Echoes of My Heart

Chapter 7

Life in the USA was vastly different, and Xiao Yuan felt the cultural shock immediately upon arrival.

Everything seemed larger than life, and people were bolder and more vibrant.

The city was alive with energy, but Xiao Yuan felt disconnected, a solitary figure in the midst of a crowd.

Xiao Yuan stared up at the towering skyscrapers and endless crowds, feeling small and insignificant in the vastness of the city. Despite the sense of opportunity and adventure that the city held, he couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place and alone. The constant stream of people rushing past him reminded him of the life he had left behind, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia and longing for the familiar faces and familiar streets of Taipei.

Xiao Yuan stood all by himself at the airport, feeling exposed and vulnerable in the unfamiliar environment. Well he was here finally.

Guess his brother can now breathe properly in the house with him not being there.

There had been just a single message from Xiao Lili cribbing about him not waking her up before leaving. He sent her a quick apology and a snap of the New York airport, promising to send more everyday. Other than that, no messages. Xiao Yuan tried not to let that get to him, but it did sting a little.

Any hope that he had was long extinguished, leaving an empty space in his heart.

Xiao Yuan was in New York now.

It is time to make a life for him here. Maybe, just maybe, one day, when he would be successful in the "cradle of this city," he might find the courage to reach out to his brother once more to rebuild a relationship that has been broken for too long.

Hailing a cab, Xiao Yuan tried to convey his location to the cab driver in broken english. He stumbled through his words, his tongue twisting around the unfamiliar sounds and sentence structure. The driver, seeing Xiao Yuan's struggles, took pity on him and offered to help. He began giving him directions to a nearby language school where he could study English and improve his language skills.

The cab driver's kind gesture came as a relief to Xiao Yuan, who had been feeling lost and overwhelmed in this new city. He nodded gratefully, thanking the driver for his help.

He made sure he would work hard on perfecting the language. A small step in building his self-confidence.

As an international exchange student, Xiao Yuan's first year was a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. Xiao Yuan gradually settled into a routine, though the ache in his heart never fully subsided. He spent his mornings in class, afternoons in the library, and evenings working out. He had picked up running and boxing. A silent homage to the sport his brother loved. He found refuge in the boxing arena.

The boxing arena became a sanctuary for Xiao Yuan, a place where he could feel close to Wei Qian in his own way. He trained fiercely, pouring his pain and longing into every punch and kick, using exercise as a means of release and catharsis.

Xiao Yuan took up other odd jobs like tutoring, and freelance work to earn money for his day-to-day expenses. He refused to be a burden on his brother and didn't touch the money Wei Qian sent him every month. Each paycheck was a small victory, but it couldn't fill the void left by his brother's absence.Though the work was tiring, it kept his mind occupied and his heart slightly lighter.

Slowly, Xiao Yuan began to find his footing. He joined a language exchange program, improving his English and helping others learn Chinese. His drive and ambition were clear, as he spent hours in the library, devouring language textbooks and practising his English with his classmates. He didn't want to be seen as a foreigner who couldn't communicate, and he was willing to put in the work to prove himself.