Snow on the Pruned Branches

It’s snowing again. Thick snow weighs down the branches, which look ready to snap.

This is the twenty-fifth year since I married Shen Yu. I’ve seen snow like this for twenty-five years.

Last time, I gave Shen Yu a thorough scolding. He took the hint and finally stopped bothering me. It’s been much more peaceful since.

He no longer shows up in front of me openly. Sometimes I catch sight of him by chance, but I pretend I haven’t seen him.

A little while ago, Su Zhi asked me what I wanted. Looking at her young face, I thought of the fleeting years I’d spent here.

I told her I wanted to go home.

In a daze, I saw something that couldn’t possibly be real.

The sunlight was strong today, glaringly bright. It was especially blinding on the snow, which glittered even more brilliantly. My vision blurred.

White snow fell everywhere, on my face and my body. Gradually, I could no longer see clearly.

Somehow, Shen Yu’s hair had become whiter than the snow. This time I didn’t push him away. I couldn’t push him away anymore.