"Promise, there's a word called fate." "I never really understood it before." "But now I get it." "I think you and Evie are destined for each other." The mirror replied without mercy.
"I know." Promise answered faintly.
"Evie is married now." "No matter how much you used to like her, you can only let go." "Besides, she's Mrs. Sterling now." "Alexander can't make her have second thoughts."
"Mirror, you misunderstood me." "I wasn't planning anything." "Evie is happy." "I'm happy for her." "Yes, I have some regrets." "But I can't change anything." "I'm in a bad mood tonight, but not because I want to fight for anything." "Some things just take time to let go of." Promise said slowly.
The mirror looked at him. After a long silence, she spoke. "I'm sorry." "I misunderstood you just now."
"It's okay." "I know you care about me." "Mirror, I know everything you've done for me over the years." "But there are some things I might never be able to repay you for." Promise turned to face her.
"I never asked for anything in return." The mirror avoided his gaze. She stared into the distance and replied quietly.
"Mirror, you deserve someone better." "Don't waste your time on me." Promise finally said.
"That's my business." "It has nothing to do with you." "Stay out of it." The mirror answered angrily.
Promise gave a bitter smile. He said nothing more.
But the mirror felt her heart fall to the ground. It shattered with a crack. Like an egg dropped on the floor.
She had just sharpened her sword. She hadn't even started to strike yet.
And now Promise had poured a bucket of cold water on her. He told her they were impossible.
Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this.
"Where exactly am I worse than Evie?" The mirror finally asked.
"Mirror, you're not worse than Evie in any way." "You're more independent." "Braver." "More lively." "More optimistic." "But feelings don't follow rules." "Sometimes there's no reason." "Even if she has a thousand flaws, I still like her." "It's like an addiction." "Sometimes you know you have to stop." "But you can't." "Aren't you the same?" "There must be many people better than me around you." "Why do you cling to me?" Promise finally turned to look at her.
"Maybe I just can't stand not getting what I want." "Maybe if I got it, I wouldn't care anymore." The mirror wiped away her tears. She lifted her chin proudly.
Promise looked at her with a smile.
She was still that brave, crying little girl.
If he had liked her instead, maybe things would be perfect now.
But love was just love.
The two of them sat in the small park. Deep into the night. Promise finally walked Mirror back.
"How are you getting home?" The mirror asked.
"Taxi." "Are you afraid I'll get lost?"
"I don't have a driver." "I can't let my driver take you back." "But if you had a car, you could drive yourself."
"Forget it." "I drank a lot tonight." Promise smiled.
"Oh, forget it." "I'll take you back."
"You drank a lot too." "Don't worry." "I'm a grown man." "I'll call you when I get home." "Forget what happened tonight."
"What happened tonight?" Promise asked with a smile.
The mirror looked at him. After a long time, she laughed too.
It was a silent agreement.
"Take care." "Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Promise watched Mirror enter the house. Then he turned and walked toward the community gate.
After entering the house, Mirror went to the window. She watched Promise's back. The streetlight lengthened his shadow. Then shortened it. The only thing that didn't change was his loneliness.
Each of us writes our own feelings in someone else's story.
Evie came out of the bathroom after her bath. Alexander looked at her with a smile.
Evie pretended not to see him. She walked to the other side of the bed. Lifted the covers. And got in.
"Angry?" Alexander asked.
"No." Evie answered angrily.
"Your mouth is pouting like you're hanging an oil bottle." "That's not angry?" "Don't you want me to let you write a review?" Alexander asked.
"I don't think I'm wrong." "I don't need to write a review."
"I don't see this as a review." "It's full of accusations against me." Alexander held up the paper in his hand and smiled.
"Hmph." "You only allow officials to set fires." "But you forbid the people to light lamps." "Why do I have to write a review and you don't?" "It's all in the past." Evie turned to one side.
"Because I'm jealous." Alexander said.
Evie froze for a moment. She thought she heard wrong. She turned her head to look at him.
"What can I do?" "Your husband is getting old." "I see you looking at young fresh meat." "My heart can't take it." Alexander put his hands behind his head and sighed.
"What?" "You're not old." "Besides, it was all in middle school." "You still care about that?" "He doesn't even care about you." Evie retorted.
"So you still care about my past?"
"No." Evie lowered her head and shook it. "I'm not as stingy as you are."
Alexander laughed. "It doesn't matter if you mind sometimes." "At least it means you still care about me."
"I'm not as naive as you." "I'm going to sleep." "I don't want to talk to you anymore."
"I want to sleep too." Alexander said. He put the papers on the bedside table. Turned off the light. And hugged her. After a long time, he spoke.
"Don't touch me." "I'm still angry."
"Didn't you just say you weren't angry?"
"I changed my mind."
"Then wait until tomorrow." "Be angry then." "Rest now." "Or you won't sleep well." "And you'll be uncomfortable tomorrow."
"No." "Every time, you end up angry."
"Okay, okay." "It's all my fault." "I promise to apologize to you myself."
"It's your fault." "Don't..."
Refusal was useless.
In the end, it didn't matter whose fault it was. The important thing was that both of them forgot what they were angry about.
When they woke up in the morning, the unpleasantness of last night was gone. They were still in a sunny mood.
After washing up, Evie walked out of the bedroom. She heard herself say, "Alexander, it's a beautiful day today."
"It's perfect for drying quilts." Alexander came over, took a look, and said.
"Can't you be a little more poetic?" Evie said with a mix of tears and laughter.
"Well." "Father Sun is in a good mood today." "The weather is very clear." "We'd better wear less clothes and go out less." "Or we'll get roasted." Alexander said.
Evie laughed. Alexander could be humorous sometimes.