EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0H4pY.jpg)
I've been keeping her in correspondence for a good few months
Of the hundred or so emails we sent, it felt good
I was visiting east coast to check out graduate schools, I applied to Princeton
I knew I'd get in, but really, I was trying to get in so I can get a visit day there, to see her
The flight took long, and the sky was moody
One night and day in Princeton later, I was to see her
Never happier on a train, I went to her place
Same as usual, cheerful, happy, childish, she greeted
I brought her an EASY button, and I explained to her
"The word of the day is 'that was easy', you say it when you complete something difficult"
So we played with the easy button for a good while
She is from China, only here for a masters
I was trying to teach her some English, and every email I'd attach "word of the day"
The word of that day was a phrase, "that was easy"
Her friend was there too, and we cooked, and I burned all my eggplants
I blamed that her pan was not non-stick!
She insisted to let the chef cook, so I watched
She really only use soysauce, vinegar, salt, and msg
Same seasonings, different ingredients
They all tasted great, we joked around saying
"In a scientific experiment, we can only let 1 variable be free!!"
After food, we all took a walk
We walked on a street with lights
A street with trees on the sides
And a street that winded around a river
Across from the lights
We went into an archway near the bridge
And we sang songs, and she showed me samba
And we danced
Then we met more of her friends
They joked that I liked her
They joked about what I would say when we had to part
I just smiled and tried to hide a grin
She was red, and played with her hairs
And hid behind them
Then we walked home
And I sang, and she sang
And we both sang
I slept on the upper bunk
She slept on the bottom
And she told me stories of her trip in Europe:
turning a corner, alone facing a pond, in the falling sun
and cried
I knew why she cried
Next day evening I had to leave
All of her friends wanted to see me off
"No, just the girl, please", said I
I put my arm around her shoulder, and smiled at them
"Bye guys!" I smiled
We walked toward the train station
To catch a train at 6:45
It was cold, and my hands are cold
We brought a ticket for me
And we sat waiting for the train to come
6:30
I couldn't really say it, but I really have to
6:35, I looked
the train that would take me away, is not here yet
I was so nervous, but I had to
"Hey", I said, and nudged her
"What's up?"
I held out my hand
and
we held hand
her hand was cold too
I rubbed my thumb on her index finger
"We're both very good people
But we don't know each other too well
I've only really know you for a few months
Although we went to the same middleschool
I didn't really talk to you back then
But if you want to go on adventure with me
That will be really good, it really
really would be good... if you want
"If we cannot be lovers"
She said
"Can we still be friends?"
"Of course!"
I said
"Love is really simple
when you think too much about it
It's not worth it
either you want it do it
Or you don't
"Let me think about it please"
Noise louder, train comes near
It's time for me to go
We hugged
I stood up, she stood near
I went on the train,
and we looked at each other
and we just stood there
and just stood there
I smiled and went for a seat
I looked out of the window, I saw her leave
and she looked back
but I don't think she saw me
Next morning, I got an email from her
"I think I know clearly, let's be friends
and i wish you'll do what you loved
solve problems
and find someone you love
and one that love you
let's be friends"
I called a friend that night
We talked for 3 hours
I was trying to figure out why
why, what happened
My friend told me a lot
I learned, why life is difficult in China
why even at this early age we are pressured
I feel sorry for the girl
I can't blame her for not wanting to wait five years
While I stuck in School
We are both good people
but sometimes good people cannot be
Sometimes, like the girl said
"This is not the train for us to be on"
That night, I didn't sleep at all
I requested my friend to gave me a sad song to sing
And i sang it a hundred times
and a hundred times more
Here: 听海
all part of growing up
