What Remains of Love

Chapter 1

She buried the dull, lingering pain deep inside her heart. On many nights, that pain felt as though it were tearing her apart when she learned that his family was about to move away. Her friend had told her that they had already put down a deposit on the apartment. She would be separated from him once again. And this time, perhaps, it would be forever. Clement had no idea that a storm was raging violently inside her heart.

— Whenever you’re free, let’s go somewhere. It’s been a long time since we’ve gone on a date.

— Hey, where are you off to in your thoughts? Aren’t you listening to me? — Clement tapped his spoon against the rim of Emma’s glass of orange juice, making her turn around in surprise. Emma gave him an embarrassed smile.

— What did you say?

— You really weren’t listening to me? — Clement gently shook his head.

— You said we should go on a date sometime. Where is your mind when you’re sitting here with me?

— I was listening to a song. — Emma smiled awkwardly. — Besides, aren’t we already on a date?

— No, I mean the two of us should go somewhere, have some fun, and share some time together. It’s been so long since I’ve gone anywhere with you.

Clement’s words went in through Emma’s left ear, passed through her right, and drifted away on the gentle breeze. She rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought, feeling as though she were being hypnotized by the song.

All day long, she had listened countless times to Quiet Noon, in Juniper’s haunting, aching voice. The lyrics seemed to hold an entire sky of emotions that mirrored what was inside her.

I know the clouds in the sky will drift away forever

I know you are not as you have always said you are

Still, I love you so much

Still, I love you with all my heart

Still, I keep waiting

Even though this seaside town has no you at noon today…

How many times can a person fall in love in a lifetime, and how long can one love someone? Does love perhaps survive on longing? And no matter how long the separation, no matter how many miles lie between two people, will the longing born of love eventually bring them back to one another?

Someone once said that there is only one true love, while there are countless things that resemble love.

If what Emma had with him was true love, then what was the feeling between her and Clement?

She did not deny that she had loved Clement—loved him deeply and passionately—and Clement had loved her just as much. They had shared many truly happy moments together.

The fifth autumn since she had been separated from him was also the fifth autumn with Clement by her side. Yet she had never come to Clement to forget him.

Back then, no matter how much she suffered, no matter how desperately she missed him, she had been the one who chose to walk away. It was in that moment that she finally understood that sometimes people part ways not because they have stopped loving each other.

She had loved him with the pure, innocent love of her first romance. He was many years older than her, with far more life experience, having wandered from one place to another. She could never know how many women had passed through his life.

Yet that only made her feel even more compassion for him. She pitied the man who had climbed over so many hills of love, yet still walked alone along a lonely road through life. She had youth on her side, dreams and ambitions burning brightly within her heart. She had once asked countless questions that became obstacles to their love. But then she had thought that she could overcome them all because she loved him.