Howard and his wife Daisy, both retired and residing in a quiet suburban villa, lived an emotionally sparse life following the loss of their only son. The couple's pattern of a peaceful but monotonous life is disrupted when Daisy, delusional due to...
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1
Howard and his ailing wife take a stroll every evening. Both retired, they reside in a quiet suburban villa. A 15-minute walk leads them to a livelier area with supermarkets, night markets, and various restaurants. They've decided to spend their remaining years like this.
The elderly couple seems to have everything yet nothing. They met during their doctoral studies abroad, each other's first love. After returning to China, they got married. Howard became a university professor, eventually retiring as a dean of a branch campus. Daisy pursued a career as a doctor but faced intellectual deterioration due to a medical accident. Their only son, well-educated, tragically lost his life while bravely helping others.
If one talks about the pain of life, it's too much—pain so intense that they might sacrifice some of their lifespan to alleviate it. However, having endured the overwhelming pain, they must continue living. Howard's retirement income is substantial, and Daisy's medical expenses are fully covered, with additional compensation. Their son's sacrifice is recognized through subsidies from the government, Howard's school, and Daisy's hospital.
They live at a leisurely pace—watching TV in the morning, assisting Daisy with rehabilitation exercises in the afternoon, and taking her for an evening walk. Occasionally, they dine out. During holidays, they host visits from successful students who have made notable achievements in their respective fields. The accomplishments and enthusiasm of these students serve as pillars supporting Howard in moving forward.
2
One day, Howard takes Daisy to a small restaurant for dinner. The waiter comes to take their order, and suddenly, Daisy screams, "Sam!"
Sam is their deceased son. Howard examines the young man more closely and sees a resemblance to the young Sam—height, build, facial features, all seem similar. The waiter is slightly startled, and Howard immediately signals him with a gesture of clasped hands. The young man quickly catches on; he crouches down with the order tablet and asks Daisy what she'd like to eat. Daisy holds onto his hand and says, "Sam, why haven't you come back for so long?" The young man carefully looks into her eyes, recognizing the urgency and confusion that reveal she is not in a normal state. He understands immediately and reassures her, "I've been busy with work, but I'll come back whenever I have the chance, okay?"
"Son, when you're not busy, you must come back," Daisy insists.
"Okay, okay," the young man agrees, playing along.
Perhaps out of pity, as the young man leaves after taking the order, he exchanges a few words with the waiter looking after the table. From then on, he attends to them personally, being attentive and accommodating to Daisy's nonsensical talk. Howard is on the verge of tears. If Sam were still alive, he would be 48 this year, likely a professor by now. Yet, this young man is just an ordinary waiter, but he still brings great joy to Daisy. For her, as long as her son is present, achievements, success, wealth—none of it matters.
