Turn and Walk Away

When I was 27, Grandma was in the hospital, with her life nearing its end. She was old-fashioned and regretted that I hadn’t gotten married. To let her leave in peace, I worked up the courage to find Xiang Heng. I asked him if he would marry me. He looked at me as if I were a joke and sneered, “Do you hear yourself?” “Fine. I understand.” I turned and walked away. The next day, I went to register my marriage with someone else.