Already Past the River of Forgetfulness

He simply waited there, turning back to look at her from time to time. Then, when she finally woke, he smiled at her, watching her rare, confused, at-a-loss expression.

“From now on, look at me when you speak,” he said calmly. “Because I can’t hear you.”

In her dream, she saw herself running across a lush green lawn. Beneath a tree on the far side, a boy reading a book suddenly looked up at her, smiled warmly, and called out, “Xiaochu.”