"It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea, that a maiden there lived whom you may know by the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me."
Gu Meili read aloud as she held her favorite book of collected poems. With Gu Shufen reading his evening paper, he listened to his wife's sweet voice as she continued reading the poem aloud.
"I was a child and she was a child, in this kingdom by the sea, but we loved with a love that was more than love—I and my Annabel Lee—With a love that the winged seraphs of Heaven coveted her and me."
Gu Shufen took a little sip of his coffee. With him sighing as he continued reading his paper, he couldn't help but feel sad with the tone of the poem that he was listening to.