Chapter 8: The Farewell

The days stretched into weeks, and Liu Wei found himself increasingly torn between his loyalty to Xiaoyu and the demands of his own tumultuous life. Visits to Xiaoyu became less frequent as he struggled to navigate his own grief and the weight of his responsibilities.

One fateful afternoon, Liu Wei stood at Xiaoyu's doorstep, his heart heavy with unspoken words. The once lively Song family home felt eerily quiet, its walls echoing with the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Song's laughter.

Xiaoyu greeted him with a weary smile, her eyes betraying the exhaustion that weighed heavily upon her. She leaned against the doorframe for support, a silent testament to the toll that grief had taken on her fragile spirit.

"Liu Wei," Xiaoyu began softly, her voice tinged with sorrow, "you've been distant lately."

Liu Wei shifted uncomfortably, his gaze falling to the floor. "I… I've had a lot on my mind," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xiaoyu nodded understandingly, though her heart ached with the unspoken truth between them. She knew that Liu Wei's absence was not a reflection of his feelings for her, but rather a consequence of the overwhelming burden he carried.

"I have to go," Liu Wei said suddenly, his words hanging heavily in the air.

Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat as she looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Go? Where?"

Liu Wei hesitated, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "I… I need to figure things out," he said haltingly. "I can't stay here right now."

Tears welled up in Xiaoyu's sightless eyes as she struggled to comprehend the depth of Liu Wei's words. "But… what about us?" she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

Liu Wei reached out, gently cupping Xiaoyu's face in his hands. "Xiaoyu," he said softly, "you know how much you mean to me. I promise you, this isn't goodbye forever."

Xiaoyu's heart shattered into a million pieces at Liu Wei's words. She knew that he was struggling with his own grief and guilt, that his decision to leave was borne out of a desperate need to find his own path forward.

"I'll come back," Liu Wei continued earnestly, his voice filled with determination. "I just need time to sort things out. Please… trust me."

Xiaoyu nodded slowly, her fingers trembling as she clutched the crescent moon pendant around her neck. "I trust you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

With a final, lingering touch, Liu Wei reluctantly let go of Xiaoyu's face. He stepped back, his heart heavy with the weight of their unspoken goodbye. Turning away, he walked down the path that led away from the only home he had ever known.

Alone in the doorway, Xiaoyu watched through tear-blurred eyes as Liu Wei disappeared from view. The world seemed to tilt on its axis as she clung to the promise he had made, to the belief that their friendship would endure despite the distance that threatened to separate them.

Days turned into weeks, and Xiaoyu found herself adrift in a sea of loneliness and uncertainty. The Song family home felt emptier than ever, its walls echoing with the silence of her grief.

But amidst the pain and loss, Xiaoyu clung to the crescent moon pendant like a lifeline. It was a reminder of the friendship and promise she shared with Liu Wei, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume her.

"I'll wait for you," Xiaoyu whispered into the empty room, her words a silent vow. "I'll wait for as long as it takes."

And as she stood alone in the doorway, watching the sun set on another day, Xiaoyu found solace in the belief that one day, Liu Wei would return to her side. Until then, she would hold onto hope and the enduring promise of their silent farewell.