On sunny high school afternoons, England met France, who was holding a French book, around the corner of the library. One crooked smile, and their story began.
They soon grew close to China, America, and Russia, and met the gentle UN and the steady WHO. The seven young people crowded into a bubble tea shop to chat. France stuck close to England, China was always laughing at America's jokes, and the UN and WHO quietly kept each other company. France, China, and the UN were the closest of all. The three girls linked arms, the brightest sight on campus.
The graduation bell rang, and their love found its place: England and France stayed by each other's side, America and China were devoted to each other, and WHO and the UN stood together. Even Russia went with them to the same university. On the tree-lined campus paths, the three couples were always side by side, their love unabashed, their days so gentle they hardly seemed real.
They thought it would last forever, but fate was cruel. Several years after graduating from university, France suddenly fell gravely ill. She couldn't make it through autumn and died forever in England's arms.
China held France's belongings and cried for a long time. Before long, her own health began to fail. One day, she coughed so hard she could barely breathe, blood staining her handkerchief. America panicked, but in the end couldn't keep her there. On the day China died, even the wind seemed to weep.
Of the seven who had once been so lively, only WHO and the UN remained. Everyone called them the last happy couple, but only they knew how terrifyingly empty that happiness was. WHO buried himself in work and came home only late at night. The UN traveled constantly, turning home into a brief stopover. Beneath the same roof, they had nothing to say to each other. They were like strangers who knew each other too well: no arguments, no warmth, only endless loneliness.
In the dead of night, time whispered softly in their ears.
If only they could turn back time, return to high school, where the cicadas never stopped singing, where there was no illness or parting, and they were still laughing, loving, and staying by one another's side. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
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