The Seventh Photograph

As a student, Ji Zhuyin treasured seven special photos. She took great care of them, replacing their protective sleeves again and again, but in the end, it had all been for nothing.

When you're young, you always think there'll be another chance. You keep compromising with yourself, time after time. But once you finally reach the place you wanted to be, and find the courage to look back, you realize he's long since gone.

The first photo was of their shadows on the first time they walked home together. She had secretly taken it: in the dark, I spread my arms and embraced his shadow.

In the second, they were posing beside a snowman. She cropped out everyone else, leaving only herself and Chen Qu'nian. It was also their first official photo together. The third was taken by Le Tang when they set off fireworks by the river on New Year's Eve. In that photo, Chen Qu'nian was looking at her.

The fourth was a photo together beneath the golden rain tree at the coming-of-age ceremony.

The fifth was taken on her birthday, the first time she had asked to take a photo together. Chen Qu'nian looked so handsome smiling in it.

The sixth was taken at a French restaurant on New Year's Eve. She made a V sign, while Chen Qu'nian held up three fingers.

The seventh was taken by the river on New Year's Eve, with both of them wearing matching black down jackets.

When she bought the album, Ji Zhuyin had deliberately chosen one with lots of pages. She wrote the letter N on the cover with a marker. The future stretched far ahead, and she looked forward to their next photo, and all the many, many photos after that.

But in the seventh year of loving him, she was ready to give up.

Seven years was long enough for my youth to pass without me ever getting to embrace you.

Seven years was also short enough for me to forget everything in a few seconds and shut myself away from the world.