【Sweetheart Lover】

Not long after that day full of warmth and gratitude, Lin Yanan received a phone call that instantly made her heart sank. The news from the other end of the phone was like a bolt from the blue, shocking her for a long time - her best friend Yang Peifang was seriously ill and was in the hospital.

Lin Yanan didn't care about anything else and rushed to the hospital. Along the way, her heart beat so hard that it seemed to jump out of her throat. The scenery outside the window quickly receded, but her eyes were empty and lifeless, and her mind kept surfacing bits and pieces of her past with Yang Peifang.

They used to run together on the school playground, the sun shining on them, sweat soaking their clothes, and laughter echoing in the air. Yang Peifang always ran in front, turning back to shout to Lin Yanan: "Yanan, hurry up, why are you like a little snail!" Lin Yanan responded breathlessly: "Wait for me, I can't run anymore!"

There was also a time when the two of them went mountain climbing together. Halfway up the mountain, Lin Yanan was so tired that she collapsed on the ground and refused to take another step. Yang Peifang pulled and dragged her, and kept cheering her up: "Yanan, the scenery on the top of the mountain is beautiful. If you don't go up, you will regret it for the rest of your life!" Finally, with Yang Peifang's encouragement, the two successfully reached the top and saw the intoxicating scenery.

When she finally arrived at the hospital, she walked heavily towards Yang Peifang's ward. The corridor was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant, which made her feel dizzy. Every step she took was like a heavy burden pressing on her heart.

Pushing open the door of the ward, Lin Yanan saw Yang Peifang lying weakly on the bed, her face as pale as paper. Her eyes were deeply sunken, and her originally bright and lively eyes had lost their luster at this moment.

Lin Yanan held back her tears, walked quickly to the bedside, and held Yang Peifang's hands tightly. Those hands, which used to be so warm and strong, have now become so cold and weak.

"Peifang, I'm here." Lin Yanan's voice was trembling. She tried hard to force a smile, but that smile was uglier than crying.

Yang Peifang raised her eyelids with great effort, and the moment she saw Lin Yanan, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a weak smile. "Yanan, you're here." Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

Lin Yanan couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they burst out. She sobbed and said, "Peifang, you will get better, you will."

Yang Peifang shook her head gently, with a look of helplessness and relief in her eyes. "Yanan, don't be sad, this is fate."

Lin Yanan bit her lip, tears blurring her vision. She looked at Yang Peifang, as if she wanted to engrave her appearance deeply in her heart.

In the following days, Lin Yanan came to the hospital every day to accompany Yang Peifang. She would tell Yang Peifang some interesting stories, trying to cheer her up. Sometimes, when she came to a funny part, Lin Yanan herself would laugh first, but when she saw Yang Peifang's forced smile, her heart would suddenly tighten.

The atmosphere in the ward was sometimes heavy, and sometimes it would be briefly relaxed because of Lin Yanan's efforts. But no matter what, the haze that shrouded my heart could not be dispelled.

They recalled going on vacation together to the beach, lying on the beach at night, looking at the starry sky, and imagining the future. Yang Peifang said, "Yanan, we must watch the stars together when we are old." Lin Yanan smiled and replied, "That's a must, no one can be absent."

However, fate did not change because of Lin Yanan's prayers and Yang Peifang's strength. That day, Yang Peifang's condition deteriorated sharply. Doctors were busy shuttling around in the ward, and the sounds of various instruments made Lin Yanan feel extremely frightened.

She stood outside the ward, her hands tightly clasped together, her nails dug deep into her flesh, but she felt no pain. She stared at the door of the ward, silently praying for a miracle to happen.

However, the miracle did not happen. When the doctor walked out of the ward and shook his head slowly, Lin Yanan's world collapsed instantly.

She rushed into the ward, threw herself beside Yang Peifang's bed, and burst into tears. Peifang... "Peifang: Yanan, I'm sorry!"

No… Peifang, how could you abandon me? You said you would stay with me until the end, how could you…” Her voice was heartbreaking, and her whole body was shaking with grief.

Yang Peifang had a peaceful smile on her face, as if she was just asleep. Lin Yanan stroked her face, and the cold touch broke her heart completely.

After dealing with Yang Peifang's funeral, Lin Yanan fell into deep sorrow. She locked herself in the house all day and refused to communicate with others. Every corner of the house was filled with memories that she could not escape.

Her husband, Ruan Jianan, felt distressed when he saw her like this. He gently hugged Lin Yanan and said, "Dear, Peifang doesn't want to see you like this either."

Lin Yanan raised her head and looked at her husband Ruan Jianan with tearful eyes, "I know, but my heart hurts so much."

As the days passed, Lin Yanan gradually came out of her sadness. She knew that although Yang Peifang had left, their friendship would always remain in her heart.

On a sunny day, she would come to Yang Peifang's grave, place a bouquet of flowers, sit quietly for a while, and share her life with her.

"Peifang, I will live a good life, don't worry." Lin Yanan whispered to the tombstone. The breeze blew past, as if Yang Peifang was responding to her.