The Song of Our Hearts { Completed }

二十四

Songbird's POV

I hear laughter in the background. My vision is blurry, but the sun is creating warm colors that lights up my vision. My eyes slowly focus in on a little girl with cute piggy tails holding her older brother's hand.

"Don't let go of my hand, Míngming. You might get lost and Gēgē won't be able to protect you."

"I won't, I promise." The little girl smiles up at him in simple adoration.

I was a princess and he was my prince. Little did I know that he would be the one to let go of my hand.......

*******
Waking up with a start, I try to catch my breath as I disoriently look around my room. Where am I? Panicking, I claw at the tubes that are connected to my body as I struggle to breathe. As hysteria climaxes, the beeping on my monitor slices the silent room. Suddenly, a nurse rushes towards my bed and holds my arms down as another nurse injects something that makes me feel sleepy again.

As if I am underwater, I can hear a distorted voice telling me to not fight it. Fighting is all that I have left.

*********

One Week Later

I pensively stare out of my hospital window. Thanks to Sēnlín, the nurses opened the windows so I could get some fresh air. The music of the birds mixed with the crisp spring weather creates a beautiful recipe of peacefulness. I close my eyes and soak in the warm sun. The taste of bitterness creeps up as I remember what the Sēnlín had told me earlier.
Tears streamed down my face but I remained calm. The more I have these episodes, the longer my recovery time will be until....one day I won't be able to....... As I was thinking sad thoughts, I could feel a warm presence enter the room.

Startled, I open my eyes and saw a boy that towered over me with black hair that shines underneath the sun's rays. Turning towards me, he gives me the cutest smile that showed his dimples.

"Tàiyáng!"

"Why is my Songbird crying when she should be singing?" He softly asks as he sits on my bed and tenderly holds my crying face in his hands. I tentatively reach up to touch his face causing him to burst into a smile that showed his dimples again. "You're back?" I asked in disbelief as his forehead touched mine.

Without waiting for his answer I burst into a shower of tears as I mumbled unintelligent words. "I missed you....I'm sorry for getting upset at you. I...I...missed you so much. I thought you left me forever."

"Shhh....all is forgiven. Can you forgive me for being gone so long?"

I vigourously nodded my head. "You're here now. That's all that matters."

I stared into his star-like eyes and laughed with joy. Tàiyáng is back!

"Your hair..."

"Oh this?" He played with his bangs as he looked embarrassed. "My natural hair color grew back during the time I was gone."

I laughed with delight. "You look better with your natural hair."

"Oh, that reminds me!" Reaching behind him, Tàiyáng pulls out a black box similar to the one I gave him for his birthday.

"I don't need a present. Just you being here....." But he gently places the box in my hands and smiles down at me with endearment.

"Open it for me."

I was hesitant to take my eyes off of him. If I blink or turn my head....will he disappear? Is this all just a dream?

Curiosity got the best of me as I looked down at the box and slowly opened the hinged lid. A beautiful necklace with pink flowers encased with gold laid on the white velvet pillow. And dangling from the necklace was a small charm in the shape of a songbird.