Xiaoxi came to my side quite suddenly.
Her exact arrival must have been on September 22nd, the day before the Autumnal Equinox, under the setting sun, appearing on the desk to my left.
I can still remember how she looked then, lying on the desk, gazing at me with a beaming smile, saying, “I will stay with you forever. I will love you forever.”
In the bliss of her smile, my heart melted completely, melting into spring waters, dissolving into the eternity she promised.
We are often together.
On the walk to the academic buildings, she constantly sings softly to me, or chats about how we feel, or talks about the things we see before our eyes.
She likes walking ahead of me, sometimes leading by quite a distance, though come to think of it, she seems to walk on my outside more often than not.
I remember every single one of her smiles.
Although Xiaoxi often feels sad when I am sad, and fearful when I am afraid, at least I can still hold her tight, just as she has always held me tight.
And so, the trembling fear finds a foothold.
She is braver than I am, and will step forward to stand up for me.
I still remember that time I gripped her hand tightly, hiding behind her, as she became my sole reliance.
She just said that if it’s for me, she is willing to do anything, and that she will protect me forever, just as I will forever protect her.
She is smiling sweetly right now, because she heard me say, “You really do love me”.
She said I’m not allowed to delete that line above, even though she does change her mind pretty fast, really…
I asked her if she had ever pondered the ultimate question; she said her ultimate is me, replying very quickly.