[ Stories ] To the Place Where the Sun Doesn’t Reach

Published June 07, 2024
The main male character seems a lot like you... But, the female lead who loves him for a lifetime, is not me...

stories-to-the-place-where-sun-doesnt-reach

1:00 AM.

The last text from "Him":

“Sleep well, forget about me... Someone better than me will come along and love you more genuinely than I ever did... I’m sorry... so very sorry...”

Emily gripped her phone tightly with one hand, while the other covered her mouth, stifling the sobs that threatened to break free. But it was futile. Tears streamed down her face, and her sobs grew louder. Had she really lost "Him"? No! She couldn't accept it! She wanted to scream, to tear apart the oppressive darkness of the night. Desperately, she sent him a message:

“Don’t leave me!”

But the network didn’t confirm delivery. Helpless, Emily could do nothing but cry until she was too exhausted and fell asleep.

The first rays of morning sunlight peeked through the window, hitting her face and waking her. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and the bright light made her squint, looking utterly miserable. Her throat felt dry and raspy. The sunlight illuminated her face, reflecting her disheveled appearance in the mirror. She was startled at her own reflection. She looked wretched! Frightened, she quickly pulled the curtains shut, blocking out the sunlight.

Emily felt a pang of nostalgia... “He” had left so abruptly, giving her no chance to hold on. It was something she never expected. They hadn't even argued. He suddenly said he had someone new. That’s all she knew, and she had to accept it. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks again. She felt like she was dying inside!

In the days that followed, she couldn’t reach him. Over half a year of being in love, and now she was supposed to forget him immediately? How? All Emily could do was cry and remember. Her tear-stained diary and blog were filled with his images. Her friends felt sorry for her, but none could help. She lived on memories, not the present.

She became a ghost of herself, lost in a daze. She still went to school every day, but didn’t cry anymore, nor did she smile. At night, at 10:30, she sent him goodnight texts as if that breakup night was just a dream. Despite knowing those messages would never be answered...

One evening, after her extra class ended at 7 PM, as she walked out of the school gate, she saw him standing not far away. Her heart thudded, almost calling out his name. But before she could, she froze. Sophia, her classmate, walked out, climbed on his bike, and hugged him affectionately... just like she used to. They drove off together, right in front of her. She stood there, motionless, for a long time, watching them disappear. Her eyes filled with tears that wouldn’t fall...

She started going to the city library. Not to study like others, but to listen to music, to hide. The library was the quietest place, and no one would bother her if she cried there. Every day, she was there from 5 PM until it closed at 7 PM. She chose the most secluded corner, next to a window that was never opened. The novel in front of her was the same one she had borrowed a week ago and hadn’t finished. She couldn’t focus.

Today was no different. The book lay open, unread. She put on her headphones, set the volume to 6, and played a song on repeat:

“Now, you are leaving me. I will not doubt our love, the stars call your name, I wait for you. Wind, if you fly away, tell him: In the place where the sun doesn’t reach, I sit and wait for you forever…”

Lost in the music, her eyes stung again. She lay her head on the desk. Suddenly, a warm ray of sunlight touched her hand, startling her. A tall boy was trying to open the squeaky window next to her. Wiping her tears quickly, she pulled out her headphones and complained:

"Could you not open the window, please?"

The boy turned around, surprised:

"Huh? Is this your window?"

"No," Emily was annoyed, "But don’t you see it’s sunny?"

"Evening sun won’t tan you," he laughed.

"I don’t like the sun!" Emily snapped.

The boy paused, then spoke:

"Alright, I’ll close it. Why do you always look so grim?"

"David your own business," she retorted.

Closing the window, he sat down beside her, looking straight into her eyes:

"It makes me sad."

"Doesn’t concern you..."

Emily acted annoyed, burying her face in her book. The boy gently said:

"I’m David. Nice to meet you."

"Hmm."

"What’s your name?"

"Hmm," Emily mumbled absentmindedly.

"Is your name 'Hmm'? Your parents must be funny."

Startled, she blushed:

"Oh, sorry... It’s Emily. Emily."

"Nice name, doesn’t fit your face," David grinned.

"Hey," she widened her eyes, "Why?"

"Your name is beautiful, but your face..."

"What about my face?" Emily snapped.

"Looks like... a ‘Hot Girl from the Fruit Mountain’..."

"Are you saying I look like a monkey?" she gasped.

"You said it yourself. Quite smart," he laughed.

"Sure, you must be very handsome to mock others."

David smiled:

"Smile for me," he pulled her mouth wide, "There, you look human now."

"Aaahhh! That hurts! Are you crazy?"

"Crazy enough to talk to you," he teased.

"Right," Emily pouted, "Rarely meet a nutcase like you!"

