I ran out of inspiration, so I turned it into a short story.
Blurb:
He is an upright, jade-like heir to a noble family, aloof and self-possessed, disciplined and courteous. He has only one close friend in his life, a friend with whom he would share any danger.
She is the wife his friend has just married, gentle and radiant like a crabapple blossom on a branch. He ought to keep his distance, yet one glance at her pierces his heart.
Not long afterward, fate plays a cruel trick: his friend dies suddenly.
Rain beats against the window at night. She kneels before the Buddha, clutching her late husband's memorial tablet, her dark hair loose and tears still on her cheeks. He stands with an umbrella, the shadow beneath the eaves covering half his face. His voice is low and hoarse: "Sister-in-law, please accept my condolences."
But later, amid the incense curling through the Buddhist hall, he grips her wrist. "Sister-in-law, if he were still alive... I still wouldn't let you go."
#A gentleman's friendship keeps to propriety; the one you love destroys your sense of duty.#
Theme: None for now
