short novel

Austin’s Angel

----------何兰

Content ....................................................................................... 错误！未定义书签。

1. Meet again in the suburb trail .................................................................................... 2 2.The first meeting ......................................................................................................... 4 3. Meet again .................................................................................................................. 4 4. Good news ................................................................................................................. 5 5. on the party ................................................................................................................ 6 6. Disasters after the happiness ...................................................................................... 7 7. His story ..................................................................................................................... 8 8. Sweet love .................................................................................................................. 9 9. My sky collapsed ..................................................................................................... 11 10. Rumor about him. .................................................................................................. 12 11. Reveal the truth and love came back again ............................................................ 13 12. Kevin and Austin.................................................................................................... 15 13. One special day ...................................................................................................... 17 14. on the operation...................................................................................................... 18 15. Recovery ................................................................................................................ 19 16. A sincere talk .......................................................................................................... 21 17. Wedding ................................................................................................................. 22 18. Reunion .................................................................................................................. 23

1. Meet again in the suburb trail

One day I went to remote suburb to have fun with my middle school classmates, Horsee, Tony, and Zathy. We talked happily along the road and totally lost myself in the nature. Horsee, 1.8 meter tall boy led the way, cause he was the bravest and adventurous one among us. The so-called gentlewoman Zathy, the rich second generation Tony and I followed him. Actually, I was obsessed with some personal problems for almost one year. This trip was made especially for me, and they tried to jolt me out of the nightmare and suffering. As we passed through a narrow trail with high trees along the roadsides, something that I had never imagined or just saw on TV happened. A dozen robbers, each with a dagger in hand, jumped out from behind the trees to coerce us into submission. Those gangsters were dressed up neatly in the black uniform and their face was veiled with the black cloth just like a beautiful woman in ancient times. We four were all at a loss. Horsee wanted to resist, but failed. Tony, whose father was the local millionaire, murmured nervously,” I plead you not, not to hurt me, my father will give you whatever you want as long as you keep me safe”. Zathy was too afraid that she could say nothing and she can’t help bursting into tears. I was more frightened by a pair of familiar eyes than the hideous robbers. How could I forget his look? I could even recognize him by hearing the sound of his footsteps, by smelling the scent of him. I felt so confused that I didn’t know what to do. To my surprise, the familiar boy approached to me step by step, which made me feel hard to breathe. He pretended to be rude and cold to me, but his action and eyesight betrayed him. He grasped me gently lest he hurt me. We kept our eyes on each other for a while when suddenly their Head’s crazy laughter woke me up. Not until then did I realize their purpose of kidnapping us—to blackmail our parents for money. As my friend Tony had a golden mountain, we were lucky to be their targets. They bound our hands with a rather thick rope, In case we ran away. They escorted us to the forests where there were only wild animals and plants. It was said that there were some ghosts haunting there so that no one dared to take risks to visit there. It was a safe place for them, wasn’t it? The familiar boy was responsible for sending me

all the way. I prepared to tumble myself down on purpose to see his response. He threw one of his arms in no time around my waists and we held in a handsome pose just like princess and prince in a fairy tale. My heart beat more quickly and I knew my love to him had never changed. It had rooted in my heart.

I stood on my feet as soon as possible. I couldn’t have controlling my feeling. I broke the quietness first.

Would you still want to be strange with me? I asked directly. He kept silent with a blank expression.

Maybe you didn’t realize that your response just now had betrayed you. Did you think I was fool enough to believe that a gangster could be so worried about me? You were a liar, as before, Austin.

Sorry, you made a mistake. I did not know the one you mentioned. He said in a magnetic voice.

You were him! Why were you with them? What happened to you？Was your girl friend with you? Please tell me, I beg you? You were not happy, were you?

The series of questions made him lose in deep depression, and his sad eyesight showed his sufferings. He choked and said” Don’t ask any questions. Your life will be better without me”. Later I would let you go at the right time and the right place.

I glanced at my three friends and said without hesitation that I wouldn’t go. This was one reason. Another was that destiny arranged our reunion; I thought I should grasp the opportunity. At least, I had the rights to know what happened to him.

Something is destined to be that, and we human can’t change it. He lowered his head and said hopelessly.

Horsee noticed my strange behavior with him. He guessed that I was bullied by the boy and got angry. He really cared about me and had been courting me for many years. He knew everything about me, including my relationship with Austin. But he was not so familiar with him as I was. He didn’t recognize him. In my heart, he was a considerate brother. Horsee shouted to the guy next to me “get away from her, you the son of bitch”. I gave him a look to stop him.

2.The first meeting

Austin and I were classmates in university. On the day for new students registering, we met each other. I felt in love with him at first sight. As my home was far away from the town, so I took a great number of daily necessities, the luggage, and the clothes for all year around. I used to be an independent girl and I liked to do something by myself, so I refused my parents’ offer for sending me there. I wore my back bag with some small things, like the washing necessities, stationery, needles and thread, headdress and decorations for girl. My left hand pulled the case full of clothes and my right hand was with my luggage. My admission letter dropped down from my pocket while I tried to avoid a galloping car towards me. “Are you ok?” A magnetic voice came into my ears.

