-() Chicken Soup for the Soul - The Collector's Edition

Author: Wu Pei / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Fate is always so cruel; it makes two budding flowers, still not yet in bloom, prematurely wither in their youth; yet fate is also kind, as it rekindles the spark of hope in two hearts on the brink of despair. On a sunny afternoon, Ke Xin and An Xin met in the small park of the hospital. In that instant their eyes met, the young hearts were deeply moved. They read the same sorrow in each other's eyes, perhaps because of shared misfortune. By evening, they had become inseparable friends, talking about everything. From then on, Ke Xin and An Xin spent countless sunrises and sunsets together, no longer feeling lonely or hopeless.
One day, they were told that their illnesses had reached a point of no return. They were sent back to their homes, and their conditions worsened day by day. But neither Ke Xin nor An Xin forgot their promise to each other. They exchanged letters, sharing their care and blessings. Every word was a great source of encouragement for them.
Time passed swiftly. Three months later, one evening, An Xin held Ke Xin's letter in her hands and peacefully closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. Her mother quietly cried beside her, taking the letter silently. Powerful words jumped out of the pages: "When fate plays tricks on you, don't be afraid, don't hesitate, because I'm here, and many people who care about you and love you are by your side. We will help you, cherish you, and you are never alone."
An Xin's mother trembled as she held the letter, her hands growing damp with tears. An Xin passed away. The next day, her mother found a stack of letters written and sealed but not yet sent in An Xin's drawer. The top one was addressed to "Mom." Confused, her mother opened it—the familiar handwriting of her daughter: "Mom, when you read this letter, I may have already left forever. But I have one last wish unfulfilled. I made a promise with Ke Xin to walk through the last journey of our lives together. But I know I might not be able to keep my promise. So after I'm gone, please keep sending these letters to him, making him think I'm still strong, believing these words will give him the strength to live on."
Seeing her daughter's heartfelt final words, her mother's eyes filled with tears again. Overwhelmed, she felt a force urging her to meet Ke Xin. Yes, she would see him. She had to tell him that An Xin wanted him to live well.
Holding her daughter's letter, An Xin's mother found Ke Xin's home according to the address on the envelope. She saw a vibrant Ke Xin in a photograph in a black frame at the center of the table. An Xin's mother froze. When she turned to look at the woman who answered the door, she saw tears streaming down the stranger's face. Slowly, she picked up a stack of letters from the table, her voice choked with emotion: "This is my son's. He passed away a month ago. But he said there was still an An Xin sharing his fate, waiting for his letters, waiting for his encouragement. So, for the past month, I've been sending those letters in his place."
By then, Ke Xin's mother was already crying uncontrollably. An Xin's mother stepped forward, embracing the other woman tightly, whispering, "For a beautiful promise." P3-4