Gazing at Each Other in Winter

They met in winter. He found her, a tiny girl, inside a garbage bag. She was well-behaved at home, never making a fuss, and rarely spoke, almost like she was mute. She followed her big brother to and from school, an invisible little shadow. In the end, they fell in love in a shabby rented room, but never spoke of it, keeping their feelings hidden in their hearts. Later, he fell ill. It was terminal. Inside the cake for her coming-of-age ceremony, there was a note.

It read:

“Zhixi, your big brother won’t marry. He’ll stay by your side forever.”

On the inside of a custom-made ring, a line was engraved:

“Wear it, and it’s as if you’ve married me.”

The room was filled with nothing but sobs and cries.