Shadows of the Past

The evening sun bathed the willow-covered hillside in golden light as Li Mei, Chen Wei, and Ming Hao descended the winding path. Their laughter from earlier faded into the tranquil sounds of nature around them—the rustling leaves, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet, and the occasional chirp of crickets.

The trio had spent the afternoon under their favorite willow tree, reminiscing about their shared childhood. It was a rare moment of peace, a brief escape from the burdens that now shaped their lives.

Ming Hao, walking slightly ahead, turned his head just enough to speak over his shoulder. "Do either of you ever think about Su Lan?"

Li Mei hesitated, her steps faltering for a moment. Chen Wei glanced at her before answering cautiously, "Not recently. I've heard she's been keeping to herself."

"She has every reason to," Li Mei added quietly, her voice tinged with empathy.

Ming Hao stopped abruptly, waiting for them to catch up. His usually lighthearted demeanor darkened as he pressed on. "I heard about her husband. How he… didn't make it back."

Li Mei nodded, her gaze distant. "Su Lan married young. Her husband was a kind man, they said. But he died last year while working in the mountains. A landslide."

Chen Wei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And now she's alone, with a child on the way."

Ming Hao's jaw tightened. "Alone," he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't need to say more; the weight of the situation was clear. Su Lan, once their lively and carefree friend, now bore the grief of widowhood and the weight of an uncertain future.

The trio walked in silence for a few moments before Ming Hao broke away from them, muttering, "I need to check on something. You two go ahead." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and jogged down a side path that veered toward the edge of the village.

Chen Wei called after him, "Ming Hao, what—" but Ming Hao was already out of sight.

Li Mei sighed, sensing the unease in her friend's abrupt departure. "Let him go. He just needs time."

Both Li Mei and Chen Wei walked home, their minds clouded with thoughts of the past and the uncertainties of what lay ahead.

...

Ming Hao slowed his pace as he approached Su Lan's home. The modest wooden house stood nestled among a small grove of plum trees, its windows glowing softly from within. He hesitated, standing just outside the gate, his breath uneven.

From where he stood, he could see Su Lan through the window. She was seated at the table, her hands resting gently on her swollen belly. Her gaze was fixed downward, lost in thought. The flickering lamplight illuminated her delicate features, which bore traces of exhaustion and sadness but also quiet resilience.