The Tale of Distant Lovers
Digan Yvonn
here was once a saying that if lovers meet after a separation of years at the Great Wall, they were meant
to be together forever and ever.
tell
e Evergrace Lanuza, Group 3: Fiction, HKMA David Li Kwok Po College
My name is Song En, I’m 28 years old and I’m married with two children. Well, now, let me
you a story about that saying.
When I was younger, mama used to tell me stories about how she and papa met and she told
me a story called; “The Tale of the Distant Lovers.” I remember that every night, I always asked mama to tell
the tale at least once to me before I went to sleep. Since then, I had always believed that the tale was true; I even
told my best friend, Sing Chun, that when I grew older, I would meet my prince charming at the Great Wall.
T
Let me tell you more about Sing Chun. He was a year older than me and our parents were best friends.
He was always there for me, during good and bad times. Whenever I was sad, he would do whatever it took to
make me smile or laugh again. We were closer as we grew; we went to the same elementary and secondary
school, celebrated our birthdays together and we even had sleepovers during the weekends. (I know what you’re
thinking but I slept on the bed and he slept on the floor.) He knew every single detail and flaw about me;
however, there is one thing that he never knew about.
I loved him.
At first, I thought that it was just a feeling that would somehow fade away and I kept on denying it. I
always said to myself, “He’s just like a brother to me. And even if I had feelings for him, obviously he won’t
feel the same. So just give it up.” I never wanted him to know because I was afraid that it would ruin our
friendship.
One day, Sing Chun asked me to hang out with him. We went to all my favourite places and I had so
much fun. We took a lot of pictures and it was one of the best days of my life. It was getting dark; however, we
decided to go to the Great Wall for a walk. It was a beautiful night, there was a cool breeze and there were a lot
of stars, as well a crescent moon above us. It felt as if we were in a movie. However, as we walked in silence, I
sensed the atmosphere changing; I knew something was wrong. When I was about to ask whether he had a
problem, he suddenly stopped walking, ran his fingers through his hair and said, “Hey, Song… I have something
important to tell you.”
And that’s when it hit me, Sing Chun told me that he had to leave China and move to America and
continue his studies there. As I heard this, I felt as if my whole world had been torn into two, I couldn’t think
straight anymore. “When will you be back?” I asked him in a hoarse voice, trying to hold back my tears. He
held my face but said nothing. I couldn’t look at him so I stared down at our feet. We stood there at the same
position, silent, for a few minutes and that’s when my tears were unleashed. The aura was so intense that I
couldn’t control myself any more. Words failed to come out of my mouth; I was having mixed emotions, I
didn’t know what to do anymore. And after a while, I managed to ask. “Will I ever see you again?”. This time
he answered. “Honestly, I don’t know. But one day, I promise, I will come back for you.” He whispered. I
looked him in the eyes, “Please… don’t leave me…” The tears were already overflowing, my vision was getting
blurry. My legs were growing weak, so I knelt down on the grass and he did the same. “Please don’t cry. You
know I can’t stand to see you cry,” he said softly, I could hear from his voice that he was about to break down
any minute. I just sat there, crying a river of tears, it just hurt too much. “It might be the last chance for me to
see him again. I should tell him how I feel even though it’s too late.” I thought to myself. When I was about to
open my mouth to say the words, he suddenly kissed me. I was stunned, my mind went blank but at the same
time I felt as if I was melting. “Why… You… Ergh… Huh?” I couldn’t finish my sentence because I couldn’t
get the words right. “I’m sorry that it took me this long to tell you this…” He said as he put his hands on my
shoulders trying to get me to face him. “Song En, I’ve fallen for you ever since we first met. I hid it because I
was scared. I know it’s too late but I just needed you to know it.” I stared at his eyes, and I can see that his
anxious and relieved that the same time. My insides were bubbling with happiness yet tightening with sadness. I
gave a small smile and told him things what I never thought of telling him. He grabbed me in a tight embrace
and whispered to my ear, “One of these days, I will be waiting for you at the Great Wall. I will be the prince
charming you always wanted when we were younger. So please, wait for me Song.” Afterwards, he gave me a
small peck on the forehead. “Yes… I will.” I answered.