“Yeah, yeah”, I answered,” just felt a little dizzy.” I bowed down to pick up the admission letter. He bowed down the same time by coincidence. Out of expectation, our head stroke with a bang and his slim hand touched mine. I withdrew my hands very quickly as if I was pierced by a needle. I turned back to hide my blushes. “I am sorry” he stumbled. He picked up the admission letter and handed to me with two hands.

I smiled and accepted it by saying” thank you”. He turned back and lost in the crowds. 3. Meet again

I never thought that we could meet again. Frightened by the flying car, I didn’t see him clearly that day but the very glimpse at him had left me deep impression. I am the kind of girl who lives in fairy world. I always dream that someday my Mr. Right will appear and change me from head to feet, from an ugly duck to a white swan as what happens in a foam play. I don’t know why this boy kept appearing in my mind and even in my dream. The night of the day I met him, I dreamed a sweet dream that he invited me to dance with him and we two became the focus of the party because of our excellent dance. All the people there remarked that we were born to be a pair. I

even knew that was not real in the dream, because I didn’t know how to dance at all. I have been eager for learning dancing a waltz since I was a child, but I never got the chance in my small village. Having arranged everything well, we were required to have a class meeting to introduce ourselves to our peer classmates. Some previous talks in the dorm had acquainted me with a few girls. I dressed a little and couldn’t help waiting to meet my classmates. The very step into our classroom shocked me, the guy who was sitting in the left front corner, wearing a suit of sports shirts and reading a sports magazine was him- the one that preoccupied my entire mind these days. I took a deep breath and went to him. He totally lost himself in the sports world and didn’t notice me. I coughed on purpose to attract his attention. It did work. He turned his eyesight from the interesting book to the ugly duck.

“Hi,” I smiled and fixed my eyes on the handsome, sunny, sporty boy as if I were afraid to miss any of his response.

“Hi, it is you, I have never thought we should be in the same class” he said. “Me too”.

Our teacher came in at the special moment with a name list in her hands. We all took the seat and I sat just behind him. We each gave a brief introduction of ourselves. I could hardly remember all the students, but almost every word he said was deep in my mind. Finally I knew that his name was Austin. He likes playing chess, singing, playing different kinds of musical instrument, climbing, and playing balls and so on. At the prospect that I could have class with him, I would feel hard to fall asleep. I spent another sleepless night like this. 4. Good news

One evening my roommate Alice rushed into our dorm out of breath. She said I had a good piece of news and a bad one. Which one do you want to hear first? Every time she got some news, she would show in such a hyperbole way. She was a nuisance because of her selfishness, her hot temper, especially her voice while talking to a boy. If she was born in times of war, whichever side with her would definitely

win, for her flirting voice could totally destroy opponents’ morale. Even the Emperor in the feudal dynasty will be lured by her charming voice. She was an absolute fox spirit of modern society. Nobody in our room liked to talk with her. Rachael, who was a kindhearted and considerate girl, was the only one who responded to her. This was often the case. “Good one first,” Rachael said. “The good news is, the good news is…” said Alice in a slow way. “Say quickly or never” shouted Catherine. “Our school finally would hold a dancing party on this Thursday, and the bad news was that we had physic class on that evening.” This was the only time that she brought us some meaningful news. We all shouted in high spirits. We could consult with the physical teacher to postpone the class to Friday night. “I won’t miss the party anyway.” Vera said. Then following a series of topics about the party, the dress, make-up, how to dance and so on. 5. on the party

Wangro, who was the most attractive girl in our school and was given a nickname A Flower, attended the party. There was no doubt she would be the focus of all the boys. Her beauty and charm were beyond description. Her beauty could shame the flower. In a word, she was perfect. She was invited to be the hostess of the party. Austin was granted the title- Talent. They two are really a match. The Talent appeared in a white western uniform. The scene was totally the same as that in my dream. He said hello to me, and passed by without a second look. He went straightly to the stage in the corner. The colorful lights started shining and sparkling, and from behind the scene came out an angel in a light pink dress with some glistening pearls on it. Her slender stature, her glowing face, her blond curled hairs, and beautiful high-heel of famous brand mixed to be a perfect lady, even more beautiful than a princess. I looked myself up and down. My dress was borrowed from Catherine, and I wore a pigtail just like a primary school student. If Wangro was the sun, I was not even a star. No wander, Austin chose her. Any man who was not blind would choose her, I murmured to myself. She announced that the party began. Then everyone lost themselves in the crazy night. This was the

