I want to travel through all time and space to love you.

Give you my all, do my best...

"Lily, from today on, you will live with James."

I was nine years old when I first met James.

He wore a grey sports suit with loose threads and carried an old khaki school bag. He followed my dad timidly.

His father, a firefighter like my dad, had died on duty.

My dad brought him home, saying it would be like raising two kids.

I didn’t care much about this new brother who appeared out of nowhere.

Life went on as usual.

"Lily, Lily, has no mother to teach her," the other kids would taunt.

I walked past them with an expressionless face, having heard it so many times that it no longer hurt.

But James would always stand up for me,

even if it meant getting beaten up.

In a way, James and I were alike.

My mother had passed away, and his mother had gone mad.

"Hey, Lily, you're so quiet. You better make a change or you'll never find a boyfriend."

James teased me often, and I would retaliate by throwing a book at him.

"You won’t find one either," I’d retort.

My father was always busy, so most of the time, it was just James and me.

We depended on each other,

and our constant bickering and playing made life less lonely.

When I was fifteen, my father died in a fire,

just like James’s father.

I cried all night, and my eyes are puffy the next day.

There were ice cubes on the table.

James is probably the person who understands me best in the world. He knew I didn’t like others seeing me vulnerable, so he always made sure there was ice for me.

I still remember that day when the sun was scorching and James’s eyes sparkled.

His tone was firm,

"Lily, I will protect you from now on.

I will become a doctor and never let you get hurt again."

From then on, I relied on James even more.

During high school, he never let any boy get close to me,

believing that early romance would affect my studies.

When I was eighteen, he walked towards me, looking like a hero from a novel, with jasmine flowers in his hands.

"Lily, will you marry me in the future?"

"Yes, I will."

That whole summer was filled with the scent of jasmine.

At the airport, even as the crowd thinned, I kept waiting, hoping he would come, though deep down I knew he wouldn’t.

In college, he studied medicine and I studied law.

At twenty-two, we got engaged.

That same year, I went abroad...

The red glow of the setting sun blurred the sky as I was asked to leave the airport.

Returning to the city after so long, I felt a wave of melancholy.

"Lily, what's going on?"

The sad-looking man across from me is my only friend, Liam.

He always carried a love letter in his pocket, never managing to give it to the one he loved. I stared at the yellowed paper, marveling at his enduring affection.

"It's still the same."

"Is there no other solution?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

I shook my head.

"Do you...know where James is?"

His surprise was clear.

"He didn't pick you up? How could that be? I told him."

"Maybe he's busy,"

I said, trying to defend James despite my disappointment.

"He is now a famous doctor in Azure Bay. Many people seek his help."

I nodded. It was no surprise.

James had always wanted to be like his father, a dedicated doctor.

And I, determined to protect him from legal troubles, became a lawyer.

I picked up my coffee and noticed scratches on Liam's wrist.

Concerned, I asked,

"What happened to your hand?"

He looked panicked and quickly tried to hide it.

"It's nothing, just my cat. If you want to find James, I'll take you."

I lowered my eyes, knowing Liam didn't like furry animals.

I was curious but didn’t press further.

Perhaps everyone has their secrets...

"Hello, where is Dr. Wilson?"

The young nurse gave me a dissatisfied look.

"I'm here to see Dr. Wilson again. Ward 302."

I could feel the contempt in her tone and the disdain in her eyes as she looked at me.

Despite this, I still said thank you out of politeness.

The door of the ward has a section made of transparent glass.

I didn't rush in. I wanted to see the man whom I had been thinking about for more than a thousand days and nights, concentrating on doing what he loved.

There was a young girl on the bed, probably around 25 years old.

Her pale face and bloodless lips shook me.

A tall man gently handed her a glass of water, and I knew it was James.

My eyes were unconsciously drawn to him.

The girl on the bed raised her lips in a magical smile.

I saw James wiping the stains from the corner of her mouth. Should a doctor do that？

"Lily?"

I couldn't help but open the door and come in, breaking the atmosphere.

The girl on the bed looked at me nervously.

I felt warmth on my wrist as James took my hand and introduced me.

"This is Lily, my fiancée."

At that moment, I was dumbfounded,

but my heart is surrounded by infinite warm sunshine.

However, I could feel the girl's disappointment and sadness.

"This is Sophie, my patient."

The girl smiled again, the same bright as before.

"Hello, Lily."

"Hi."

When we left the hospital, there were more looks and whispers on the way. I understood everyone's doubts. They must be wondering how a perfect man like James could have a fiancée as ordinary as me.

"Lily, why did you leave without saying a word?"

Back at the old house, James asked.

