We brushed past each other without further small talk. I smiled until it felt numbing, as early spring turned into late autumn—bleak and desolate. As my smile faded, tears unexpectedly fell. I wiped them dry and quickened my pace, almost running, feeling exhausted but not in pain, leaning against a thick ginkgo tree, gasping heavily. I told myself: It will pass, it will definitely pass.
The potato chips we bought while watching a disc, preserved in the refrigerator, expired after two days. Our passionate intimacy, which I carefully preserved, expired in less than half a month. The memories we created are now kept only by me. How long until they expire? I hope not for a lifetime.
Of course, I miss him sometimes, especially wanting to see him. Whenever I can’t control myself, I go to the sterile laboratory to find him. Wearing a white coat, he stands by the wall looking at his phone, more serious than performing surgery.
“Senior,” I walked in, placing the chicken wings meal I made for him on the table. “I made this at the convenience store; try it!” He closed his phone and held it in his hand.
“Thank you!” I politely bowed and withdrew.
The grass doesn’t mind – whoever eats, eats; why not let familiar ones eat! They say money can make ghosts push millstones, but ghosts disagree – pushing millstones should be paid. Money given to ghosts doesn’t harm people, but giving it to people might. I wished everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, and I wish everyone happiness before, during, and after it!
In the blink of an eye, a month passed. I thought days without him would be unbearable, but life goes on, just with a longer, more exhausting journey home. At the start of the new semester, many international students left, and new people moved in. A young girl moved in upstairs from Ye Zhengchen’s place, with an elegant beauty and a subtle smile. Our first meeting was at midnight when I returned from the convenience store. She had her long black hair tied up, wore tight jeans and a white T-shirt, and greeted me with a polite smile. “Hello!”
I cautiously asked, “Chinese?” She nodded.
