On the morning of the winter solstice, Leng woke up from the noisy alarm and reluctantly walked to the bathroom mirror, then plunged under the faucet and took a deep shower. When a wave of winter coldness slid down the base of his ears, he felt an unprecedented sense of clarity. He knew clearly that these days would be over in a few months, and he needed to persevere, especially when he wanted to give up.