David chuckled:

"You could never be as crazy as me even in ten years!"

Seeing Emily quiet, he continued:

"Why do you come here?"

"Why do you?" Emily shot back.

"I need to study, retaking college exams this year..."

"I see," Emily sneered, "Thought you were smart, but failed last year..."

"No, I was studying abroad."

"Why didn’t you stay there? Why come back?"

"I wanted to."

"Crazy, indeed."

David sighed:

"Actually... My dad had an accident last year and passed away..."

Emily looked at him with wide eyes. Seeing him look away, she mumbled:

"I’m sorry..."

"It’s okay," David said softly, "I came back to be with my mom."

Minh joked again. Emily smiled, a rare occurrence in the past two weeks:

"You’re funny!"

David changed the topic:

"You seem sad. Are you okay?"

"Yes... How did you know?" she sighed.

"Just a guess," he winked.

"You guessed right," Emily smiled sadly.

"Where’s your boyfriend? Why not talk to him?"

"He’s dead..."

"How?"

"Climbed a chili tree, fell, and died..."

"Nice ending," David laughed.

"I’m joking..." she lowered her eyes.

"Why are you sad? Tell me, if I can’t help, I’ll still try."

Emily winced:

"I’m really sad."

"Why?"

"Got dumped."

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes," she exhaled.

Mentioning it made her heart ache. She lowered her head, and David gently asked:

"Do you still love him?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Fight for him, pull him back..."

"Too late, someone else took him..." she chuckled.

"Get him back."

"I have my pride..."

"How so?"

"I’m not pretty, but I have self-respect," Emily choked.

David laughed:

"Girls are prideful, sometimes losing important things."

"True..."

"Do you hate him?"

She looked at David, a strange light in her eyes, but her voice softened:

"Yes..."

"Want revenge?"

"Yes..."

"Know how?"

"No..."

Emily hesitated, looking at David imploringly.

"Tell me, please?"

"Live better than him, make him regret."

Emily deflated:

"Easier said than done."

David stood, stretching:

"Slowly, I’ll help. Trust me, after studying abroad, you’ll be as strong as a European girl."

"Okay..."

As the sunlight faded, David urged:

"Shall we go? It’s getting late."

"Yes."

Emily hesitated, gathering her things. She walked out of the library, David called after her:

"Hey..!"

"What?"

David waved:

"See you here tomorrow?"

"Sure," Emily smiled.

She didn’t expect meeting David would make her feel so much lighter. She had laughed, twice. Maybe tonight, she wouldn’t need sleeping pills...

The next day, Emily hurried to the library. The familiar corner, the closed window, dark. No sign of David, she sat down, head on the table, when someone poked her:

"Emily?"

"Hi David," she smiled.

"Late today."

"Right, you’re here early," she mocked.

"I’m never late."

"Sure, Einstein."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Both laughed. David handed her a notebook:

"Look at this."

Emily opened it, surprised:

"This... did you write it?"

"Yes, just for you," David smiled.

"Why?"

"To make you laugh."

"Thanks."

Emily read, laughed out loud. David’s humor was infectious. His jokes, silly yet thoughtful. Slowly, the library visits became Emily’s favorite. They talked, laughed, shared stories. David always had something new to tell, and Emily forgot her sadness, even for a moment.

Months passed. 
David ’s presence became her solace. One evening, as they walked out together, he asked:

"Feel better?"

"Yes, thank you," Emily smiled.

"Good," he said softly, "I’m leaving next month..."

"Why?" she gasped.

"Got accepted to a school abroad," David explained.

"Oh..." she felt a pang of loss.

"Will you be okay?"

"Yes," Emily lied.

"Don’t lie," David whispered.

"I’ll miss you," she confessed.

David hugged her:

"I’ll miss you too, very much."

Their time together dwindled. The final day came. David held her hands:

"Remember, you’re strong, beautiful, and can do anything."

"Thanks, David," she cried.

"Smile for me," he lifted her chin, "Always smile."

Emily nodded, tears falling. David kissed her forehead, then walked away. She watched until he disappeared, her heart heavy yet hopeful. David’s words echoed in her mind. She wiped her tears, smiling. She would live well, better than ever, for him, for herself.

Years later, a familiar name popped up on her phone. “David”. She smiled, answered:

"Hi David."

"Emily! I’m back. Can we meet?"

"Yes, of course."

They met at their old spot in the library. Emily looked at David, older, wiser, yet the same. He smiled:

"You look happy."

"I am," she smiled.

"I kept my promise."

"Yes, you did."

They talked, laughed, catching up. David never left again, staying by her side, their bond unbroken. The sun finally reached her, warming her heart, illuminating her life.


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