Walking with Liu Xiao
[Oneshot Short Story, Fictional]
China, 1990.
Dear Diary,
I am just a young independent journalist staying in China for a few weeks to study their culture for the next magazine article, but everything changed on that day. I met a girl named Liu Xiao at the noodle restaurant, which was recommended by the townspeople living there. I fell in love at first sight, and we grew fond of one another. We enjoyed talking while we walked and finally had a one-night stand at the hotel where I stayed.
However, once I woke up, she was gone, and when I went to the restaurant where she works, I heard from the manager that she had moved with her parents to take care of them, but the owner forgot where she was going. I realized I had wasted most of the days on my research and was not able to research the deep historical cultures within China. But I am conflicted between the job that is able to feed me and able to give me the pleasure of travel, or trying to find her to feel that chance of love once more.
In the end, my money ran low, and I only made some generic topics and material for my article on what I intended to do, and I had to leave.
As I board the plane home and look at the window, all I can think of is her smile. It is all I can ever remember from this trip. I have missed my opportunity. I can never forget that night. I wonder if I can ever find her someday once I have another chance to travel to China again.
Image and GIF Generated on MoescapeAI.
Story created by me.