Friends

Shun held tightly onto Mei's hand, reluctant to let go. "Why'd you do that?" he asked with both surprise and annoyance as the doors to the elevator closed. "You didn't need to talk to them. You don't owe anyone an explanation".

"But I do", Mei said. "I owe you one, and since you refused to hear me out, I decided to tell them. At least this way the rumours I left behind will begin to disappear and they won't burden you anymore. It's important for us to clear some things up and let bygones be bygones. That way we can both move on with our lives".

Shun's hand automatically tightened around Mei's as she uttered those words. "Move on?" he asked.

"Look, I will admit that I was shocked by your sudden appearance in France and the news of your engagement", Mei said, and before Shun could interrupt she continued. "I had a lot of anger and regret about how things ended up between us. But I thought about that last night and I realise that it's time for me to let go. And I'm hoping you will too. For the remaining time that I'm here, can we not just forget the past and be civil to one another? For your grandma's sake. Who knows, we may even be able to part this time as friends".

"You want to be friends?" Shun asked completely taken aback. He wasn't used to this Mei. She was almost too calm and logical as she spoke to him. Cold almost, as if she was putting up a final barrier between them. "I don't want to be your friend", he said. But before he could say anything more the elevator door opened and Mei retrieved her hand from his.

"Then at least let's be civil", she said stepping out into the hallway of the private ward and turning around to wait for Shun to show her the way.

When Mei walked into Grandma Li's room and saw her for the first time her heart cried out in pain. There was a clamp on her finger and a tube coming out of her nose and another one lodged in her arm. "Grandmama!" she gasped at the injustice of it all. "What have you done to yourself?" she ran to her side and took Grandma Li's hand in hers.

The old woman opened her eyes to the sound of Mei's voice and smiled weakly as she turned towards her. "You finally came", she croaked before looking up to see Shun standing behind Mei. "It makes my heart so happy to see you both together again. I would die peacefully if I knew you would remain that way".

Mei's eyes flicked straight to Shun's before she shook her head. "Grandmama … Shun and I … we're …" she started to say, but was stopped by Shun's firm grip on her shoulder.

Grandma Li looked at Mei with sad eyes. "I know he doesn't deserve you Mei", she said sorrowfully. "But the foolish boy needs you. Can't you love him again?"

"And you", she continued looking towards Shun her breath getting shorter. "You're a good man. You would have no one but her. Why have you never told her that? Why can't you tell her how much you love her?" she suddenly rasped for air before slowly closing her eyes.

Mei looked around the room in a panic. Was she dead? "Get a doctor!" she said to Shun as she tried to make sense of the beeping monitors surrounding Grandma Li.

"It's okay", Shun said taking Grandma Li's hand from Mei and placing it gently by her side. "The monitors are beeping steadily. She's just sleeping", he said taking Mei by her hand and leading her out into the hallway.

"I'm sorry, I panicked", Mei told Shun as she leaned against the wall next to the room and closed her eyes. "I've just never seen Grandma Li in such a bad state before. It took me by surprise. She has always been so strong".

"It took us all by surprise", Shun said solemnly before glaring at Mei with annoyance. "Look if Grandma Li thinks there's a chance for us to get back together you will not counter her notion".

Mei opened her eyes and looked at Shun. "Of course, not", she said softly. "If it can help her feel better to think that we might have a chance then we won't destroy her hope", she said pushing herself off the wall and looking through the door window at the sleeping woman. "She was there for me when I needed someone the most, and I will be there for her whether she lives … or dies", her voice broke.

Shun ran his hand through his hair as he stood behind Mei. Seeing his grandmother in such a state was bad enough. But seeing Mei and how badly she was taking this hurt him just as much. He knew he no longer had the right to comfort her. But he didn't care. He stepped closer to Mei and wrapped his arms around her.

"Friends comfort each other at times like this, don't they? Let's be friends", he said as he felt Mei stiffen in his embrace.

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