first time that I had joined a party. I stood alone in the corner, and enjoyed their amazing dancing. Everything was the same as my dream except the princess. Their proficient dance, light and graceful steps and posture attracted nearly everyone’s attraction. I felt a knife was stabbing on my heart, and the blood dripped here and there. I was about to leave the world that didn’t belong to me. A familiar voice stopped me. “Would you like to dance with me?”. I was so amazed that I nearly slipped down. He grasped my waist at once. We looked at each other and smiled again. It seemed that my world came back. The moonlight was still so beautiful, the wind was so gentle. As I wished to dance with him even in a dream, I asked my best friend Vera to teach me how to dance a waltz the night before. She was a talent for dance and she could learn any kind of dance from the video. Sometimes, I could still stepped his feet. How I wish time could stop at that time! I felt safe and comfortable to be in his hum. The party was over and he offered to send me back to the dorm. We talked about our childhood, middle school life and those kinds of things. “This was the happiest night I had, thank you.” I said. “You know what, me too.” He replied. “ You are just like my sun and only with you can I feel the real happiness.” We said goodbye under the beautiful moonlight and shinning stars. 6. Disasters after the happiness

I didn’t know that I became all girls’ enemy since the unforgettable night. I became famous among the school over a night. I had never thought that one day I could be forced to be in so high profile. These crazy girls played all kinds of tricks on me. They hided my homework in the dust bin and they put the gum on my chair. What’s more, I was locked in the washing room by a unexpected girl, the Flower of our school, Wangro. Such an angel should be so evil in mind which proved that appearance was not always in proportion with inner heart. She shouted angrily at me” poor Angela, keep away from my Talent, my prince, or you know how difficult your school life will be. Tell you a secret, we were arranged to get married by our grandparents when we were a baby and sooner or later we would get married. Look at

yourself in the mirror, you can’t match him even a little finger. A little sparrow can never become a phoenix.” It was dark and I was trapped there alone. I tried to call my roommate to help me out of it, but my telephone was out of power. Sitting there in desperation and despair, I started my daydreaming. Fortunately, there were someone who really cared about me and I was never alone. My disappearance had worried my sisters Rachael, Vera and Catherine. They looked for me from all around the campus. They searched and shouted”Angela, Angela, where are you, can you hear me.” They rang Austin and told him my disappearance and what I had suffered these days because of his invitation for the dance. At short notice, he hurried there in a pair of blue slippers which looked very cute. Suddenly, he remembered someone. He flew to Wangro and asked directly” you did it, didn’t you? If you had some dissatisfaction, talk with me. It’s shameful for you to bully that innocent and pure girl. Tell me where her was and what you did to her. ” “you really cared for her? What if I told you I hided her and you could never find her?” Wangro said with a sneer. Austin was infuriated and could hardly control his temper. He shook Wangro rudely and shouted “where is she?” His action really scared her and she said unwillingly and fearfully” in the Lady’s room on the first floor.” He rushed there like a gust of wind. His magnetic voice came into my ears. At first I thought that must be my dream, so I pinched myself to see whether it was a dream. “Ouch!” The pain proved it was real. I answered in low voice” I am here, here, here.” He went in like a prince and held me in his arm. He took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. We were about to leave the disgusting place when I fell in a faint. Because I was caught in the damp place for a long time, I got a fever and a terrible cold. When I was awake the next morning, I was in our school clinic. It was the happiest thing to see the one you really like when you just open your eyes. Seated in the chair next to my bed, he fell asleep. 7. His story

A few days later, we started a real date. There was a heavy snow the night before, and the whole earth was dressed in white. We wandered hand in hand around the ground

where we left a lot of step prints in the two-inch deep snow, as we were the first crazy ones that had ever been there after the heavy snow. He stepped on the snow back and force, while he was telling his personal story to me. He even asked me to turn back for a while. Not until that time did I know his life and experience. Both of his parents died of a car accident, and they used their body to protect him so that he survived. He could never forget that day, and the suffering memory had haunted him since that accident, at which time he was only six years old. Until now he dare not sit in a car. He was born in a wealthy and happy family, but the disaster destroyed everything. The laughter totally disappeared with his parents in the family. Grandfather suffered most but he pretended to be brave enough to support the family. He was the Chairman of the board of Moron Company. All through his life, he was never defeated by any setbacks or failures. Actually he almost never failed. But losing his son and daughter-in-law really wrinkled his soul. His high spirit disappeared and his hairs turned white over a night. “I became the only successor that he could depend on. He took his career as his life or even more. But you knew that was not my dream, and I liked leisure and easeful life.” his story was over, and he approached at me and turned me back. What appeared in front of me was the most beautiful and moving picture I had ever seen- a picture made only by the foot prints on the snow. There was a big heart with words, including three syllables, and eight letters there. Tears were out of my control, he wrapped me in his arm and I tiptoed and kissed the lovely boy in front of me. With a thread of sunshine sprinkling on our face, we felt that the world only belonged to us two. Just as people said, in the world, you are only a person, but for one person, you are his or her world. 8. Sweet love

