10

In Chen Xia's room, Mrs. Chen was kneeling on the carpet next to the closet. 

"Xiaxia... please be reasonable. This was not an easy decision for Yang Qiu to make, and I know you understand that. Your behavior will only make him feel worse, and I'm sure that's the last thing you would want..." Mrs. Chen knew her son understood. 

Chen Xia stayed silent. 

"Xiaxia-"

"I KNOW! I just... I don't want him to leave," Chen Xia whispered, as if he was ashamed of himself. 

"I understand that. We will all miss him."

"No, you don't understand! Gege is my best friend, and he so important to me... I don't want to go to school and livewithout him. I need him! I'm going to be so lonely…" Chen Xia was truly devastated. His tears started flowing, and Mrs. Chen could hear him sniffling. 

"You know all the kids in the town… you can always make friends with them too," Mrs. Che suggested.

"I don't want to! Yang Qiu is enough; he's the only friend I have and the only one I need. We've done everything together… how are we supposed to be separated now?" Chen Xia began to cry.

Just then, Yang Qiu carefully walked in.

"Oh, Yang Qiu, Xiaxia is just a bit shocked... don't worry about it." Mrs. Chen explained. Despite Chen Xia's tantrum, Mrs. Chen knew that the boys would not truly fall out of their friendship. 

"Um Mrs. Chen, can I talk to Xiaxia alone for a little?" Yang Qiu wanted to explain himself to Chen Xia so that he would not have to leave on an uncomfortable note. 

"Of course you can. Xiaxia, please put yourself in Yang Qiu's shoes, okay?" Mrs. Chen got up, smiled at Yang Qiu, and left the room. 

After Mrs. Chen was gone, Yang Qiu slowly walked into Chen Xia's room at stood facing the closet door. 

"Xiaxia… I'm sorry." 

​Chen Xia sniffed quietly in the closet.

"... I am still unsure of myself... I really don't want to leave... but it's my dad after all. I really can't just leave him there all alone..." Yang Qiu felt a bit awkward laying out his thoughts but decided it was necessary to communicate these feelings. 

Chen Xia sniffed a little more.

"I'm sorry that I'm going to leave you here... and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier…" Yang Qiu truly regretted not sharing his decision earlier. It was all too sudden, revealing everything at the last second. 

A moment of silence.

"Xiaxia… I'm really so-"

"WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING SORRY? It's not even your fault!" Chen Xia finally couldn't stand it anymore. 

He pushed open the closet door and stood face-to-face with Yang Qiu. His tears started pouring out from frustration. Chen Xia was upset with himself for reacting in such an immature way, but also upset that Yang Qiu had hidden such big news from him. 

Yang Qiu looked at him, dumbfounded. 

"Why should you be sorry! It's only natural that you should take care of your dad when he is unwell. I'm the one being selfish. Why aren't you mad at me for being so immature?" Chen Xia broke down, not really knowing what he was saying. 

Chen Xia felt an overflow of emotions and was unable to contain them all. He lowered his eyes to wipe at the tears flowing out. 

Feeling extremely saddened and guilty at the sight, Yang Qiu wrapped his arms around Chen Xia in an attempt to comfort him. 

"How could I be mad at you?" Yang Qiu was shocked that Chen Xia even began to think this way about himself. 

Chen Xia buried his face into Yang Qiu's shoulder, shaking from the efforts to stop his tears. 

"Just stop apologizing." Chen Xia couldn't bear to see Yang Qiu so apologetic towards him.

"I'm so-… Okay. I won't do it anymore, so you don't need to cry. It's not like I'll never come back…"

Chen Xia continued shaking in Yang Qiu's arms. It was only after Chen Xia's breathing became stable that the two boys let go of each other. 

"While I was talking to mom... how much did you hear?" Chen Xia asked quietly as the two sat side by side on the ground by the bed.

"I didn't hear anything." Yang Qiu indeed did not hear any of their conversation.

"You better not be lying..." Chen Xia was doubtful. 

"Why? Did you say something embarrassing?" Yang Qiu teased.

"No! Why would you think that..." Chen Xia's face turned red.

