We were all lost in the long street with the moonlight shining. On a cold night, we were helpless like children, wandering over the edge of love and hatred and struggling amidst crime and penalty. The dream about that period of old times came once and once again. We were silent and waited for the day when all the misunderstandings could be explained, and love finally came back.
****
The spring trees became green suddenly, and that was all due to the rising temperature.
The twigs also grew green, and the color mixing of winter jasmine and spring plum made the view become beautiful.
And in this way, New York's spring came surprisingly. The cold winter has passed as if the old memory has been covered by a new one slowly without any trace.
Irish remembered that it was just at this time last year that she came back from abroad, but all the flowers bloomed better.
There were different flowers in different seasons.
For instance, the plants in early spring had flowers first and then had leaves, while the plants in summer had leaves first.
Just like some people followed the normal order-being in love with someone and then getting married, while others had extraordinary love experiences and finally departed from each other.
Irish didn't know whether the connection between her and Joseph was love.
She was not certain about it.
Even she herself was questioning why she loved Joseph, and maybe her love was disappearing along the tough journey.
So she would rather request time for them to get along with each other.
Maybe one year was enough.
At this time last year, she met Joseph. They seemed to know each other. Later she began to memorize some scenes that night. In the scene, there was brilliant light. And she saw a pair of eyes vaguely. Actually, at that time, he kept watching her silently.
She didn't know why she would purge into Joseph's bosom. Maybe it was because of his eyes or that his tall figure made it safe for her to be with him. All in all, they met each other.
But was it accidental for them to meet each other? Or maybe when she just came back from abroad, he kept an eye on her and gradually fell in love with her.
So by this time of next year, there would be an end to their relationship.
It was good that the relationship began in spring and ended in spring.
Joseph kept his promise to take her back to New York as he left there. Unlike how she came here, they were taken away by a private plane. There were comfortable lounges and restaurants. It was so surprisingly luxurious.
She didn't know how long the journey took. She had fallen asleep many times, and the last time when she woke up, she found out that she was in Joseph's bosom. She remembered that they were apart from each other when she was taking a nap. At that time, he was reading a newspaper on the latest economic news.
She was draped with the same blanket as him, resting her head on his arm with her pillow on the other side, her face buried deep into his neck. They have developed this habit since they cohabited. Of course, it was before their breakup.
Irish raised her head and found that he was still asleep.
The wrinkles between his eyebrows were not obvious as before.
There was a business magazine in his right hand.
His left hand was embracing her as usual.
They tended to keep this pose as they were still in South Africa.
One night when they were in South Africa, she felt uncomfortable and couldn't breathe smoothly. The next day's morning, she found that she was on the side of Joseph's left hand.
And from that night on, no matter whether they were in South Africa or in New York, he would let her be on his left side while she nestled in his arm naturally. He acted as her pillow, actually.
Irish asked whether it would hurt him with this pose. Joseph answered lightly that he was used to that.
Irish thought that this pose would just be sweet for lovers but not for a mistress and her owner.
She turned her back to him.
And soon, she felt suffocated.
But very quickly, Joseph's arm stretched out to turn her body over, and his left arm circled her shoulder while his right arm put her into his bosom.
She was again in his bosom. His chin touched her head lightly. Again, the newborn stubble hurt her skin.
Irish thought that Joseph was awake.
And after being still for a long time, she found that he was asleep. All the actions were just out of the subconscious.
In this way, Irish went back to New York.
When she landed in New York, looking at the crowd outside the window, Irish felt that she was alive. At this time, she felt it unreasonable to say that human beings longed for solitude.
Joseph gave her two options again. Firstly, continue to stay in his villa. And secondly, she must come back to her home in Midtown Manhattan.
No matter her choice, Irish knew that he had already put her into his range in his control.
Finally, she chose her home in Midtown Manhattan.
That house had been cleaned thoroughly. Everything was just in the right place. They were all bought by her. Her suitcase was just standing beside the sofa.
Looking at the suitcase for a long time, Irish thought of the moment when Joseph hit her.
After coming back to New York, Joseph didn't appear.
Irish stayed in her house in Midtown Manhattan for two days. And from the 3rd day on, she began to live in her uncle's house. Again, there was no call from Joseph.
Two days later, she decided to go to work.
She returned to work for the Linkus Mental Research Institute and university but not for Runestone Group.
Suddenly her phone rang. The call was from Roy.
He sincerely invited her to work back in Runestone Group and reminded her that she was also one of the shareholders.
Irish felt it was strange, so she went to the company and surprisingly found that Joseph had also returned. He sat in the office of Runestone Group. Unlike his casual dress as usual, he wore a business suit and sat in a formal pose, which was really strange for Irish.
Roy was more uncomfortable. He asked Irish with a forced smile, "Do you feel me strange?"