We announced our relationships to the public. Though I was envied and excluded by those boring girls, I felt safe and comfortable under his protection and guard. We went to the library together. He was a talent in physics and I was good at English. At the sea of knowledge, we helped each other. I liked reading English novels, such as

Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice. Each time I found some beautiful sentences, I would share with him. He was quite a romantic boy, and once he insisted on recommending me to read the short novel he had already read. I held the novel in my hand and was about to read it when some red circles with some words attracted me. I put them toghter, and that was “I love you forever”. He could always give me some surprise. On my birthday, we really had a great time. It was on Sunday, and we invited both his friends and mine. Out of expectation, this birthday party had built a bridge for my friend Catherine and his friend Jeremy. That was God’s arrangement, and that was their fates. I became kind of a matchmaker which was beyond my imagination. The exciting moment finally came, and my friends got together and sang the birthday song for me. I lightened the candles and closed my eyes to make a birthday wish. I opened my eyes and blew out the candles. Austin came to me with a beautifully wrapped present. On the wrapping paper, there were there obvious words and my name. “Here you are!” said Austin with a embrace. “Can I open it now?” I asked eagerly.

“Of course, any time you like”, he smiled again.

The moment I opened it, I was shocked. It was a squared photo album with the words ”to my dear’s 20s birthday”. This was not a simple album with some pictures. It was to some extent a DIY album. Everything happened to me in university was recorded by him. I have never realized that he had taken so many pictures for me. In each picture, I was laughing so happily and obviously he took the photos secretly. He pasted each picture on the special album and use colorful pens to write down the situation when the picture was taken and some detailed explanations. His skillful painting and his elegant writing found an ultimate expression in the album. I tried my best to hold back my tears, but still failed. Vera shouted “a lucky birthday kiss, please”. All the people there followed”kiss, kiss, kiss”. Austin said, “Happy Birthday, my lucky star”. He held me in his arm firmly and we kissed in the harmonious atmosphere. Austin’s birthday was eight days later, I prepared a special birthday present for him, too. I practiced speaking “happy birthday” in seven different language, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russia, French, Korean, German every day and

wanted to give him a surprise, too. We totally lost in the happiness and our sweety love, but… 9. My sky collapsed

Nearly a month later, one day, Austin hurried back home at short notice from his grandfather’s secretary. He only left a message to me saying that he had something important to do and he would be absent for a few days. I didn’t ask him the reason for I knew his disposition. If he wanted to say, he would tell me himself. As he promised, he came back a week later, but he had changed so much that I could hardly recognize him. He was indifferent to me and lost enthusiasm in everything except one thing -flirting with some frivolous girls. On his birthday, we planted two small pines in the garden of our school and we made up our mind to take good care of them and let it grow up quickly. I watered them everyday, but he seemed to have forgotten them together with me. I was so obsessed with his weird action and behavior that I could hardly concentrate on my study. My roommate Rachael advised me to talk with him, and it was my only choice at that time so I did. We went to our mutual heaven- the garden. We stood there mutely and silently. The falling Sakura spread on our face like the snow in the winter, which made me freeze.

Finally I broke the silence by saying, “you have changed, haven’t you? What’s wrong with us?”

“Nothing. If you can’t bear me, then break up with me. I am the kind of person who is good at making girl friends. Wangro was better than you in every aspect, her family position, her beauty, her high quality. Even a blind man could choose her instead of you.” He said coldly and without any seriousness. “You really mean it? If so, I quit.” I said in tears.

“Yes, from tomorrow on, I will go to America with Wangro to further our study. I had intended to tell everything. You happened to call me out.” He flirted with her hurting words.

I choke with sobs, and turned back to control my feelings. What I said to him at last

was far beyond my imagination. I have never thought that one day I could speak to the person I love with these words.

“So you mean you have never fallen in love with me, and I was just the same as those frivolous girls, and I should be grateful to your casual love, no, I prefer to call it affection. Do you think because I am poor, ordinary-looking, and in lower class, then I could be nothing for you? I tell you, you think wrong; I have as much soul as you. If god has gifted me much more beauty and wealth, I will make it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you.”

He was shocked by what I said. We kept silent for a few seconds, and then I turned back and went away without a look back. I was embarrassed by his words and really got hurt so that I neglected his sadness and sufferings. My impetuous action finally added a period to our romantic relationships. From that day on, he never appeared in my life until the accident. sometimes, I couldn’t help missing him and dialing his telephone numbers, but each time I would hear” sorry, the telephone you dial is busy”, which pierced me like a needle. 10. Rumor about him.

