Li Ming sat on a bench in the park, looking at the chess cheats in his hand that had been flipped through countless times. In the park, seniors of the same age are enjoying their retirement: some leisurely walking their dogs, others seriously playing chess with their partners. Li Ming's eyes fell on the old man who was playing with his grandson, his smile was so bright, and his eyes were full of satisfaction and joy in life, which made Li Ming think of his three old friends.
Brother Qiang always likes to share his travel photos and interesting stories about his encounters in the dating circle. I remember one time, Brother Qiang excitedly told the anecdote of his trip to Tibet, the feeling of being at the foot of Mount Everest, and the open-mindedness seemed to be right in front of him. "Brother Ming, when are you free, and we're going to go out for a walk?" Brother Qiang always encouraged him like this.
Brother Gang is more like a star in the community, and after he retires, he either organizes chess and card competitions in the community, or hosts various parties, and enjoys it. Whenever I see Li Ming, I always hold his hand and say, "Brother Ming, come to the event more when you have time, everyone misses you a lot." ”
As for Brother Hua, he is a standard warm old grandfather, who often takes a group of little children to the park, carrying a big kite in his hand, and his grandchildren revolve around him, always with a happy smile on his face.
These vivid images, like something that happened just yesterday, but now they are gone. Everyone's departure was like a heavy hammer hitting Li Ming's heart, making him restless. Especially once, he inadvertently looked up in the chess game and looked at the position where Brother Qiang often sits, which was empty. The sudden void made Li Ming sit for a while.
This loss made Li Ming realize that the bits and pieces they had experienced together were so precious, and this warmth and memories should not be ignored. Brother Qiang, Brother Gang, and Brother Hua, their lifestyles and attitudes made Li Ming start to think about how he should spend his retirement life.
Today is another sunny afternoon, Li Ming has decided that he will start recording what he sees and thinks every day, even if it is just the order of flowers blooming in the garden, even if it is just a new routine in chess. At this moment, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts: "Brother Ming, you are here!" Come on, everyone is waiting for you to play chess. ”
Li Ming looked up and saw that it was Lao Wang, a chess friend in the community, and his heart warmed and he put the cheats in his backpack. Perhaps, what his friends left behind him after they left him was not only memories, but also their attitude towards life. Li Ming knew that it was time to pass on this legacy. He got up and walked to his chess friends, ready to start his own part of his retirement.
Since his retirement, Li Ming's life has become quiet and orderly. He began to participate frequently in activity groups for the elderly, trying to find new joy in life. At a health lecture, Brother Qiang enthusiastically recommended a health regimen to him, which inspired Li Ming and wanted to try it. Brother Qiang put his arm on his shoulder and said, "Brother Ming, let me tell you, learning this is very good for your body, you have to try." ”
That day, the lecture had just ended, and Li Ming was planning to go for a walk in the park with Brother Qiang to try the breathing methods he had learned in the lecture. But when they just went out, they received the news of Brother Gang's death. On the other end of the phone, it was Brother Gang's wife, choked up: "Brother Ming, Brother Gang... He's gone. ”
After answering the phone, the smile on Li Ming's face froze. What came to his mind was the fragment of playing chess with Brother Gang and discussing flowers and plants, and those happy memories were shrouded in sadness for a moment. Brother Qiang stood quietly beside him, also stunned. He patted Li Ming's shoulder and comforted: "Brother Ming, life and death are fateful, just Brother Gang, he is happy." ”
In the days that followed, Li Ming became more reticent. Whenever he walked alone, he would always inadvertently walk to the door of Brother Gang's house, and then stand there for a long time until the sun set. He began to keep a diary, recording his thoughts and feelings, along with his nostalgia for his old friend, word by word. Writing became his way of communicating with the world, and although his old friends who had passed away could not hear it, he saw it as a spiritual exchange.
In another round of early morning, the sun warmed every inch of air, and Li Ming took a leisurely walk on the park's paths. At this point in time, Brother Hua usually also appears, taking his most beloved grandson to chase hide and seek together. But today, the park is missing the laughter of the children, and the gentle instructions of Brother Hua. When Li Ming learned that Brother Hua had died of a sudden heart attack, his whole person seemed to be drained of strength.
Li Hua's departure is like an overturned five-flavor bottle, and every fragment of the past is so vivid. The back that often played with the children, and the always amiable smile, was particularly stinging in Li Ming's memory.
The lively activity center for the elderly on weekdays gradually became too much for Li Ming to adapt to. Whenever someone mentions Brother Qiang, Brother Gang or Brother Hua, Li Ming will naturally change the topic, and those past days seem to have become a pain in his heart that he will never touch.