Yang Qiu laughed a little. Xiaxia, you definitely did! 

After Yang Qiu stopped laughing, the two fell into silence. 

Yang Qiu lowered his head a little.

"I'm going to miss you a lot, Xiaxia," Yang Qiu whispered, feeling rather vulnerable.

"You'd better contact us all the time, otherwise I'll kill you!" Chen Xia responded energetically, trying his best to mask his lingering sadness.

"That's harsh!" Yang Qiu smiled at Chen Xia's threat.

"I'm being serious." Chen Xia frowned at Yang Qiu's reaction.

"I believe you."

​The next morning Chen Xia's family stood, waiting at the old bus stop with Yang Qiu. Though the morning air was chilly, the summer heat would soon push it away, taking over with radiatingsunlight.

"Thank you for everything Mr. and Mrs. Chen," Yang Qiu said, thinking about all the care they had shown him over the years, as well as their continued support now. 

"Yang Qiu, you've done so much for us as well. You've been a better friend for our Xiaxia than we could have ever hoped for. We are very grateful for you as well," Mrs. Chen responded.

"Yeah, buddy. We're all gonna miss you. Stay safe and take care of yourself well in the city!" Mr. Chen was a bit sad to see Yang Qiu go. 

"Remember what you promised, Gege! I was being serious!" Chen Xia reminded, clearly trying very hard to hold back tears.

"I'm going to miss you guys a lot too… but don't worry. No matter what, I will come back." Yang Qiu was trying not to cry as well. The weight of his decision was finally setting in. 

"You'd better!" Chen Xia responded earnestly. 

The bus arrived noisily and braked to a stop in front of the Chen family and Yang Qiu. 

Yang Qiu got on with his luggage, which consisted of a single suitcase, a backpack, and the teddy bear from long ago. He sat down by a window, and as the bus rolled away, he watched the Chen family's figures fading away into the distance. 

Chen Xia's tears started to roll down. 

"Oh, honey." Mrs. Chen pulled Chen Xia into a hug. She was just as sad to see Yang Qiu go, but she knew he would uphold his promise. Yang Qiu would come back. 

After arriving in the city

Carrying his luggage, Yang Qiu walked in the hospital doors. He got in line at the reception desk. The line was not very long, and after a few minutes he was able to speak to the lady sitting at the desk.

"Good afternoon, what can I help you with?" The lady had a friendly smile despite tired eyes.

"I was informed of my dad's accident a few days ago, and I am here to visit him." Yang Qiu told the receptionist about the details of the phone call he had received.

After speaking with the receptionist, a nurse led Yang Qiu down a long, clean hallway to a small room. Inside was a hospital bed, as well as a desk and a chair. The window allowed for warm rays of sun to shine in, casting shadows towards Yang Qiu.

The nurse instructed him to put his items down in a corner of the room, then led Yang Qiu to the bedside.

"He woke up a couple days ago, but he is sleeping now. He is stable, but recovery will take a while. Try not to disturb him; he needs ample rest for a speedy recovery." The nurse spoke briefly.

After informing Yang Qiu of everything he needed to know, the nurse left the room. 

Yang Qiu sat down quietly and looked at his dad lying amidst the white blankets and pillows. It had been a while since he last saw his face in real life.

Not knowing what to do, Yang Qiu looked to his bags. … Maybe I'll call Chen Xia to let him know I arrived… Yang Qiu was about to go look for a phone before he realized something. He did not know the Chen family's phone number. He rarely needed to call them, considering how often he was physically there. 

He had the number written down on a slip of paper,which he kept on his desk, but he had not memorized it. How could I forget to bring it? What do I do now… 

Yang Qiu sighed. I guess I'll write him a letter and ask for his telephone number… how embarrassing. Yang Qiu was a bit hesitant. Oh whatever. It would be nice to be able to call Xiaxia. Hopefully this letter will arrive without trouble. Xiaxia can keep the stamp as a souvenir as well…

Yang Qiu looked around and found a piece of paper. He began writing.

A while later, Mr. Yang woke up. Noticing this, Yang Qiu put down his pen, folded up his paper, and carefully put it into his bag for later.

