Blessings (A YiZhan Short Story)

Epilogue 🔞

"Hi mom! Hi dad!" YiBo said with a smile as he crouched down to clear away the weeds invading his parents' space. For the first time since burying them, he felt at peace. "Guess who's here with me!"

He glanced up, his eyes twinkling like stars at the figure standing beside him. Xiao Zhan was nervously holding a floral arrangement of yellow calla lilies and purple orchids, intermixed with pink cherry blossoms and other bouquet fillers. The selection of flowers was handpicked by Xiao Zhan himself.

"Calla lilies," he had said when they stopped by the florist on their way here, "represent resurrection and rebirth, faith and purity. At this juncture of our lives, it is rather fitting. Our relationships, mine with your parents, my parents with me, you with mine... and ours. It is time for a resurrection, is it not? And to have faith in each other?" The question was rhetorical, so he didn't wait for a response. "Yellow calla lilies go a step further. It means gratitude. I will forever be grateful for your parents, YiBo. More than they will ever know."

He was silent for a moment as if to compose himself. Then he smiled, continuing to teach me the ways of the flowering world.

"Orchids," he smirked. "Orchids represent integrity, elegance, and friendship. Yellow orchids symbolize new beginnings. We'll save that for our wedding. Purple orchids, though, are a sign of respect and admiration. For your parents, I think the purple will do nicely." He placed the orchid in the pile for the florist to incorporate into the bouquet.

"As for the cherry blossoms," Xiao Zhan said quietly. "Its meaning is bittersweet. According to the Japanese people, it is a symbolism of life, beautiful and yet fleeting. A reminder that sometimes we just have to live in the here and now," he stared meaningfully at YiBo, and the younger man fidgeted uncomfortably, "and why every year during the cherry blossom festival we celebrate new life as well as honor the dead."

"Hi Mr. and Mrs—"

YiBo started when Xiao Zhan's voice broke through his musings, and he thumped the man on his leg. "Really, Zhan-ge? They'd already accepted you as their son. Greet them properly," he chided softly.

"You're right," Xiao Zhan laughed, but it was more breathy than actual laughter. Turning to his in-laws' memorial, he began again, this time with sincerity. "Mom, dad. Hi! It's been a long time. I—" His throat locked up.

YiBo had explained everything to him a few months ago, but he still felt guilty. Those were cruel hateful words he'd thrown at them, meant to cut, to wound. To hurt them as he'd been hurt. He was angry when he said them. Angry and drowning in pain. But that didn't give him the right to lash out at them, to hurt the very people who gave life to his Bo-di. Regret filled him ever since and he tried to find them to apologize only to find out they had died. Indirectly or not, their deaths weren't something he would ever forget.

He bowed his head and took in several deep breaths, formulating the words he wanted to say, but then nixed that idea. This needed to come from the heart. Oh the irony!

"Mom, dad... We came here today to let you know we are getting married tomorrow. A small ceremony in YiBo's garden." He went down on one knee and placed the bouquet beside the stone structure. "I wish you both could be there to witness our union. It's been a long time coming, I know. I—"

Once again, the lump in his throat made him pause, but this time he swallowed the pain. He needed to do this. "I-I'm sorry!" He finally gasped the words aloud, his voice thick and raw with emotion. "I'm sorry for all the despicable things I said to you, for telling you hell was too good for you, for... for making your lives so miserable, even though it was not your fault. I was... I was so angry!"