Life without him was like the severe winter without sun. Rumor spread quickly like the bird flu. Some said that he got engaged with Wangro, and some said that there was something wrong with his grandfather and his company. I tried every means to ask about him, but no one knew, including his best friend Jeremy. The Flower, Wangro also didn’t have any connection with her friends. I gradually believed that they two went abroad together, as I still remembered that Wangro said they two were arranged to be a pair by their grandparents when I was trapped in the lady’s room. But I could never forget him, his smile, facial expression, and his care for me, and his romantic actions, everything that related to us. Almost for a year did I live in severe pains, I knew I had to talk with him again but I had no opportunity at all. Horsee kept company with me through my painful period. He once said “Austin is not the only good man in the world, what he has brought you is only endless sufferings and pains,

if you are tired, my shoulder is here for you anytime, and only for you.” His feeling for me was far more than a friend. Whenever I was in trouble, he would call me and comfort me. When the temperature went down, he would send me a message to tell me to put on more clothes. He remembered whatever I said and did, such as my favorite food, my lucky color, my birthday. He is kind of a bosom friend for me, and he knew very well about me and could see through my ideas and thoughts. For example, he knew I didn’t eat celery and dumplings with meat in it. If front of him, I was free and at ease. But never did I have the feeling of love with him. He is more like a brother than a boy friend. I once tried to introduce him to my best friend Vera and hoped that they two could fall in love just like Catherine and Jeremy. Things were always not like what people wanted it to be. Sometimes I would feel guilty for refusing his pursuit, because he always took great care of me without consideration of the cost and consequence. To make me get rid of the sufferings, he arranged this trip. 11. Reveal the truth and love came back again

We were trapped in a cave and the familiar stranger came to offer us some meals. He went to me and said that his Head asked me out. I knew it was an excuse, but I followed his command. Out went us, I said:

“Austin, let me and my friends go away, and go with us.”

“I have told you that you mistaken me as him. My name is Kevin.” He said seriously. “Ok, whether you admit or not, would you like to escape with us?”

“No, I have no reason to go with you, but I would let you go. Don’t worry about your friend, and I will ensure their safety as long as their parents took money here.” He said without looking at me.

“If you were not him, why would you free me?” I said while looking into his eyes. “Because I felt familiar with you, to be with you may make me feel at ease and comfortable.” he answered naturally.

The words seemed familiar to me, for Austin once said the same thing.

“Ok, I am sorry for having mistaken you. You are similar to him in any aspects. I have

some words that I should tell him a year before but never did I have the chance. Could you do me a favour to pretend to be him for a moment? For the sake that I gave you the sense of familiarity.”

“Ok, say it.” He held me in his arm. “Regard me as him if you really want.” He said in a heavy sound.

“I love you, Austin. I know in your deep heart, you have the same feeling to me. I know losing you will be a lifelong regret. Once you said I was your sun, but it seemed that you are my sun. Without your protection and your love, I am freezing to death. Do you still remember the pines we have planted on your birthday? They had grown up under my painstaking care. That is our love, and it never changed. You must have some reason for saying so many harmful words to me. Whatever trouble you meet, I will be with you through thick and thin. I have been thinking that I would be brave and independent to face anything until I knew I might lose you forever.”

“You know what, I am kind of envious and jealous of that lucky guy,” said he while he helped me rub the tears away with his gentle slim hands. I took advantage of the occasion to grab his veil and took it away in no time. He stood there at a loss. I was too shocked to say a word. His appearance is identical to Austin except that there was a scar on his chin.

“You, you, you are the same as Austin. Tell me you are him, right?” I stumbled. “no, you have to prepare for what I am saying now. I know Austin and very well and saw your picture there. He and I are identical twins. I will tell you details later, but now you need to go to hospital right now. Austin is going on an operation two weeks later. If you really love him, you deserve to know everything. I will take you to him right now. You needn’t worry about your friends. I promise you they are safe.” We flied to the hospital and in the garden of the hospital sitting the real Austin in his wheel chair. Although he was not as enthusiastic and energetic as before, and he became very thin and in low spirits in the patients’ uniform, he was still the most charming and handsome one for me. He had never thought or prepared to meet me again although he was eager to see me the last time. “Why you don’t tell me?” I couldn’t control my tears.

“To make you suffer with me? I am sorry I can’t.”

“What the hell are you doing? Why you bring her here?” he shouted to Kevin. “I think you owe her an explanation. Such a silly girl was crazy for you. Without you, she will never regain his happiness, because she had left it in your heart. The same are you.” Kevin said calmly and went away.

“Let me be with you. You don’t know how much I love you. I could hardly live without you. For the whole year, I lived in our memory.” I said and embraced him and my tears wetted his shirts.

“You are a silly girl. To tell you the truth, my disease is incurable and I can’t give you the happiness I promised once. Your life will be better without me. ” his tears fell down while he was saying this. It was the first time I had seen him weeping.

“you can never push me away this time. I have the right to choose my life. I tell you I love you. I will never leave you, unless the sun never rises, the river stops running, the stone loses its edges and corners. Maybe you haven’t realized that you are my world.” He grabbed me in his arm and we kissed.