"Hey… dad." Yang Qiu turned towards the bed.

"Son?" Mr. Yang was still a bit muddled from having just woken up.

"Yeah, it's me."

"How… How did you get here?" Seeing his son made Mr. Yang lose any remaining confusion as it was replaced with shock. 

"I got a call from the hospital about your accident… and I came see if you were okay."

​"Oh… Thanks, son. I'm fine, though…" That was partially a lie. The accident was serious, but Mr. Yang didn't feel the need for Yang Qiu to personally come so far just to check in on him. He felt as if their roles were reversed. 

"Um… I was told that your injuries were not light, so I've decided to stay with you until you're better. I'll be here to help you whenever you need it."

Mr. Yang fell into a profound state of mind. He was at the same time extremely grateful for Yang Qiu's care, shocked that he actually chose to come, as well assaddened by how weak he felt in front of his own child. He sighed to himself.

"You really don't have to… I can take care of myself. You still have to go to school, and it'd probably be awkward to live with me… this is too much change; too much for you to sacrifice." Mr. Yang couldn't hide his apprehension for a future with such drastic changes from before. 

"Even though we don't have a typical family, you are still my dad. I have already decided to come and stay. I can go to school here; this was something I thought through a lot. We'll figure things out, I'm sure. But I'm staying until you're better, so please just accept my help. I'm still your son, even if it doesn't feel that way…" Yang Qiu's whispered the last sentence, his voice barely audible.

Mr. Yang was quiet for a moment. He felt many complicated emotions. He knew both of them would be uncomfortable, especially at first. That was inevitable. But he also selfishly wanted to take this opportunity to recover their relationship, so that maybe his regrets would be lessened.

"Son, you really are too kind. Thank you." Mr. Yangpaused. "Well, if you've decided, you should go to my apartment and unpack. I'll give you the keys and the address… I'm doing well enough right now; the hospital will take good care of me, so don't worry." A simple thank you isn't enough to express my gratitude, but it will have to suffice.

"Okay, I'll be back later."

​Yang Qiu unlocked the door to the apartment with a click. He pushed it open a walked into a space that was neither big nor small. It was neat, perhaps overly so. It did not quite feel like a living space. Dad probably only uses this place as a place to sleep…

He took in the contents of the apartment: a living room with a gray cloth couch sitting on the edge of a circular carpet facing a television, of which was mounted on a cabinet, a small kitchen with a stove, fridge, and some miscellaneous cooking items, a small dining table with two chairs, a bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet, and a simple bedroom with a bed that was neatly kept, a small cabinet beside it with a lamp, and a closed closet. It's like a house for a movie set… It's so different from our home.

Yang Qiu returned to the living room, having decidedthat he would probably be staying on the couch, which he would prefer over sharing a room with his dad anyway. He felt that with their distant relationship, that would be quite awkward. 

Yang Qiu set down his luggage. He placed the teddy bear on a corner of the couch. Maybe the bear will give this place a more homely feel. Plus, it reminds me of Xiaxia… Yang Qiu smiled to himself. 

He then unpacked all the belongings he had brought and stored them in the empty spaces in the cabinet under the television. He felt like he really did not have that many belongings; they all fit easily within the empty sections of the cabinet. He had truly left the life he knew behind. He sighed. I guess this is my life now.

Finally, Yang Qiu unfolded the letter he had begun writing, finished it up and sealed it in an envelope, ready to send at the post office at any time. 

 Dear Chen Xia, Mr. Chen, and Mrs. Chen, 

I have arrived in the city and met my dad. He is doing okay, so there is no need to worry. Though, as expected, his recovery will be a slow process. I will probably be living here for a long time.

Also, Chen Xia, please don't "kill me", but I forgot to write down your phone number, so I am unable to make a call right now. I can't believe I forgot something so important… I guess I spent so much time with you that I never really needed to call, haha. If you can send the number in a letter, then when I receive it, I can call you then. How silly of me, I know. I will miss you guys a lot, and I will keep in touch the best I can. 

P.S. Chen Xia, please don't be angry at me for not calling, as soon as I receive your letter I will call you. I await your letter!

Yang Qiu