Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 371

symphony, not particularly sophisticated, but something more friendly. I looked up to the sky, which was a brilliant, light blue,
occasionally dotted with white puffs of cloud. Birds swooped near the streets, twittering just as excitedly as the passersby.
All of this I pointed out to Yue, who looked entranced by the scene. Her eyes were widened, and she had a hint of a smile.
‘It’s – it’s noisy,’ she said, ‘and it’s quite crowded.’
‘Yes, but don’t you like it?’ I asked.
‘Of course. I’ve never seen anything like this.’ She paused. ‘Thank you… for this. I’m feeling better now.’
‘You’re welcome,’ I exclaimed cheerfully, a warmth seeping into my heart.
‘Now let’s go to the city wall that you wanted to see.’ She started walking, and I followed her.
The wall that surrounded the city towered over Yue and I, an unsmiling, defensive presence. I tried to pick out each individual
stone that made it up with my eyes, my task often disrupted by the several soldiers patrolling near the wall.
‘Do you think the pattern of the wall looks like a basket weave?’ I wondered aloud to Yue.
Yue was silent for a few moments, and then she buried her face in her hands.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked, alarmed.
She uncovered her face, and was struggling to keep her expression blank. ‘I’m alright.’
‘You’re not alright, Yue. Please, tell me what’s going on.’
‘I’m fine.’ she said, but I could see the tears pooling at the corner of her eyes.
‘I thought this trip made you feel better.’
‘It did. Thank you.’
I felt anger surge through me. ‘Stop being so mean ! Are you that emotionless? Do you even try to feel emotions?’ I yelled.
‘So this is what you think I really am?’ Yue said in her deathly cold voice.
We stood in silence, fuming at each other.
I spoke first. ‘Yue, I’m worried about you, and your attitude isn’t helping.’
‘Telling you my problems wouldn’t change anything either.’
‘It would . Do you remember all those times when we were younger? Once you told me that your mother was sick. You were so
afraid that she would die. But then I told my family, and they got some medicine, didn’t they? Your mother got better. ’
‘I remember.’ Yue squeezed her eyes shut. ‘Lin, I’m… I’m going to get married off. In a week or so.’
Suddenly, the noble-looking couple, the red wedding invitation, and Yue’s recent attitude all made sense.
‘And I don’t know what it’ll be like… and I won’t be able to see my family… or you…’ A tear slid down her face. ‘I’m scared,
I’m sad, and I’m angry because I hate feeling all of these emotions so strongly… it hurts …’