Some say love happens in an instant, as brief as spectacular fireworks.
She had never felt it, not until her story went off course and began.
He was her fiance's younger brother.
They only ever met during the day.
Like a daylily, blooming at dawn and fading at dusk.
Until the day the Zhu family held a banquet.
Fireworks filled the night sky. She went out onto an empty balcony for some air.
Her gaze was drawn to two figures kissing passionately beneath the camphor tree downstairs.
That was the first time she saw her fiance Zhu Wenhuai for who he really was.
She didn't know when he had come to stand beside her.
His clear voice had grown deep and rich in the night. He turned her gaze away.
"Your eyes are so beautiful. You should spend more time looking at beautiful things..."
"Like the fireworks in the sky."
She followed his voice and looked up, the dazzling display she had missed reflected in her eyes.
The instant the fireworks bloomed, he lowered his head and kissed her.
-
By the camphor tree, on the balcony, four people.
The forbidden desire slowly spread deeper between their gasps.
"You saw them. You're free now, so I ran to you."
-2022.8.9
·
Theme: Freedom and love.
