The letter from no one, also known as the posthumous paper from the old man
After many years of life, the old man lies beside the bed one day. He knows that this might be the last day of sleep, but he shows no fear. Instead, he struggled to make a smile, but after drinking so many goblets of bitter wine from life, he just sighed and slumped into the old crumped wood bed. He looks into the window beside his bed and saw the Beijing city: Brightness enlightened him, as neon light showed everywhere, dim yellow lights from houses shown, as the luminous stars hang high above the horizon, twinkled naughtily. In the darkness, streams of light pierced through the doors and windows of shops, people laughing, talking, children jumping around, in this majestic sight, his thought about many years ago, while he has his childhood. He forced a bitter smile, and let the smooth summer night breath carry his memory to several years ago……
The hot summer winds carried the boy in front of the biggest school he had ever seen.
Like many years ago, when he stood in front of his primary school gate, he imagined his wonderful middle school life. Looking around, the red building formed a curve, and little windows on it can be seen from far. The rough marble pavement leads to a board road, crossing the grand building. Turning right, the side of the road was filled with trees, tall high birch trees on the left, lower trees on the right were full of vitality. Like that, the first year began. But when he saw the two class teachers, the swelling balloon in his heart faded. Far back in 2nd grade, English teachers alienated him and he still does not know why today. This caused his anxiety neurosis, and his stupid movement has been laughed at by everyone today. How much time did he spend on nothing! How much time did he spend on the useless! His foolishness wasted him a lot of precious time, which he now, doesn’t want to lose again. The old man sighed and continued: The first year was simple and naïve. He remembered the days without stress, and just with pleasure and with enjoyment. Studying was easy back then, when he could easily get 98 without listening to any of the English teacher’s lessons. The first monthly test filled the innocent boy with arrogance, as he became the dominator of all the boys in class. Indeed, he can now remember the disbelief on his classmate’s faces, as this little maniac got a high score in the class. The disrespect to her, as he said, was embarrassing because of his memory of her. Although the fact of disliking English grammar and teachers is still admitted today by him, he will always apologize when his memory got to this point. Continuing on, the next test the boy wasn’t that lucky. The scores dropped a bit, and with pride, love，and immatureness, the boy entered the second term. During the covid outbreak, the boy has a chance to release his nature. Day and day he played, timeless and endless, ignoring the teacher’s words, losing his treasure. Pessimistic he was, no one cares about him, no one likes him, no one knows him. In silence, In frustration,
in agony, and also in my mom’s despair and excruciating pain, the boy entered his adolescence which he will never forget. His mind gets a small improvement for the first time, but his arrogance, prejudice, and hatred remain. He was very relieved and enlightened when he tore his first English test paper to shreds. The old man laughed. He escapes many times, but when it really hurts him, his hatred increases. He did not believe that it is him, who leveled just outside the 80 lines. He entered the last semester. Deep meditation made his mind mature, and he finally knows what is love and benevolence, what is generosity and kindness, what is tolerance and persistence. He finally knew:
The old man paused and looked out of the window again. The lights shown in the streets are more majestic than ever. Little yellow lights and bright white light shimmered through the windows, dark clouds in the night sky wake as the stars above glimmered with delight. The bright moon is now over the horizon, and the glistering light shows straight into the room. When he endeavored to memorize his childhood, he will remember their smiles and their tears, and to give the greatest thanks to the one who accompanied his 2 years of studying.
“Death will take me now,” he thought, as he slowly lays in his bed. As he closes his eyes, the bright moon showed over his weak body, and the star looked at him as if mourning for him.
The next morning, when she opens the door of the small simple house, some simple decorations and furniture came into sight. The wooden floor crackled as she walks across the room to the door. The dead body of the old man lies peacefully on the bed with a pale face, his fingers crossed, and a faint smile on his face. The woman said nothing, but to get his cover upright and close the door.
Sunlight flooded into the building where the woman lived, but the little old man who lived here for years was forever gone.
Sincerely,
no one
2021/7/16/21:15
What are the waves without the ocean? A beginning without an end?
What will it be like, to go to sleep and never wake up?
Next time when we meet, you will be among the stars, as I sank beneath the sand.
We are different, but we are the same.
