A Mistake in the Flower Fields

I don’t know when I first met him. After all, it’s asking a lot for a baby who wasn’t even a month old to remember. The first word I ever said was “Tong.” He’s been there for as long as I can remember. Before I even knew what a bride was, I swore I’d marry him someday. Before I knew what love was, I stole his first kiss. He was so handsome and clever. When we played make-believe as children, he was always the prince and I was the princess. We both wore three stripes on our sleeves. We tied for first place on every exam. We dressed up like well-behaved children and went hand in hand to banquets. As we grew older, we stood shoulder to shoulder in the middle of the school auditorium, playing the golden boy and girl as we recited poetry or accepted awards. We rode the same bicycle to school, year after year, come rain or shine. We fought, too. I’d tear up the love letters other people wrote to him right in front of them, and he’d throw away the roses in my desk without a second thought. I loved him, and he loved me. Those were such wonderful days. But then, Tong, you said you were sorry. You told me to forget it. Tong, look me in the eye. Do you really want me to forget? Do you really want to forget? P.S. This was my first story. At the time, I only wrote it to express a certain emotion. Looking back, it has more than its share of major and minor flaws... I hope you’ll be forgiving! And this story really is full of cringe, melodrama, and childishness. Don’t believe me? I mean it. I’m completely serious. I can’t even bear to read it. Do you dare? Really? You said you did, so don’t come after me if it hurts! P.P.S. Completed story: It’s about a beautiful, sultry woman (obviously), ambitious, carefree, coldhearted, stubborn, not exactly reasonable, and best at playing the helpless, coquettish damsel, with a somewhat complicated background... and a group of imposing men... Well, it’s a completely different kind of story. New story: Back then, the words that best described Qiao Luo were probably: Proud, pretty, spirited, clever, lucky, blessed with smooth sailing, haughty, and poised. Now, now she drifts among the crowds, her features blurred beyond recognition. Theme: