Normal People by Sally Rooney
This was taken at the High Park zoo. They had a capybara! Here is my attempt to document this moment.
i was happy at the mcdonalds inside the wal-mart. there was a plastic statue of ronald sitting on a bench with a space for one or two kids beside him. there was fluorescent lighting. i had a cheeseburger, which had a very sweet-tasting bun.
my hands were chapped. i could only watch despondently as multiple climbers took on the routes i had tried and failed. then one by one, they left, chatting happily about their great workout. until there was one man left that i had met at another climbing gym. we briefly exchanged greetings, then he left too, hauling along his tripod and CamelBak. i was the only one in the gym but could not climb any further, so i sat and stared at the walls for a good twenty minutes. the walls seemed to be caving in and the boulders mocked me with their colourfulness. you'll keep trying but never reach the end of my route, which isn't even that high up, they were saying. the lights were on, the music was playing. no one was climbing. i decided to try a couple of medium difficulty routes. more people walked into the gym. their presence bothered me. i decided to sit and watch the more successful climbers, and analyze their back movements. i learned nothing, except for the fact that everyone was stronger than me because i had already climbed for one and a half hours. my forearms felt stiffer than before. i decided to leave.
As a kid, my parents would sternly tell me to always remove the price tag on a gift before wrapping it. If I remembered anything growing up, it had to be this fact. The alternative scenario was too mortifying to them, they were that ingrained in whatever etiquette lessons they were taught growing up in China. Although, Chinese people will all emphatically reject any money or undeserved gift; a universal tremor can be seen running up their arm into their flapping hand.
去去去，不用不用 >:(
让我再看你一遍
从南到北
像是被五环路蒙住的双眼
请你再讲一遍
关于那天
抱着盒子的姑娘
和擦汗的男人
我知道
那些夏天
就像青春一样回不来
代替梦想的也只能是勉为其难
我知道
吹过的牛逼
也会随青春一笑了之
让我困在城市里
纪念你
让我再尝一口
秋天的酒
一直往南方开
不会太久
让我再听一遍
最美的那一句
你回家了
我在等你呢
我知道
那些夏天
就像青春一样回不来
代替梦想的也只能是勉为其难
我知道
吹过的牛逼也会随青春一笑了之
让我困在城市里
纪念你
我知道
那些夏天
就像你一样回不来
我已不会再对谁满怀期待
我知道
这个世界每天都有太多遗憾
所以
你好
再见
宋冬野
She was sitting at her desk, lost in thought. It was quite late at night, and she still had some reading she wanted to get done. She had a tendency to chew at the corner of her lip and finger while staring into deep space. Her desk was facing the window, looking onto the neighbouring house. The balcony lights suddenly turned on, which startled her out of her reverie. Three people walked onto the balcony, stretching and taking in the night air. Candles were lit, adding to the bright glow of the balcony. Good idea, it was cold outside... Her thoughts drifted along with her eyes, settling on the face of a young man, who was staring right at her! Her attention was focused for a second too long to look away. She gave a tentative smile and wave, bringing a wide grin to the man's rosy face. He was wearing a cap, but she could see some of his curly golden hair underneath. She thought he looked at ease and very happy where he was. After a few minutes goofily smiling at each other, he waved and went back to his phone, so she pulled out her book and started reading. In a few moments, the balcony lights went out, and everything outside her window became black again.
Alternatively:
She was reclined at her desk on the third floor, thinking. It was 1 am, and she still had some reading that she wanted to do. She had a tendency to chew at her index finger while staring into deep space. Her desk was facing the window, looking onto the neighbouring house. The balcony lights flipped on, startling her out of her reverie. Three people emerged onto the balcony, stretching in the night air and talking. Candles glowed crisply across the dark 4-meter distance, which made the floating balcony appear inviting and warm. It looks chilly out tonight... Her thoughts drifted with her eyes, settling on the face of a young man, who was staring right at her! Her attention was focused for a second too long to look away. She gave a tentative smile and wave, bringing a bright grin to the man's face that revealed some dimples. After a minute of grinning at each other, he waved and hunched back over his phone, so she opened her book and started reading. After a few moments, the lights flickered out, rendering the balcony instantly dark again. Illuminated by the light in her own room, she continued to read into the night.