When he returned home, he wrote more and more diaries, and in addition to recording what he saw in his daily life, he also recorded his nostalgia for his old friends and his experience of life. Sitting alone at his desk, Li Ming seems to be in dialogue with his deceased friends through these words, telling them how he will continue to move forward and live in a more cherished and profound way.
The ups and downs of his thoughts made Li Ming look out the window more often, observing the small garden that he had carefully tended. He began to think about how to leave more memories for himself without regrets. Perhaps, he should do something he had never dared to think of before, and perhaps, it was not too late.
After losing three old friends, Li Ming felt that his world was gloomy, and his mood felt like he had fallen into a bottomless abyss. His days suddenly lost their former vitality, and his daily life seemed to be playing the same black and white video repeatedly.
But life had to go on, and he couldn't sink like this. One evening, Li Ming sat at his desk, staring at the diary that recorded his thoughts in the past few months. He lit the lamp, and the warm yellow light lit up the room, and cast a light on his heart.
Opening the diary, Li Ming flipped through the pages with clear handwriting, each page recording his sadness, confusion, and nostalgia for his old friends. He couldn't help but sigh, and a voice whispered to him in his heart, "You can't go on like this." ”
Yes, if Brother Qiang, Brother Gang, and Brother Hua knew what he was like now, they would definitely look at him with that kind of warm and sad eyes. He could imagine that Brother Gang would say, "Brother Ming, what's wrong with you?" yourself so sluggish. ”
Li Ming decided to immediately set a new set of rules for himself. First of all, he had to keep his body healthy, insist on getting up early every day for a walk, and practicing Tai Chi, just like the health lecture said, the body is the capital of the revolution.
Secondly, he should cherish the time he spends with his family and friends even more. Li Ming began to plan to have a fixed time every week to visit his children and grandchildren, and also to call some old friends who had not been in touch for many years to share the bits and pieces of life.
Third, Li Ming is determined to have the courage to try new things and no longer stick to his comfort zone. He signed up for a dance class in the community, and even though he didn't dance well, he felt satisfied and happy with every effort he tried.
Finally, no matter what the future holds, he must face every moment of life with a positive attitude. Whenever he encounters difficulties, he reminds himself that this is an opportunity to grow.
Each rule was written on the blank page of the diary one by one, and Li Ming's mood brightened. It was as if he saw a new self, a self that could move forward even in the dark.
The afterglow of the sun shone on the flower pots on the windowsill, and those bright flowers were in full bloom. Li Ming stood up and stretched. He walked to the window, took a deep breath, and watched the sun slowly set, and there was a warm current in his heart. It's an end and a new beginning.
The sunlight outside the window seemed to be dyed with warm colors, and when it shone on Li Ming's face, it brought a trace of warmth. After experiencing the haze of losing his best friend, Li Ming finally found an escape in the whirlpool of his heart. He understands that every breath is a gift of life, and he should cherish every minute and every second even more.
Since setting new rules of life, Li Ming has become more proactive. He began teaching his grandson chess, which was his and Gang's favorite pastime. Whenever the chess pieces on the chessboard fell steadily, he seemed to see Brother Gang's shadow again, smiling on the side and prompting the strategy of chess.
He learned to video chat on his phone, and although his fingers sometimes didn't listen, he was always able to make progress slowly under the patient guidance of his grandson. Whenever the smiling faces of children appear on the screen, Li Ming's face will also ripple with happiness.
Occasionally, Li Ming would take his wife on a trip. Although he no longer travels to the mountains and rivers like Brother Qiang, the scenery of the town is enough to make the two old men feel comfortable. The camera in my wife's hand "clicked" to freeze the beauty, and at that moment, I seemed to be able to hear Brother Qiang say in my ear: "Brother Ming, this scenery is good!" ”
All these changes are his promises to his three old friends, and they are also his insistence on himself. Warm memories are shaped little by little, filling the void of lost relatives and friends. Li Ming no longer worries about possible regrets in the future, because he knows that living in every moment of the present is the most real.
Slowly, Li Ming's life became more fulfilling, and he and his wife participated in a dance class in the community. Although his movements are not as flexible as those of a young man, his calmness and relaxation are his most precious treasures at the moment.
At night, under the warm light, Li Ming sat on the balcony, holding the diary that recorded too many memories. He wrote down today's date and began to write a new page: "Today I taught my grandson a few more chess moves, and looking at his thinking little brow, I seem to have returned to the time when I played chess with my old friends. I think they will be proud of me when they see me as I am in the Heavenly Spirits. ”
Li Ming closed the diary and smiled softly. He was finally able to face the bits and pieces of life with a peaceful heart, and savor every chapter of the rest of his life in his own way.