walk across the bridge of fog

41.

He Ren replied, "Death Valley, that's the place I yearn for. The name is enough to be symbolic. I like things with symbolic meaning. Originally I didn't like Las Vegas, but you said WhathappensinLasVegas ,staysinLasVegas., I also like Las Vegas now, because I suddenly feel that it actually has a strong symbolic meaning."

He Ren didn't tell the truth, she didn't know Death Valley before, she found a place on the Internet after she knew that Duanmu was going to Las Vegas.She was trying to figure out Duanmu's mind and her preferences.In addition to trying to figure out Duanmu, He Ren has other intentions.

"Did you go to Death Valley?" He Ren asked.

"I've been to Death Valley. I've been there many times. Death Valley and Las Vegas, it's my obsessive standard combination. You're right, they have a certain strong symbolism to me."

"What kind of meaning?" He Ren couldn't stop at all.

"He Ren, we can discuss this later."

"No, Dr. Duanmu, I am very interested in this. Are you looking for the meaning of life there?"

"This time I was there to experience the three themes you mentioned last time, loneliness, meaninglessness and death. However, I don't think I am looking for the meaning of life. Because the meaning cannot be found. Who said such a sentence In other words, whenever I find the meaning of life, they change again."

"Ha, this sentence is interesting. Is this why you go to Death Valley repeatedly? Because the meaning is always changing. So what are you thinking about in Death Valley this time?" He Ren was in high spirits.She really wanted to ask "Are you missing me?" She didn't have the nerve to say it.

"In Death Valley, you can't think of anything. You can only feel, you can't think. I feel lonely and afraid. No, it's not just loneliness. I feel isolated." Duanmu thought.She suddenly thought of the word.

"Isolation? Do you feel isolated? Is it a state deeper than loneliness?" He Ren asked, thinking about the meaning of this word.She knew what it felt like to be alone.Not only spiritual loneliness, but also physical loneliness, not only a state of active choice, but also a passive state.

"Yes, isolation is a deeper level of loneliness, including losing contact with others, such as being forgotten, people no longer care about each other, and even have no interest in each other at all. In Death Valley, I went alone There have been many times where I've thought, at this moment, no one in the world knows I'm here. I've lost touch with everyone. I'm so isolated."

Duanmu's words deeply moved He Ren.Tears filled her eyes.

"Did you go alone?" He Ren's voice was slightly choked.When she mentioned Death Valley, she originally wanted to bring the topic to this issue.She wanted to know who Duanmu traveled with.But at this moment, He Ren felt sorry for Duanmu.

"This time I was not alone. It was because I was accompanied this time that I realized the isolation in the past. My companion was very afraid of the heat, and she hid in the car and refused to move. I still got out of the car alone and walked, but I felt completely alone. It's different. I don't feel isolated. I know someone is waiting for me not far away. If I don't go back for an hour, she will definitely come out to find me. In fact, when I came out of the intersection, I saw her standing in the heat. anxiously waiting in the air..."

"Is your companion the girl from last time?" He Ren suddenly interrupted Duanmu angrily.The feeling that she felt sorry for Duanmu just now was gone.

"It's her." Duanmu replied naturally.

"She actually let you hike in Death Valley alone. What kind of companion is this?" He Ren was even more convinced that the person named Xiao Bu was unreliable.

Duanmu noticed He Ren's anger, and she realized something.

"He Ren, do you think that your companion should always be by your side? Even if it's something she can't bear?"

"But this is the Valley of Death. Under extreme conditions, this is a must." He Ren argued.

"Have you ever thought that this extreme condition is my personal choice, not an inevitable dilemma. Is it necessary in this state?" Duanmu asked.

He Ren knew she was wrong, but she still insisted, "Yes, if she treats you sincerely, she will. If it were me, she would definitely be with you!" After finishing the last sentence, He Ren turned his face away a little embarrassed.

"Thank you, He Ren, I'm very glad to hear you say that. But, we can think about it from another angle, how far should the companionship go? Also, who is the center of the companionship? Let's say this time, according to personal interests, My companion will never go to a place like Death Valley, she can't stand the heat, such a landscape is meaningless to her, she doesn't need symbolic thinking. If we are accompanied by her as the center, we shouldn't go at all Death Valley. But she went with me, just didn't take part in the hike, that was more than she could bear. We should be grateful for this company. Her presence made me feel at ease. I have never felt at ease. Her concern And anxiety, enough to prove my position in her heart."

"Then we can also change the angle. Is the compatibility of souls more important? She doesn't like to go to Death Valley, so it becomes a kind of suffering, and she becomes a payment and a burden to you. , a kind of debt. Wouldn’t it be more meaningful if the two of us went to Death Valley together? Wouldn’t it be more interesting for our exchanges to be carried out in the heat that we really felt at the scene?” He Ren said back to himself .