Night soon rolled on by, the pair of friends continued on talking into the night. After spending the past few hours catching up with her best friend Ah-Mi and her husband.
"I still can't believe you were the first one to get married Ah-Mi!"
"Heh Heh, things just happened and I guess it was meant to be."
"Well, I'm happy for you. I wish I could've been there. I'm sure you were a beautiful bride."
Ah-Mi smiles to hide a hint of her sadness. As to not worry Qian Lan, Ah-Mi places her right hand above Qian Lan's right hand that was laying on her lap.
"I'm sure you will be a beautiful bride too Qian Lan. Time may seemed to have moved slower for you, but even I can tell that you have gotten prettier over time."
Qian blushes and thanks Ah-Mi for her kind words; taking her off guard.
"Heh, thanks Ah-Mi. Only you would say things like this to me."
"What? Impossible, unless your whole family is blind."
Ah-Mi says jokingly to make Qian Lan smile.
"Shhhh. Don't say that Ah-Mi. They will come after you."
"Don't worry, I have my husband now and I know for sure Lei Yi will someday propose to your sister. I'm practically family to you all now."
"You're right about that."
The two continued to chatter among themselves as the men went off on their own talks. Soon, midnight came around and Ah-Mi had to leave.
"It's getting late, I have work tomorrow so I have to head on home now Qian Lan. Will you be okay on your own?"
"Ah-Mi don't worry, I managed being sucked into a different time and lived with strangers, I'm sure I'll be fine."
Qian Lan smiles and assures Ah-Mi as they walk to the front entrance. Hugging each other and saying their farewells, Qian Lan watches as Ah-Mi and her husband leave their premises. Slowly closing the door, Qian Lan turns around to find Jiang standing near the closet by the staircase.
"What is it Jiang?"
"You didn't tell her that this will probably be the last time she ever sees you?"
"It's okay, I'd rather she remembers only the good memories."
"Do you regret it? Do you regret meeting me? If it's too much....you can always stay here, with your family."
"Jiang, you are my family."
Qian Lan walks to the sulking Jiang and places both her hands on his cheek.
"Thud."
Qian Lan taken by surprise quickly removes her hand and spots the kitchen light on.
"Jiang you can head to bed, I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Without looking back, Qian Lan walks into the dimly lit kitchen and spots her mothers thin figure hovering over the sink.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
"Qian Lan? Did Ah-Mi just leave?"
"Yes, just now. Why are you still up? Go get some rest."
"How can I sleep peacefully knowing I'm losing you forever after tomorrow? What can I even say or do at this point that will change your mind Qian Lan?"
"Mom, I'm sorry for being selfish and only thinking of myself. But for so long.....I've always listened to you. I want to do something for myself and find my own happiness."
"Qian Lan....sigh, maybe this is my karma for everything I've ever done."
"I'm not blaming you mother, but with Xia Lan here I'm more at ease knowing you guys will have her around to help."
"Xia Lan is herself and you are yourself. She cannot replace you and you cannot replace her."
"Mom..."
Qian Lan silently weeps in her mothers embrace. As if time had stopped the mother and child cried into the night for what felt like forever, Qian Lan finally lets go of her mothers hold.
"Mom, will you sleep with me today like you used to?"
"Hah, I thought you were grown up now?"
"Just this one last time mom."
Qian Lan's mother weakly smiles and nods in agreement. The two quickly walks up the old wooden stairs and into Qian Lan's old room. Without much left to talk about, they slept in silence. Qian Lan soon fell asleep to the breathing sounds of her mother next to her.
Hours continued to fly by, as if time itself wasn't limited already. Qian Lan soon wakes up to her mother nudging at her to wake up as it was a new day.
"Qian Lan, wake up. We have a lot to do today."
Yawning and rubbing her eyes as she stretched her thin long limbs. Qian Lan sits up by her mother and sees the sun peek in through her small window. The sun was now high in the sky, and it had to had been at least ten o'clock now.
"Mom? You overslept too huh? Are we going somewhere today?"
"Picking up your dress, of course."
"For what?"
"Your wedding dress. We're getting you a beautiful traditional one! Now get up!"
Qian Lan's mother quickly leaves the room and heads off to find her husband. Meanwhile, Qian Lan feels a weight lifted off her shoulders after her talk with her mother the night before.
After refreshing up, without even eating brunch Qian Lan's mother drags her and Xia Lan out to look for a wedding dress. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Qian Lan stared at their house as her mother drove further away.
"I didn't even get to tell Jiang I was leaving for the day."
"Ah, he'll be fine. Your dad can keep him company, besides he gets to keep you forever after today so he can live without you for a few hours."
"Ha Ha I guess so, mom."
Qian Lan's mother brings her to an old looking shop in china town New York. It was definitely and old shabby looking building but inside was well kept and clean. As the trio entered the building, they were quickly greeted by an elderly woman looking to be in her seventy's.
"Ah, welcome ladies."
"We're picking up her wedding dress."
Qian Lan's mother points to Qian Lan and glances back at the old lady.
"Oh, come this way."
Everyone quietly followed the old lady into the back where there were racks of traditional red wedding gowns. The old lady walks to the back room and comes back with an dress all wrapped up in plastic.
"Here, try it on and see if I need to make any alterations."
Qian Lan nods and takes the dress from the old lady and walks into a changing room as Xia Lan and her mother sat at some chairs by the mirrors waiting for her. Layer after layer, Qian Lan threw on her traditional dress quickly as she didn't know how to properly wear them. Her last memories of wearing a red wedding dress wasn't exactly the most memorable one either.
Finally feeling she did her best, Qian Lan walks out with her red veil partially covering her face towards her mother and sister. Qian Lan watched as her mother gasped in awe along with her sister. Unable to hold back her tears, Qian Lan's mother sheds a few tears of happiness mixed with sadness.
"It's perfect."
Qian Lan's mother walks to her and lifts her veil up, revealing a crying Qian Lan. This was it, this was the moment she knew there was no going back.