Go back 10 years

Maple leaves in autumn

"The Maple puts her corals on in May,

While loitering frosts about the lowlands cling,

To be in tune with what the robins sing,

Plastering new log-huts ’mid her branches gray;

But when the Autumn southward turns away,

Then in her veins burns most the blood of Spring,

And every leaf, intensely blossoming,

Makes the year’s sunset pale the set of day."

by James Russell Lowell

"I want to share with you the best moments of my day. So you can feel how I feel and see what I see.

What is the maple leaf in your life that makes all of your concerns pale the set of your day?"

Bonnie left this note on Noah's desk, attached with the maple leaf she picked yesterday afternoon. The food that Bonnies prepared for Noah today was a banana with ZhuGuLi chocolate cookies, which is her favorite brand. She also brought a package of cookies for herself. She felt it was romantic to have the same snack with Noah.

She went back to her seat and began to wait for Noah's arrival. But Noah still didn't show up until the bell rang for the first lesson. What happened? Bonnie started to worry about him. Is he in a bad mood today? Is he sick? Should I go visit him this afternoon? She finished the morning class restlessly and wanted to ask their adviser for Noah's phone number. But how do I explain to the advisor why I asked for Noah's phone number? Bonnie hesitated. Hmm, just say we are working on the same project and it's due tonight, very urgent. Sounds like a good excuse. Bonnie smiled contentedly: "I'm a genius."

"Looked at his face, what happened to him"? A surprised voice of her tablemate interrupted her brainwork.

Bonnie looked up reflexively. She saw the swollen bruise on Noah's face and the scary red bruise on his neck.

What happened to him? She just stared with her wide open mouth that cannot shut. Oh, she remembered, Noah still lives under the pressure of his miserable family. Bonnies knew that Noah lived on scholarship from the school. His mother died young, and the school used to post his story in the school newspaper. Bonnie hates so-called "charitable school organizations" for getting a reputation by hyping the backstories of the grantees they sponsor. They just post in the newspaper so everyone knows what the grantee looks like, how hard their life is, and how selfless this organization is. Why can't this be anonymous? Those teenagers are just too young to learn how to respect others. They naturally despise the weak, the poverty, they just laugh at other people's wounds over and over again.

Bonnies saw Noah frown at everyone's whisper, her nose started twitching, and was about to weep.

I had to get him out of here, she thought.

The next second, when she realized what she had done, she had run to Noah's side and grabbed his arm.

"Sorry, but plz go to the nurse's station with me!" Bonnie hurriedly. She heard her voice trembling.

Noah didn't move but stared at her reddish eyes.

Bonnie couldn't read his emotion. "Please......." Bonnie asked again, tears welled up in her eyes.

They were deadlocked for a few seconds. Bonnie heard his sigh, "OK"

Bonnie looked surprised and was still holding his arm tightly.

"Could you let your hand go?" Noah looked at his arm.

"Oh, sorry". She took her hands back and covered her mouth.

So embarrassing, she thought.

When they walked towards the infirmary, Bonnie was still in shock. These were the first words Noah said to Bonnie after she was reborn. She wanted it to be romantic, but things just went contrary to her wishes.

In fact, this isn't actually the first time Bonnie has seen Noah get hurt. But she was too timid before, for fear that her curiosity would upset him. He never talked to anyone, because he was silent and people didn't ask anymore.

"Why do you want to help me? We are not close", Noah asked.

Bonnie looked at him and started to get nervous. "Um...... don't get me wrong, I'm just...." She sniffled between words.

"I'm just worried about you."

"Why? " Bonnie saw the confusion in his eyes.

"Because when you see people around you hurt, you worry. " Bonnie asked, and she wiped her eyes.

"I feel sad when you show up like this. It hurts me." Bonnie said.

"I don't need your superfluous sympathy," Noah answered.

"It's not superfluous sympathy! Its natural instincts", Bonnie argued, “The instinct to love all good things, the instinct to hate all cruel things, the instinct to cherish all valuable things, and the instinct to grieve when innocent people are getting hurt.”

"So you mean I'm valuable?" Noah looked at her and asked.

"Yes, you are valuable to me." Bonnie looked into his eyes and smiled.

Noah gave her a surprised look and then suddenly turned around.

"We'd better hurry up, the next class is in 30 mins". He quickened his pace.