It was an ordinary afternoon, and the sun was lazily shining on the streets of the small town. I, Uncle Wang, a seventy-year-old man, wandered aimlessly through the hustle and bustle of the city alone. On days like these, I often feel like an old tortoise that has lost its way, carrying a heavy shell on its back, gradually taking old steps.
Although life is uneventful, I have never felt lonely because of it. Because I have two children, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai. They often call me to care for me, and sometimes send me condolences to make me feel warm. However, since the death of my wife, there has always been an empty place in my heart, as if I had lost a bridge to support my dreams, allowing me to wander in the night.
Finally, one day, I decided to find a partner for myself and a place to return to this lonely heart. So, I started my "companion journey".
First of all, I chose to participate in the community's senior blind date event. On that day, I was ready to go, neatly dressed and with neatly combed white hair. When I walked into the humble venue, I saw a group of elderly people chatting with each other. Some are dressed up in a flamboyant way, while others look unpretentious. I couldn't help but secretly congratulate myself on choosing an ordinary outfit that looked more real.
In the short conversations, I got to know several peers, some of whom were talking about the way to care for the elderly, and some of whom shared the bits and pieces of their grandchildren. Although many people are widowed and lonely, everyone is a person with hope, eager to find a partner with whom they can spend their old age.
However, although the blind date event brought me some companionship, it never touched the string in my heart. So, I turned to other ways.
Secondly, I attended a reading club for the elderly. There, I met an old woman who loved poetry. She has silver hair and a gleam of wisdom in her eyes. We swim in the ocean of poetry and share our insights on life. Gradually, I found that her company made my mood calm and fulfilling.
However, the good times were short-lived. My grandmother told me that she was going to spend time with her grandson who was far away, and that was the end of the reading club. I was dismayed to realize that the encounters and partings in my life ebb and flow like ebbs and flows, and are unpredictable.
In the end, I decided to try my hand at finding a partner on the internet. Although I was a little unfamiliar with this novel method, I resolutely turned on the computer for the sake of my heart's desire. After a series of actions, I signed up for an elderly dating site.
There, I got acquainted with an old lady who lived in the city. Her house was not far from me, and we quickly decided to meet. The first time we met, she came across as very pleasant. We walked around the park together, drank tea and chatted, as if we had found a long-lost friend.
However, just as we were getting better, the old lady told me that she was going abroad to spend time with her son. I fell into deep thought and couldn't help but lament the impermanence of life. Perhaps, it is really difficult for me to find a partner who can accompany me until I am old at this age.
Just as I was feeling helpless, my phone rang. It's a call from a child. They told me that they had discussed it and decided to let me move to Beijing to live with them. I felt a wave of warmth rush over me.
So, accompanied by my children, I moved to Beijing. They arranged a comfortable place for me to live in and had hot meals every day. Here, I felt the warmth of home, as if I had found a long-lost relative.
Although I didn't find a partner in my old age, I found meaning in the company of my children. Perhaps, sometimes, true happiness does not lie in having a partner, but in having someone around to care for and accompany you. I learned that life is not all smooth sailing, but learning to maintain peace of mind in an unpredictable world.
The ending of the story may not be happy in the traditional sense, but it is an ordinary and real life story. Perhaps, in this world, everyone has their own unique way of finding happiness, and my happiness is to spend my old age in the care of my children. This experience made me more convinced that family affection is the most real and lasting companionship.