"I'm an adult now. I don't have to consult you everything."

I clearly didn't think this way in my heart, but I said it nonetheless. I was still sulking and blaming him for not coming to pick me up.

James was a little angry and held my shoulders tightly.

"I'll will protect you forever, like I said."

I've heard this before.

We looked at each other and laughed, the way we always do when we make peace.

He didn't ask why I left, and I didn't blame him for his delay.

I am twenty-five and he is twenty-seven.

We decided to get married.

That was the happiest day of my life.

At night, I tossed and turned and received a text message from Liam.

"Congratulations, Lily."

I replied thank you and put down the phone. I couldn't sleep when I thought that after tomorrow I would be his bride, a real bride.

I watched the clock go from two to four to eight.

Finally, I knocked on his door with great anticipation.

But there was no one there.

"Sorry, Lily, I'm in the hospital right now. There's something urgent going on. Please wait for me at the entrance of the Bureau."

"Okay."

I hung up the phone and went to the Bureau.

Although things started out a little rough, I firmly believe in our future.

It was the beginning of winter, and the early morning cold wind was always biting. I pulled my robe tighter, readjusted my scarf, and waited for him with great anticipation.

The number of people outside the Bureau went from a few scattered to a huge crowd and then became a few scattered again.

I envied the people who came out with happy smiles on their faces, and I envied them for having eyes only for each other at that moment.

The staff looked at lonely me with sympathy, and their tone became gentle.

"Miss, we are closing."

"Thanks."

I trudged heavily back home.

"Lily, you're home. I was worried that you might still be waiting at the door."

I didn't answer.

James continued,

"I know you won't be so silly waiting there all the time."

But I am a fool. I wanted to retort but no sound came out.

"James, do you still want to marry me?"

I saw James’s hesitation, but he resumed his usual smiling expression.

"Lily, of course I will marry you."

But his tone wasn't that firm.

Girls may be too sensitive, but I could feel James’s hesitation and uneasiness.

It was confirmed that evening.

"Lily, I suddenly fell ill last night. Dr. Wilson had to take care of me. I'm sorry."

Along with the message came a cute rabbit emoticon and a photo of James asleep by her bedside.

I didn't reply to her. I knew what she was thinking.

I could feel her love for James because I had seen the look in her eyes when she looked at him.

It was the same look as mine.

"James, what are you doing in the hospital?"

I didn’t care what Sophie said; I just wanted to know James’s attitude.

James hesitated, a struggle evident on his face, and he finally decided to tell the truth.

"Okay, Lily. It's Sophie. She suddenly got sick. You know I can't abandon my patient."

I didn’t want to hear this and immediately retorted,

"If all the doctors in the world could be like you, there would be no patients."

"I'm sorry, Lily. I admit I took better care of Sophie, but it's just because she has no relatives. I feel pity for her, nothing else."

I nodded, trying hard to convince myself.

"Since she is so pitiful, I will take better care of her."

James put his arm around my waist, the most intimate thing we did besides holding hands.

I could feel his happiness.

"That's great, she will be very happy."

The joy in his tone was overflowing, but the smile on my face was completely different from what I felt in my heart.

"Lily, thank you for taking care of me."

I was peeling an apple when Sophie, lying on the bed, suddenly spoke.

"But actually, I didn’t do anything."

"We are about the same age, I guess." I ignored her topic.

She seemed a little unhappy, lowered her head, and said "Yes".

Here came a voice,

"How do you feel now, Sophie?"

James came in, walked straight towards Sophie, and touched her head.

Sophie was silent and leaned on James's warm palm.

"Much better"

Sophie is a pastry chef and has her own cake shop.

James has loved sweet things since he was a child.

I'm the opposite, I like more complicated flavors.

I hate those sweet feelings.

So when they were talking about it with great relish, I, as an outsider, couldn't say a word.

After a few months, Sophie’s condition did not improve but worsened.

At eleven o'clock that evening, James received a phone call and hurried out.

I had a rough idea of where he had gone, but I didn't ask.

There was heavy rain outside, and thunder roared.

I went to give him an umbrella, but I just proved he didn’t love me anymore...

I entered the hospital.

The nurse on duty knew me and didn't stop me.

The hospital was eerily quiet at night.

I arrived at Room 302 and opened the door.

Inside, the two were affectionately hugging and kissing on the bed.

The humid and ambiguous air swept over me, and I could still hear James' breathing.

They were so engrossed that they didn’t notice my arrival.

I quietly closed the door and slipped away.

I was trembling, and the numbness in my legs made it impossible for me to stand.

I sat on a stool for a while before I had the strength to walk.