cw : mcd LWZ has been with his Wei Ying for 65 years, that's longer...
ron@ronniexian
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Sep 05, 2024
~4 min read
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cw : mcd
LWZ has been with his Wei Ying for 65 years, that's longer than their son has been alive, together since 15. It's been a beautiful life, with the ups and downs of growing up, but every moment worth living for.
And now, it seems, it's time to say goodbye
LWZ has been with his Wei Ying for 65 years, that's longer than their son has been alive, together since 15. It's been a beautiful life, with the ups and downs of growing up, but every moment worth living for.
And now, it seems, it's time to say goodbye
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Any regret has long since been forgotten, no sorry, no thank you. They did what they had to do, and they loved each other through it all.
As he sits on the slightly uncomfortable hospital chair, holding WWX's cold hand between his, LWJ reminisces about the past few years.
As he sits on the slightly uncomfortable hospital chair, holding WWX's cold hand between his, LWJ reminisces about the past few years.
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He never feared growing old, as it was part of life. He didn't mind the grey hairs or the stiff joints.
Even WWX, though he complained throughout their whole morning stretch exercises, did not resent his aging body, and embraced his creaky knee and back pain.
Even WWX, though he complained throughout their whole morning stretch exercises, did not resent his aging body, and embraced his creaky knee and back pain.
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LWJ can't remember the exact moment he finally gave in and cut his hair short because combing it by himself became troublesome, and WWX's arthritis didn't allow him to help. But he does remember the joy of realizing he could still comb Wei Ying's, if WWX sat down and LWJ stood up
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behind him
He cant remember when they mutually decided their walks around the park had come to an end, but LWJ still thinks fondly of WWX's teasing as they followed the exercises the physiotherapist gave them to do instead
"Langege, have you no shame! Butt in the air like that"
He cant remember when they mutually decided their walks around the park had come to an end, but LWJ still thinks fondly of WWX's teasing as they followed the exercises the physiotherapist gave them to do instead
"Langege, have you no shame! Butt in the air like that"
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He can't remember when he realized that WWX's notorious bad memory was getting worst, but he can still picture with extreme clarity the exact moment they received the Alzheimer's diagnosis.
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There's so much LWJ doesn't recall. At 80 years old, that's to be expected. And yet, he is sure there are many things about their life together that he will remember to the very end.
The last time his Wei Ying spoke clearly to him is one of them.
The last time his Wei Ying spoke clearly to him is one of them.
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"Zhanzhan," WWX had said softly, taking a hold of LWJ's hand a slowly bringing it to his dry lips for a kiss. "It's time. Take me to the hospital."
"Wei Ying!"
"I don't want you to sleep on the bed I died in."
"Wei Ying!"
"I don't want you to sleep on the bed I died in."
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LWJ couldn't tell, at that moment, if the trembling in his hands was grief or simply old age.
He bent down and kissed his Wei Ying, first his wrinkled, delicate forehead, then his colorless, beloved lips.
"Mn," LWJ agreed at last. "I will call Sizhui."
He bent down and kissed his Wei Ying, first his wrinkled, delicate forehead, then his colorless, beloved lips.
"Mn," LWJ agreed at last. "I will call Sizhui."
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Their son met them at the hospital. WWX stubbornly held on to consciousness until he could weakly hold their boy - now a grown man with gray hairs of his own - in his arms one final time.
Sizhui cried on his baba's shoulder as he used to when he was little and WWX wiped it away.
Sizhui cried on his baba's shoulder as he used to when he was little and WWX wiped it away.
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It's been a few hours since then. Sizhui stayed until WWX fell asleep, but once the doctor told them it wouldn't be long, LWJ asked him to step outside.
It might be unfair, even cruel, but this was what Wei Ying asked of them.
It might be unfair, even cruel, but this was what Wei Ying asked of them.
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"I love you both," he had told them before his eyes slipped shut. "Sizhui," his voice had been faint, "let me be with a-die."
Sizhui had kissed WWX's forehead, then bowed to him and hugged LWJ before quietly leaving the room.
Through it all, LWJ did not cry once.
Sizhui had kissed WWX's forehead, then bowed to him and hugged LWJ before quietly leaving the room.
Through it all, LWJ did not cry once.
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Once they were alone again he sat down and took WWX's hand once more. He kept an eye on the monitors behind WWX even if he couldn't understand them. He watched WWX's chest slowly rise and fall and was surprised when WWX spoke again.
"..n Zhan."
"I'm here."
"...ve you."
"..n Zhan."
"I'm here."
"...ve you."
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"I love you too," LWJ told him, squeezing his hand. "Wei Ying has lived well, he should rest now."
WWX didn't say anything anymore, but he did squeeze LWJ's hand. It was enough.
WWX didn't say anything anymore, but he did squeeze LWJ's hand. It was enough.
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LWJ lost track of time after than, but a nurse came by a couple of times since so he figures it has been a little over an hour.
The last time the nurse came was because the equipment WWX had been connected to had started beeping frantically.
The last time the nurse came was because the equipment WWX had been connected to had started beeping frantically.
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LWJ understood the meaning of that, he had no questions or demands so he simply thanked the nurse and she left them alone.
That must have been about half an hour ago.
Now, WWX's chest barely moved at all. His had has been growing increasingly cold under LWJ's.
That must have been about half an hour ago.
Now, WWX's chest barely moved at all. His had has been growing increasingly cold under LWJ's.
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LWJ used his free hand to cup WWX's cold face.
"Rest," he said quietly. I will be alright. Wei Ying does not need to worry." He squeezed WWX's hand again. "I love you."
It might have been his imagination, but LWJ could swear he felt WWX lightly squeeze back.
"Rest," he said quietly. I will be alright. Wei Ying does not need to worry." He squeezed WWX's hand again. "I love you."
It might have been his imagination, but LWJ could swear he felt WWX lightly squeeze back.
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He smiled as the first tear finally escaped the rim of his eyes.
"Wei Ying. I know."
WWX let out a soft sigh and then his body went limp, his chest stopped moving and LWJ closed his eyes.
"Wei Ying. I know."
WWX let out a soft sigh and then his body went limp, his chest stopped moving and LWJ closed his eyes.
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In a moment he would call the doctor, he would walk to Sizhui, and tell him, he would deal with the bureaucracy and start the funeral preparations.
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But for now, LWJ would take this final moment, and he would hold his Wei Ying's hand one last time and tell him:
"Thank you, for the most wonderful life."
The End.
"Thank you, for the most wonderful life."
The End.
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