Late at night, the people in the room gradually left so they would not disturb Grandpa’s rest. Grandpa opened his eyes and suddenly said, “Zi Yan, Xiao Ding, stay tonight. I have something I want to tell you.”
“Mm.”
Mai Ding sat beside Grandpa’s bed. “Grandpa, do you still have your best stories from when you were young saved for me?” Grandpa shook his head and closed his eyes. “Xiao Ding, you don’t have to pretend anymore. Even a fool can tell I don’t have much time left.”
“Grandpa.” An Zi Yan sounded as though he were scolding him.
“Lately it hasn’t just been the two of you. Su’er sneaks over in the middle of the night. Xiao Si and your friends keep coming by whenever they have the chance. Last night I heard Fu Shu kneeling beside my bed crying. Ever since I brought him out of the orphanage when he was in his teens, I’d never seen him cry. Now he’s in his thirties and crying like a child without even being embarrassed. Zi Yan, if I go, what worries me most is that you won’t be able to accept it. So, Xiao Ding, this old man has an unreasonable request. After I’m gone, you must save Zi Yan. If it’s you, you can do it.”
“Grandpa doesn’t want to keep enduring anymore.” Grandpa opened his eyes again and slowly, painfully turned his head toward the moon hanging outside the window. “You’ve both grown up. Zi Yan is happy now because he has you. Grandpa is jealous. Grandpa misses Grandma. I want to go keep her company.” He raised his left hand. An Zi Yan walked over and took it. Grandpa continued, “Zi Yan, Grandpa wants to be selfish for once. I’m too lonely.” An Zi Yan bent over him. “I’ll save you. You’re not allowed to leave. Do you hear me, Grandpa? I won’t let you leave.”
“Still as stubborn as when you were little. Grandpa is lonely and you don’t even feel sorry for me? Xiao Ding, talk some sense into him too. Sigh, Xiao Ding, you’ve soaked half the bedsheet with your tears. Are you planning to let me sleep or not?”
“Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa…” Mai Ding called for him through sobs, unable to form any other words. Between broken breaths he managed, “An Zi Yan will save you.”
“You won’t listen to me either? Oh, right. Where’s my photo album? I can’t remember where it is. Suddenly I really want to look at it.”
“I’ll bring it tomorrow. Just sleep first. Don’t say things like this anymore.”
“Mm. But if Mai Ding cries too loudly, I won’t be able to sleep.”
Mai Ding clamped his mouth shut and sobbed silently until Grandpa fell asleep. Then he and An Zi Yan left the room. Mai Ding grabbed An Zi Yan’s hand and hit himself with it. “Why doesn’t it hurt? This has to be a dream, right?” An Zi Yan pulled Mai Ding fiercely into his arms. “Mm. It’s a dream.” No matter how tightly An Zi Yan held him, Mai Ding still could not feel pain anywhere in his body because the pain in his chest was too overwhelming.
Early the next morning, An Zi Yan went to the little cottage and brought back the thick photo album. Grandpa happily flipped through it, sinking into old memories. He had not looked at the album in a very long time. An Su came in. “Grandpa, I bought your favorite food.”
“Too bad I don’t have much appetite anymore. Stop circling around me all day. Those who have work should go to work. Zi Yan, you too. If I’m about to go, I’ll let all of you know.”
An Zi Yan’s tone was unpleasant. “If you keep saying things like that, I’m going to get angry.” An Su put the album aside for Grandpa. “We want to stay with you. We won’t leave until you’re better. If you feel sorry for us, then focus on getting well.” She lifted a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and fed Grandpa.
“There are nurses here. They’re more professional than you and more obedient too. I don’t need you hovering around. Sigh, I’m old. Sooner or later I’m going to go. What’s the point of staying in the hospital every day? Zi Yan, I want to visit your grandmother’s grave.” An Su immediately objected. “It’s cold lately and it keeps raining. What if you go outside and catch a chill? Wait until you’re better.” Grandpa stopped speaking and stared at the foggy sky outside. Along with the exhaustion illness had carved into his features, there was sadness between his brows. Only after a long while did An Zi Yan say, “When the weather clears, I’ll take you. But only if you take care of yourself these next few days. Otherwise it’s canceled.”
An Su glared at An Zi Yan, while the corner of Grandpa’s mouth rose and tugged at the wrinkles on his face. “You’d better not lie to me, kid.”
The end of the year drew closer. People returning to their hometowns and people coming back to the city moved constantly through the streets. The gray sky above could not slow their footsteps. No matter whether the feeling of New Year grew thinner every year, no matter how many dizzying special effects the annual Spring Festival Gala added, everyone still longed to reunite.
Grandpa’s hospital room was never lonely. Visitors came one after another: former comrades-in-arms, subordinates, chess friends… It was as though one short month had gathered the experiences of his entire life into a single room. When the visitors gradually left, Grandpa would look out the window and wait for sunlight. Mai Ding’s mother could not stop wiping her tears and told Mai Ding not to worry about home. Staying with Grandpa mattered more.
Everyone believed Grandpa was reaching the end, but Mai Ding refused to believe it. He was waiting for a miracle. He was willing to exchange anything for one.
A few days before New Year’s Eve, the darkness that had hung over the sky for days finally dispersed. Warm rays broke through the clouds one after another and fell into the hospital room. The sunlight brought more than brightness. Grandpa seemed unusually energetic that day. He could even sit up without help. In a tone that allowed no refusal, he ordered Fu Shu to dress him in the suit he had worn at his wedding. The suit had been preserved beautifully despite its age, but Grandpa’s thin, weakened body could no longer fill it.
Mai Ding pushed a wheelchair into the room. An Zi Yan lifted Grandpa into it. Grandpa turned toward Fu Shu. “Just let Zi Yan and Mai Ding take me. I’ll come back later today.”
“Mm.”