ninety-seven years old, and die peacefully in bed by the hearth like today," the old woman teases, trying to lighten the mood. "Since the ending is the same, I''d prefer a bit more twists and turns along the way."
The young man seems unaffected. He continues, "You would grow up safe and sound, meet a handsome and kind young man at the right age, have some lovely children, then watch them grow up and start their own families.
"You would never know that war and famine ever exists on earth, and could never even imagine what terror and evil are like. At this moment, your loving family would surround you, bless you, and stay with you until you leave this world."
"Then I don''t want that," the old woman answers seriously and firmly. "I love liberty too much by nature to tolerate such a monotonous life."
"I don''t want that either," the youth lifts his handsome face and looks straight into her eyes. "For I would not have met you."
The old woman falls silent for a while.
"I envy you," she starts again. "You still have plenty of time to enjoy a life full of adventures."
"And I envy you," the young man''s voice carries a hint of bitterness, turning his head away. "You are the one who leave first, so you don''t have to experience the feeling of being abandoned."
The corners of the old lady''s mouth raise. She decides not to deliberately tease this poor man anymore.
"I once loved you sincerely," she looks up at the ceiling and takes a deep breath.
The young-looking man stands up to kiss her cold forehead.
"But my heart is beating slower and slower," the old lady reaches out to her left chest and complains, "I don''t have much time left. Sit down, come sit by my bedside, my love, and talk to me about our past again. Some things have been too long ago, which maybe I have already forgotten. Let me die slowly in my memories."
She closes her weary eyes.
He sits solemnly on the edge of the bed, takes her powerless hand again, and this time, interlocks his fingers with hers.