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A step, a spin, a glide. Feet adorned by red shoes move gracefully. Body light as feather.
A figure, tall and lean, dances under the moonlight, on the clearing of the forest. The short grass observes. The trees watch. The stars witness.
The wind sings for him, providing a song of nature. A waltz that the man used to perform with his significant other.
The significant other, who is taken back by the forest. For they no longer deem the man fit to hold any responsibility over their precious son .
"I fell in love at first sight." The man hears his own voice echoing. "If you would be kind enough to let me court your son, O' mighty forest."
"Wen Junhui," The forest called his name in a hushed voice, "We give you the permission."
"You are to take care of our Minghao." A quieter voice chimed in. Stern. "If you fail to do so, we will not be so kind."
An elegant twirl, sending the fabric of his hanfu moving in a sophisticated way. He leaps, stepping on gravel which turns his shoes a brighter color. He pays no mind, as he keeps on dancing.
He may be a failure once, but he will not be a failure twice.
"Just a little more, Xiǎo Hào" He remembers talking to the thin man, "A second longer to hold you."
"As long as the light has yet to kiss the morning dew." Is the response he got from the child of the forest.
He regrets his selfish desire. He despises his contrite decision to stretch their time; a second that turned into a minute, a minute that turned into an hour, an hour that turned into a day.
The past actions which bear a bitter fruit for the present.
The childish wants that affected their future.
The denial of the fact that they only have a limited time together—a situation under very strict conditions, resulting in one party swallowing the hard pill. And the other must pay the price.
"Just a dance." He recalls his wish, down on one knee with a hand outstretched for his love to take , "One dance is all I ask."
The forest had warned him that time, scolded his reckless act which ended up with their son's energy being constantly drained without a proper recharge. The child of the forest had lost his color from it, and the forest told that if they overdo it, he would not be able to manifest for a few moons.
But the Wen Junhui of the past was a mere stupid living being. He said, "One dance would not take much time."
"I swear with all my life, under this moon, that I will not let anything bad happen to your child, O' mighty forest."
A pirouette sends his first drop of tear to the air, hidden by his long hair that follows his movements in elegance. The moon shines bright above, silver light projecting the image of his darling. Faint and faded, just like when he last saw the man that owns his heart, dancing along.
The forest watches with no remorse. No intention of giving the man who has been dancing for moons a lighter sentence. Not feeling sorry even when his own color slowly fades.
"A dance with him was your last wish, you foolish mortal." The voice of the forest echoes. "So it is only fair that you dance for him to redeem your wrongdoings."
The punishment is cruel for both of them; for the man and the child that is currently in a deep sleep. But it is the only redemption suiting the man, whose sin is to fall in love with someone that he knows he could not have.
Even after the man has stopped dancing, the two lovers still are not able to reunite. It is only when the bones clad in dirt stained fabric remain, the red shoes of guilt no longer visible, the forest is done healing their son. Leaving the poor immortal to dance around what is left of his dear in grief.