(Flashback — 6 years ago)
After days of dry messages and long silences, I finally decided to reach out—not with pressure, not with anger, but with clarity.
"Yushen… can we talk? I want to understand. I'm not upset. I just… want to know where we are."
He replied almost immediately:
"Call me?"
I took a deep breath and dialed.
"Anna," his voice said, calm, careful.
"Yushen," I replied softly. "I just want to understand. My feelings haven't changed—they're still the same. What about you? Has anything changed?"
There was a pause, the kind of thoughtful pause only he could have.
"No," he said finally. "I still love you. That hasn't changed."
My chest softened at the words.
"I understand," I said. "But I want to know… why the distance these past weeks?"
He sighed quietly. Calm. Measured.
"It's complicated. My mom… she wouldn't approve. And I can't ask you to change or ask her to accept something she's not ready for."
I nodded, though he couldn't see me.
"So you're worried about the future," I said.
"About what we can't openly have?"
"Exactly," he admitted. "It's not about love… it's about reality. I can't openly be with you in front of her. Not yet. Not without consequences."
I stayed silent for a moment, letting it sink in. Then spoke calmly:
"I understand, Yushen. I'm not asking you to fight her for me. I just… want honesty. And I want you to know my feelings haven't changed."
Another thoughtful pause.
"I appreciate that, Anna. I love you… and I always will. But I need to step back a little. Not because I want to, but because it's the practical thing to do."
I smiled softly, feeling a strange warmth in the calmness of his words.
"I get it," I said. "We both care… we both love. But some things… we just have to respect for now."
He exhaled slowly.
"Yes. And that's why I needed to talk to you directly. So we're clear… we're honest. Even if the situation isn't ideal."
I nodded to myself.
"It's okay, Yushen. We're okay. We understand each other. That's enough for now."
For a moment, there was just quiet.
No stress. No shouting. No tears.
Just two people who loved each other… thinking carefully, listening, and accepting the truth as it was.
"I wish it could be different," he said gently.
"So do I," I replied. "But we'll deal with what we have. Together… in our way."
And in that calm, patient silence… we both knew:
The love was still there.
The respect was still there.
And even if life had made things impossible for now…
We were okay.
💔✨