Kevin went to his Head and pleaded him to free all my friends. The Head regarded him as blood brother and approved his request. Thanks to Kevin’s help, my friend all went home safely. I pleaded them not to report what happened to the police and they agreed.

12. Kevin and Austin

School began. I would go to the hospital to accompany him after class. We took a walk in the garden and spoke of his twin brother.

“Kevin is a good man, a really good man. How could he become a robber?” I asked full of curiosity.

“We were identical twins, and that is why we look exactly the same. We were sent apart when we were born. Our mother can’t conceive because there was something wrong with her physiology. In order to have a baby, they hired a woman as the surrogate mother. Luckily she gave birth to twin brothers, and she took one of us

away with her and went away. Kevin is that boy with her.” He said sadly, “Kevin led a hard life with her. With no place to live, our physical mother was taken in by a butcher and later got married with the country folk. He never was a bachelor and treated our mother very well at first. But later he was addicted to drinking and each time he was drunk, he would be irritable and sometimes even beat Kevin. The scar on his face was made by his stepfather.”

“When did he come to find you? Did he tell you all these?”

“Yes. Two years ago, he was arrested by the police for kidnapping and blackmailing. The police investigated his family and knew his real identity. They announced my grandparents to vouch for him. My family didn’t know that I had a brother. His appearance convinced everyone.”

Why he went back to be a gangster? Your grandpa didn’t object that?

“He inherited grandpa’s stubbornness. Once he made a decision, no one can change it.”

I called Kevin the next day with the reason that I felt thankful for telling me everything about Austin and freeing my friends. Besides, I felt sorry for mistakening him as Austin. Actually I hoped that I could persuade him to give up his “job”. “I heard about your story,” I said.

“From Austin?” he sneered. “If you want to show sympathy for me, save it. `because I don’t need and never need.”

“I didn’t mean that,” I retorted quickly. “I am just curious why you preferred to be a gangster rather than a wealthy man. If you regard me as your friend, tell me.” “I never need a friend.” He said coldly.

“I know you are a kind-hearted guy, and I just wanted to help. You can’t live like that all your life. That will worry your grandpa and Austin. Austin was haunted by the disease, and your grandpa was also advanced in years. You need to shoulder the responsibility to support the family and the company.”

“soon after my mother’s death, I left my home and my drunkard stepfather. My Head adopted me and took me as his blood brother. He admired me for my special talents-remembering everything at a glance. Without him, I would be starved or

frozen to death. I couldn’t leave him now and I need to pay a debt of gratitude.” I never thought that my words should work out, but it did. Kevin started going to school and spared no efforts to study hard a week later. 13. One special day

Austin’s health became poorer day by day. Three days before his operation we both asked for a leave and went out to have a date. Different from our date before, this time we choose to go to the nature and feel the breath of nature instead of going to the theatre or an amusement park. We stepped back on the prairie hand in hand and sometimes we looked into each other and smiled. No matter what is behind us, we will grab each and go on together. I don’t know what our future will be, but I know every minute with him was bliss for me. We lay our back on the lawn and looked at the blue sky. I held his hands firmly and enjoyed everything in silence and stillness. He picked up some wild flowers for me and we two sang and danced in our heaven of peace and happiness.

“What if I left you for another world? Would you promise me that you would take care of yourself and refresh your life?” Austin said seriously.

“You will be always with me. You know what? you are here and forever here.” I pointed to my heart while saying. “Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Let’s cherish on the present.” I like the sentence “if you love a girl, it’s better to fight for her happiness than to abandon her for the sake of her happiness.” So try your best to live on, both for yourself and for me.

He smiled and held me firmly in his arm and said” I promise I will. You know what? Every time you come into my mind, I realize that I am smiling. I love you, my lucky star.”

We wandered back to my school, to our garden to see our pines. It was taller than me, and green leaves were swaying with the breeze, as if to say hello to us. This was the last destination for the date. He insisted to go back home for the last three days before his operation. He was afraid that he would never have the chance again. The doctor

said the success rate of operation was only 15 percent. Even if it succeeded, it only meant that he could linger out at most two years. I behaved very brave in front of him, but I couldn’t remember how many times I cried painfully in secret. At the prospect of his suffering from the sick disease, and that he pretended to be ok in front of me, I felt painful to death as if numerous ants crawled back and force in my head. I didn’t go to school these two days, cause I wanted to keep company with my prince to pass through the hard times. I came to his house to take care of him in a better way. His grandfather treated me better than before and was moved by our love. 14. on the operation

That day came finally. I got up early in the morning. Actually I didn’t fall asleep the whole night. I was obsessed by the operation. Everything for the operation was prepared well. He laid on the operation stand and was sent into the operation room. I kissed him on the head and said” you once said I was your lucky star. Promise me that you could pass through the operation successfully with my lucky kiss. I was out for you. You must wake up, or I will never forgive you. Austin, I love you.”

