Grace Shields. Her name was forbidden in Noah's world. She was his first love.
Noah loved her with his whole heart. He gave her everything and treasured her. Noah travelled out for a year. He made sure to keep in touch with her and made her feel cherished. He treated her like a priority and not an option despite the distance barrier and his busy schedule. He was just eighteen years old at that time. His mother's death did not affect his love for her. He only left to get over his mother's death. But when he returned, he realized he had long lost her. She walked away and never looked back. Despite everything. Noah begged her and kept pleading but she wasn't moved. For two years, Noah was a shadow of himself. He could not get over her. That was when his heart died. No mother, no sibling, and no lover. Grace Shields. His first and last love.
Noah shivered at the thought. He had put the thought behind him and had given up on love. His heart belonged to only Grace but she killed it. But the woman from that night changed everything. He longed for her. He wanted her. He needed her. He had never felt the way he felt that night before. He swore to marry her as soon as he finds her.
The sun rose and smiled at Emily and her four year old son. Today was coincidentally exactly four years she fled from USA and migrated to China. After she divorced Noah, China was the only place she could think of. She had learnt Chinese as a foreign language while she was in school and she was very serious with the language course then. That helped her a lot. China was also the farthest she thought she could go from Noah. Noah always found who he wanted. Hence, she ran so far.
That day she had landed at the airport, she ran into a young girl of about nineteen years of age. She passed by swiftly and a purse dropped from her slightly open bag as she collided with Emily.
"Hey, you dropped this," Emily called out to her. She either didn't hear or maybe she didn't understand English. Emily picked up the purse and opened it. It contained some yaun notes and an ID. Her name was Gu Yanxi. Her contact was also on the ID. Emily decided to call her. But her phone was inside the purse as well.
Emily checked into a hotel and thought of the way forward. She had to settle down fast and get a job. She knew it was not going to be easy as she knew no one in China.
Somewhere in a company, Gu Yanxi was searching for her ID. She had an interview to attend. She was equally a young girl trying to make ends meet. She had applied for a job and the interview was that morning, but lo and behold! her ID card was no where to be found. She searched for her phone, it was the same story. Missing.
"Goodness me! What is it this morning?" she said. She was about to miss the interview.
The phone at the front desk rang.
"Good morning," the caller greeted in Chinese.
"Good morning to you too. How may I help you madam," the lady at the front desk replied politely and fluently in Chinese too.
The caller switched to English and soon, the lady called out,
"Is there anyone here that bears the name Gu Yanxi?"
Gu Yanxi stepped forward immediately. She wondered what was amiss.
"I hope it's no bad news. Let me settle one thing first. Oh! Heavens please," she prayed silently.
"I am the one. Gu Yanxi," she said to the lady.
"She is here," the lady said to the caller. She handed the phone to Gu Yanxi saying,
"English please."
Gu Yanxi nodded and took the phone. She knew a bit of English as it was the foreign language she had studied.
"Good morning," she spoke into the receiver.
"Good morning. I am Emily. I picked your purse at the airport," Emily, who was the caller said. Gu Yanxi's heart leapt for joy that instant.
"Oh my goodness! Thank you so much," she thanked her.
"I called you through the company on your ID since your phone is here too," Emily explained. Gu Yanxi's joy knew no bounds. Her phone and ID had just been found. But how was she going to get it? She had to act fast as it was soon her turn to be interviewed. She thought of returning but she didn't know how far the caller was.
"Excuse me. Are you there?" she called out
"Yes," Emily replied.
"May I know your location, please?" Gu Yanxi asked.
"Royal suites. I just arrived in the country," Emily replied.
"Ohhh. Please, I am in a bit of situation. I do not mean to disturb you. I am sorry. But please, I need the ID now for an interview in about ten minutes. And your location is about fifteen minutes from here. How about I order you a cab to bring it over? I will pay your transport fare back please," Gu Yanxi pleaded.
Emily thought a while. It was not going to be a bad idea. At least, she could make a new friend to help guide her around.
"Okay," Emily replied.
"Thank you so much," Gu Yanxi thanked her profusely.
It happened that Emily brought the purse and was fortunate to be employed as a cleaner because cleaners were needed urgently. She couldn't believe her luck. It was below her qualification but she took it without minding that.
It's been four years now. She and Gu Yanxi have become the best of friends. She was now working as a full time office employee in that company, all thanks to Gu Yanxi. She was also a very famous designer in the whole of China and it's environs. She went by the name "Butterfly designs." Gu Yanxi had been so helpful all along. They were both indebted to each other.
"Good morning Emily. A penny for your thoughts," Gu Yanxi greeted and joked at the same time. They lived together and were more like sisters. She had been watching Emily in deep thought for a while now. Emily smiled and said,
"Morning. It's been four years since I arrived her. Exactly four years. I am grateful to you Yanxi… " tears dropped down her face. Gu Yanxi pulled her into a warm embrace.
"It's fine. I am grateful to you too."
"Mummy! I have been selected to attend the competition," Liam, Emily's son announced to his mother in excitement. He had just returned from school that evening.
"I am proud of you my son. Where is the competition set to hold?" Emily asked smiling warmly at him.
"USA mummy," replied the excited lad.
Emily's face fell.
" USA??"