To Spring Mountain

They had been apart for five years, imagining countless ways they might meet again, but neither expected to run into the other in a hotel lobby. Awkward memories of their previous time at the hotel came flooding back, along with recollections of their youth.

They had grown up together, but were only ever friends. She watched him get together with one girl after another, trying to fill his emptiness with desire, until he gradually changed. When she finally prepared to leave, he began trying to make her stay.

At sunset, she spoke of the spring mountain they had missed. He tried to win her back, but heard her say, “But it's still summer.” How could summer have the beauty of spring? The spring flowers had already fallen, and it seemed they would never make it to another spring.