Austin was sent to the operation room. I kept my eye on him until the door was closed. Kevin and grandpa also waited outdoor with me. We waited worriedly and Kevin walked to and fro there. Grandfather sat on the bench motionlessly. I waited next to the door and prayed for him. I even felt hard to breathe. Four hours have past, but the operation was still going on. Every minute of waiting here was like a year for me. Finally, the doctor in charge came out with a smile on his face.

“The operation was very successful, and he will wake up later. You should be grateful to Wangro; the famous expert of human’s head.” The doctor said.

I was shocked by the name. A series of memories appeared in my mind. Is she the Flower in our school? While I was wondering whether this Wangro was the one I knew, she came to me and uncovered his face by taking the medical mask away. “haven’t seen you for a long time. I guess you haven’t forgotten me, have you? ” she said confidently. She was much more charming and beautiful than before. Her

glowing face added him the sense of confidence and maturity.

“Yes, Wangro, how can I forget you, a woman gentle enough to trap me in the lady’s room. Where have you been for the one and a half years? ” I asked directly.

“I went to America to dig into the study of tumour in head. Now I was an expert in this field. You should know the reason why I come back. I wanted to save the one I love so much.” She said in a proud way as if she was fully confident in winning back Austin’s love. To be frank, I was moved and surprised by what she did. In front of her, I still have the sense of inferiority. But this time I will never quit no matter what happened. I totally understood the sentence”Love is selfish”.

“Thank you for what you have done for Austin. If you asked me to kneel down for your help, I will do that. But don’t count on me to give up Austin for you. Let’s make a fair bet and ask Austin to make the choice. If he chooses you, I will disappear from you. If his choice was me, then you need to go away. Is that ok?” I stared at her eyes while saying this.

“Ok, that’s a deal. Three months limit.”

I flied to Austin’s ward and watched for him until he came to himself. I was too tired these days that I was bending over his bed and fell asleep. I held his hand firmly lest he leave me. He woke up and he tried to draw out his hand to wrap his coat on me, which made me awake suddenly. We stared at each other and smiled. 15. Recovery

His operation was really a success. He recovered very quickly. For the two weeks I have been taking care of him so that I didn’t have some connection with my friends. Much to my surprise, Catherine, Vera and Rachael and my middle school classmates came to visit Austin successively. They brought some flower and nutrition here with their blessings. Horsee’s coming was totally beyond my expectation. He was waiting for me although I have talked with him thoroughly. For him, my happiness outweighed everything. Although his friends have lost contacts with him for almost one and a half years, they came to see him almost everyday, telling him what

happened in the school. Friends are those people who care you all the time and never change. As the old saying goes” a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Sometimes, I congratulated myself on having so many bosom friends.

An unexpected visitor came with a banquet of red rose. She walked in beauty and she approached to the bed in a gentle way.

“I am glad you recover so well. In a few days you could stand on your feet and leave hospital. But do remember you should come to check every three days.” “Angela, would you allow me to talk with Wangro alone?” “Go ahead; I will go to get some food.” I said nervously.

I dragged my feet out absently and happened to meet my friend Tony, the wealthy boy. Much to my surprise, he and Zathy has fallen in love with each other. I was really too busy to care about my friends. He told me Zathy’s parents got devoiced because his father had an affair. His mother couldn’t tolerate his cheat so she tried killing herself by taking a handful of sleeping pills. Luckily, we found her in time so that she escaped death. We thought you were obsessed with Austin’s condition, so we didn’t mean to tell you lest you be too sad and tired. ” “Then, how is my aunt?”

“We are trying to calm her down and to enlighten her. She is pretty better now. by the way, how about Austin?”

“Oh, he is fine, thank you for your care.” I said.

Half an hour later, I saw Wangro running away in tears. I tried to stop her, but she ignored me. Back to the patient room, I kept silent and forced a smile. “You felt threatened, didn’t you?” he said with humor. “No, I didn’t,” I retorted.

“See who is the liar now.” He said while looking into my eyes. “Angela, I have told you many times that you were my only love. Neither the angels in heaven nor the demons in the hell can ever separate my soul from your soul. I just showed my indeed thanks to Wangro and what she had done for me. I love her, but it is the kind of love between brother and sister.” Austin said frankly.

“I could fully understand you. Wangro seemed heart-broken and sad when she fled

away.”

“Let’s pay more care to her in future to make up for her.” I held his hands firmly and smiled to each other. 16. A sincere talk

About half a month later, Austin could get out of bed and stand on his feet. He started regaining his strength and enthusiasm. We applied to leave hospital and were permitted. Many of our friends came to welcome us back home. Austin went back to school and there he still had a high position and was adored by various girls. Everything in the moment was perfect, but we both knew that he can’t walk with me until the end of my life. But one thing was sure that I could accompany him to the end of his. In his last two years, we learned to value and cherish each other much more. Sometimes I felt sufficient that I could be with him through his last two years, but at the prospect that I might lose him someday, I felt painful and heart-broken. We spent each day colorfully and energetically. One day, Austin dated me to a seaside in a rural area. He offered to go there by coach which was beyond my imagination. He once had told me his family’s tragedy and his extreme fear of taking a coach.

