Blooming Roses

It wasn’t because she didn’t love him anymore, but rather because she loved him too much and was afraid that their love wouldn’t last. The gentle spring had passed in a blink, and now it was the height of the hot summer. Lin Mengmeng hadn’t seen Shao Tingyu’s figure early in the morning, and a fleeting sense of loneliness swept over her heart. She wheeled her wheelchair to the floor-to-ceiling window, and the scene that greeted her brightened her eyes. She wasn’t sure when it started, but quite a few roses had bloomed in the garden. She remembered that these were planted by Shao Tingyu with her right after they got married. She had once said with a smile that the flowers in the garden symbolized their relationship; perhaps they would never bloom, or perhaps her shadow would appear in every season. However, as their relationship had faded, she hadn’t paid much attention to the roses in the garden, yet they had survived until now. It seemed to confirm their relationship, blooming even to this day without withering. The rising sun shone on the vibrant flowers. The warm gaze then extended continuously through the window. Lin Mengmeng lifted her only movable hand to open the window, welcoming the fragrance of the roses, and slowly wheeled herself into the garden. The flowers and plants in the garden were in full bloom, and Shao Tingyu was planting new roses not far away. The garden was filled with roses of various colors, no longer just one. Lin Mengmeng, puzzled, approached Shao Tingyu. Just a glance back, and Shao Tingyu saw her: “What’s wrong?” Lin Mengmeng, with effort, said one word at a time: “The flowers in the garden… more…” Shao Tingyu smiled gently: “Do you remember what you once said?” Lin Mengmeng looked at him without blinking; it was precisely because she knew that she didn’t understand. Shao Tingyu looked directly at Lin Mengmeng and said earnestly, “Since you don’t want to believe how long our relationship can last, let the roses tell you.” Perhaps Lin Mengmeng had forgotten or didn’t have the time, but he hadn’t forgotten that if the planted roses bore fruit, it meant their love was eternal, deep enough. However, with the garden full of blooming roses, he believed it was enough to represent his sincerity, an unchanging promise.