Itwasasummer;Iwentwithmymothertovisityou,yourmother,andsisterMinatyourparents’houseinNanJing.Iwasfour,youwereeight.Yourfatherhadjustpassedaway.

Itwasasummeragain,anotheryear;atelephonecallcameduringthelateevening.Mymother,your4thaunt,wascallingfromtheBeijingHotel.Shesaidthatsomeonestayingtherewantedtomeetus,andwasinvitingyouandIforicecream.Thatnightwemetyourfuturestep-father,Mr.Bai.

Iwastooyoungtounderstandyourfeelingsatthatmoment:afterlosingyourfatherwhenyouwereageeight,thenbeingseparatedfromyourmother...YourmotherremarriedandmovedtoWuhanwithhernewhusband.Irememberthereweretimesthat,asyouleanedonyourmother'sshoulder,tearswereinyoureyes.

Youwereaskedtoselectagiftbeforeyourmotherleft,andyouchosearedaccordion.Thatredaccordionwasbyyoursideformanyyears.Itwasthereinthe60'swhenyouwereinboardingschool,inthe70'swhenyouwereinInnerMongolia.Youplayeditwhenwesangloudlyinthedesertthere,farfromhome.

Irememberthereweretimeswhenourspiritsweresolow.Youandyourfriendsusedalcoholtonumbyourbrainsandyoudrankuntilyouweresick.Thereweretimeswhenthedayswerecold,longandwet,andwehadtobreakourfurnituretouseasfueltocookameal.Thereweretimeswehidbehindthedoorandbaitedtheneighbor'schickentoenter,sothatwecouldkillitforanicedinner.Later,weburnedthefeathersunderthebed.

Inherlateryears,mymotheralwayssaidthatmy3rdauntwouldbepleasedifshecouldwatchyoufromtheheaven.Youcreatedasuccessfullifethruyourhardwork.Youaimedatahighergoalthenmostofuscouldeverimagine.Youworkedtirelesslyandenthusiastically.Youweregenerousandmademanylifetimefriends.

IwishIcouldlistentoyoulaughingonemoretime.Youhavebeenadearbrothertome.Iwillmissyouforever.

 王亚未