“I need to go out of my haunting memory. You are my sun and you can jolt me out of the nightmare.” He said with full faith.

I held his hands firmly and I could feel his hand shaking.

“Look at me, you can manage it.” He felt a little released. That’s the first time he took a coach.

We went to the seaside and enjoyed the beautiful landscape there. Not far from us, there was an old couple. I overheard their talking.

“My dear, today’s our golden wedding. Do you still remember our crazy love 50 years ago?” said the old woman.

“Of course, everything seems to happen yesterday. I still remembered when we just got married; you prepared a box lunch of love for me everyday. ”

“Yeah, you always thought high praise of my cooking skill and each time you would

eat up quickly. Until one day when I had a taste did I realize my excellent cooking skill.” “You said whatever food I made for you was the most delicious. I doubt how you ate up this food with strange taste.”

They said and laughed in the sunset. Their winkles were totally shown with their smile. The old woman leaned on his husband. They completely lost into their world. Austin and I sat there back to back. I guess he must have heard the old couples’ dialogues, too.

“Let’s get married? Would you like to marry me as your illegal wife?” I asked seriously.

He was shocked by words. “Are you crazy? I don’t have a future and you know that. I may never wake up someday. ” he said sadly.

“I am serious, Austin. If you love me, marry me. Even if your life had one day, one week, one month or one year, I would like to be your wife and to be with you every minute. You are my only lover of this life.”

“What if I left you alone? That isn’t a good idea. You are young, sunny, confident, and beautiful; you deserve to be loved by another gentleman. To end my life with your companion was my bliss. If there were future life, I will make up for your love.” “Don’t say that. I will plead grandfather to arrange our weddings.” I said determinedly. 17. Wedding

My friends and my family asked me to think twice of the wedding. They knew my personality that once I decide to do something, nobody and nothing could stop me. Several days before the wedding, we went to try on our wedding veil and western dress. We took many photos which had been my most precious fortune now. To look ourselves in the mirror, I felt pleased and happy. This scene has appeared in my dream many times. His health became poorer day by day. I advised to hold the wedding ceremony in advance in case that Austin’s poor health may not tolerate the wedding ceremony. The moment my father put my hands in Austin’s hand, I felt that I was the

luckiest person in the world. We changed our rings and our wedding oath of love. He helped me wear the ring with shaking hand. This was the eternal day in my life. That night I gave myself totally to him. The next morning, I woke up earlier than him. I touched his nose and looked at him without a blink. I didn’t want to get up; every moment with him was my bliss. The sun is rising high. I kissed him and got up to prepare our breakfast or called brunch. We decided to spend our honeymoon in Hawaii. The period of honeymoon was also my precious memory. Time flies. A week passed so quickly.

Two months later, one day we went out to fly a kite, by which time he was too week to walk. He sat in the wheelchair and I pushed him. The wind is so fierce that it blow off the string of the kite. And the kite flew away losing itself in the shadowy distance. I turned back, only to find that he had closed his eyes and had a sound sleep forever. There was a sweet smile on his pale face. I held his head in my arm and burst into tears. 18. Reunion

All my friends lived a happy life now. Tony and Zathy got married and soon another little life was coming to the world. Catherine and Jeremy set up a big company by themselves. Vera and Rachael had gone abroad to further their study. I heard Alice had got married with a rich man. Horsee was still single and he kept a place for me in his heart but I had no luckiness to take. Grandpa’s company was ran successfully by Kevin. He is now a charming gentleman now. Wangro and he had fallen into love. Life without him was like the severe winter without the sun. This time was different from last time because there was not a slightest hope that he could come back to me. I can no longer touch your face, but I can feel you in my inner heart.

One day I found a small notebook in his drawer with a code. I tried my birthday date and it opened. In it there was a Mp3, I turned on it and his magnetic voice came to my ears.

Today I received the result of my physical examination. I should have succumbed to

the incurable disease. I can’t hesitate to break up with Angela.

Today is the first day I leave you by saying some harmful words to push you away. I knew it was the only way to make you forget me and lead a happy life without me. Today is the second day after leaving you, I missed you so much but I couldn’t go to find you.

Today is the third day you left my world. I can’t help controlling my feeling. I went to school to see you secretly.

Today is the fourth day; I heard Horsee had been courting you. Why don’t you accept him? He could offer you what I can’t.

Today is the fifth day; I am crazy for missing you. But… …….

Last year’s today, I left your world. Haven't seen you for a long time. How are you now? You must be happy.

I heard his record again and again. A flood of tears can’t help falling down like a heavy rain which wetted my clothes. I went to his grave in my wedding and there I settled, my forever home, our forever Heaven. The place with you is my heaven. I love you, Austin.