Thoughts of Yan, Never Forgotten

On a rainy night seven years ago, I was excited to pick him up after work. I hid in the emergency stairwell ahead of time, ready to surprise him, only to hear someone ask, “Dr. Yan, have you finally stopped pining for your old flame?” The man's long, slender fingers turned the pages of the medical file. Without even looking up, he said, “She's just a kid. I was only having fun.” Those eight words shattered me completely. The emergency stairwell was terrifyingly quiet. I could even hear my own trembling sobs... My family couldn't bear to see me so heartbroken, so they arranged a visa and sent me abroad. I dug in my heels, but we reached an impasse. I packed my bags and ran off overseas...