She lay quietly in his arms, nothing like her usual self. The stars filled her eyes as she asked him weakly, "When will you have to leave?" He said nothing. He looked at their clasped hands, nearly transparent, then at her, as if she might vanish like smoke if he looked away for even a moment. She asked again, "Why won't you say anything? Come on, tell me: have my three souls dispersed, or have my seven spirits returned to the void?" He laughed. "Why think like that? Nothing will happen. You'll be fine tomorrow, and you'll always be fine." Reassured, she fell asleep, her eyes closing on a sky full of stars and his smiling face. He closed his eyes in peace, and in that instant, all he saw was the blue smoke drifting away.
Written by Huan Ling, illustrated by Yue Moxuan (if she hasn't forgotten, and if I can get in touch with her...)
