sigh and salute us.

We will worship heaven and earth under the huge ancient sophora tree in front of the Sakjin Pavilion. Your head is covered with a piece of red gauze, and I am holding one head of Zhuozheng's generously loosened trouser belt. Zhuo Zheng held up his pants and shouted at the side: "Pray to heaven and earth..." My little heart is full of hope, toward the distant future and happiness together with you, prayerfully with you. Then I will pick off the cover with the branches I picked up and see your beautiful smiling face under the red veil.

I thought such happiness would be solid as a rock, and it was logical, until we were ten years old, the doctor said that you can no longer play like me and Zhuo Zheng, because you have leukemia, you need to rest and avoid injury. You have 15 years to live, tops.

I didn't know what it was, but the sadness and despair on the faces of my parents, Wei Aunt and Cheng Bi, terrified me.

I pestered Dr. Xu, our family doctor at that time, and then learned that it was a terminal disease that had no cure at that time. But for his sentence, "Maybe someone will find a way to cure", my young heart lit up with such naive enthusiasm - I will save you!

I began to read some introductory medical books, especially books on leukemia, behind my parents' back under the guidance of Dr. Xu. I changed my naughty personality and spent almost all my time in reading, because I only had fifteen years to save you. I was faster than other children of my age in primary school, but I was still the most diligent student in my class. As a result, I finished all six years of middle school courses in three years. At the age of 15, I had taken the college entrance examination and was ready to enter the hematology major of Peking University Medical College.

My mother called me into her room alone and said, "Your father has sent your resume to Harvard, Hopkins, Pennsylvania, and Duke." The medical schools of these four universities are ranked among the top four in the nation. They are all very interested in you and have told your father that you do not need any entrance exams or interviews, as long as you take the TOEFL test, you can go straight to school. Choose which one you want to go to. They're all top schools and they won't let you down."

Shocked, I said to my mother, "But I want to stay in Beijing and go to college."

The mother smiled: "What is in your heart, I understand. But for the thin shadow, you should stop thinking. It's not that I don't like her, but her illness, it's hard to say that you can have a long life. Part now, lest you suffer later. Your father doesn't approve of you getting into feelings so early. '

As smart and perceptive as my mother, she already saw the signs.

Before I could argue, she continued, "If you listen to me, I will treat her as a daughter again, give her the best medicine, take good care of her, and keep her safe all her life." If you must stay, I will have to send Shuying to her uncle."

Your uncle and aunt. I met them once. Very greedy, cold, thin people. Now your treatment costs a lot of money every month, and people need to be well cared for and tired. Sending you back to your uncle would be a dead end. My mother, she usually love and care for you and Chengbi two sisters, as her own. But at the moment, it is so merciless.

My mother may seem weak, but she is more decisive than anyone else in this family. When I was young, my father, who was casual in nature, indulged me, while Aunt Wei was also indulgent to me. Only my mother was strict with me, from reading and studying, cultivation and hobbies to sitting and talking. When I was young, the only time I was beaten for being naughty, with a ruler in my hand, was my mother, who was as tender as a weak willow. Having been her son for so many years, I certainly understand that once she's made up her mind, there's no point in talking.

I took a deep breath, looked her straight in the eye and said, "It's a deal."

The moment I turned around, I heard my mother's calm voice: "I know you are angry. Mom also hurt thin shadow. But you're the person I love more than anything in the world besides your father, and I can't watch you suffer forever. Besides, your name is Lee, and you know how important the succession is to that name. In love, in reason, what I do for you now is the best decision. When you're older, you'll understand better."

When I came out of my mother's room, I thought about how I would pour out my heart to you during the years of separation. At that time, you were not allowed to use the computer to prevent the disease from worsening, and if I called you, my mother would inevitably be wary. So the only way is communication.

That night, I found Wei Aunt, asked her to promise to carry the message for me and you. She had never said "no" to me, but this time she refused me for the same reasons as my mother. I was impatient and knelt down in front of her. She hugged me and cried, "Get up quickly, I promise!" What a sin! Don't blame your mother, Jing Ping. She only stopped you because she loved you. I hope what I have done today will not cost you your life."

Two months later, I flew from Beijing to Baltimo, a port city on the east coast of the United States, to become a freshman at Johns Hopkins University.

The night before I left, I said goodbye to you in your room.

We sat under the drunk lamp and talked. You told me not to go out alone at night because of the bad security in Baltimo. He gave me a cookbook and said that these were simple and easy to learn dishes, and if I was tired of Western food and had no Chinese restaurants to my liking, I could learn to cook some by myself. I answered gently, my eyes fixed only on your pale, thin, but still beautiful face.

We said all the silly and silly things, and finally there was nothing to say, just let the clock tick between you and me.

Then you say: "It's late, you have to go to the airport early tomorrow morning, so get some rest." I promised, got up and walked to the door.

Your graceful shadow is cast on the wall in front of me, your soft smell is undulating behind me. My heart began to beat violently, and I turned decisively, grasped your thin shoulders with my hands, and leaned over you.

This is the scene that I dreamed of, that my heart longed for. Now it's finally a reality. Our lips pressed together, burning breath blowing into each other's faces. Then my tongue nervously probed yours, and in the panic our teeth touched.

Our first kiss at the age of 15, raw and sweet enough to let me remember for a lifetime.