Has anyone ever wondered what they might look like fifty years from now?
Tang Yan had.
She imagined that fifty years later, this would be them:
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The world had changed dramatically. Their country had finally legalized same-sex marriage—no more need to fly abroad just to tie the knot. Watching couples proudly holding their little red marriage books, Tang Yan felt nothing but joy and envy, and her thoughts wandered back to that day more than fifty years ago—her wedding with Aunt Ji.
It was the most beautiful moment of her life, the most unforgettable one too. They had loved and cherished each other for five decades, always with respect and tenderness. They never had children of their own, but that didn’t mean they were alone. In fact, their home was always full of visitors—people who loved them deeply.
Starting from fifty years ago, Ji Yuqing and Tang Yan had been quietly funding children in impoverished mountain areas, supporting orphans through school. Year after year, they never stopped. Thousands of children made it into universities and grew into capable, contributing members of society. Some were married now. Some even had kids of their own. But to Ji Yuqing and Tang Yan, they were like the children they never had.
If someone were to ask her, “Tang Yan, are you afraid of death?”
She would answer, “No.” But she did hope she wouldn’t be the first to go. She wanted to be there for Aunt Ji until the very end.
As the sun set in the west, an elderly woman with a hunched back slowly pushed a wheelchair down the quiet path toward home.
“I’m getting so old. I must be such a burden to you.”
“What are you talking about?” Tang Yan chuckled. “I’m an old lady too, you know.”
Ji Yuqing reached up and rested her hand on Tang Yan’s. Her other hand lifted, pointing toward the sky in the west.
“Look—the sunset is so beautiful today.”
Tang Yan followed her gaze. The sun was sinking low, casting a warm red glow across the sky. It felt like stepping into a fairytale.
Dreamlike. Surreal.
END.