Love and Fall: You Are No Longer My Only One

I drove Estelle to her apartment building.

"We're here," I said.

She lowered her head and said nothing.

"What's wrong? Did Lucy say something to you? Don't take it to heart. She just talks like that. She doesn't have any ill intentions."

Estelle was silent with her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Hey, don't cry."

I panicked. "I'm most afraid of girls crying."

Estelle suddenly raised her head.

She cried non-stop.

"It's not like that. It's not your business..."

She choked and said, "It's me..."

"What's wrong with you? Tell me if you have any grievances."

I was at a loss.

"They all say I am a good girl. I am obedient and timid..."

Estelle's voice was getting louder and louder.

"But I don't want to be like this. I want to be brave once, just once..."

As she was talking, she suddenly started unbuttoning her clothes.

I was startled. I quickly grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I will prove it to them now that I am not a coward!"

Estelle struggled with red eyes.

stay calm!" I held her tightly and said, "This is not bravery. It's just..."

I suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Just what?" Estelle asked me with a crying voice.

"It is just..." I took a deep breath, saying, "You are just punishing yourself for someone else's mistakes."

Estelle was stunned. She slowly stopped crying.

"True bravery is not doing something out of line in the eyes of others. Instead, it is about following your own heart and doing what you think is right."

I looked into her eyes and said word by word, "Do you understand?"

She seemed to be enlightened as she nodded.

I asked tentatively, hoping to give her some strength, "Can we agree then, to get rid of the labels of being a good girl or a good boy together?"

...

"How to do it?" Estelle sniffed. She looked at me with teary eyes.

"What are you most afraid of?" I guided her, hoping that she could face her inner self.

"What I fear the most is... " Estelle bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. Then she said, "What I fear the most is my parents urging me to go on blind dates and forcing me to marry those wealthy young men from other rich families."

"But I don't like them at all. They are all playboys. They are only interested in eating, drinking, and having fun every day. They don't have any ambition at all!"

As Estelle continued speaking, her emotions became more and more intense. Once again, she burst out crying.

I could feel her pain, her despair of being bound, and her helplessness of being unable to control her own life.

"Then start with this matter. Tell your parents bravely. Give yourself a few more years. You also want to have your career."

I encouraged her and hoped she could muster the courage to resist.

Estelle was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting me to say such words.

"But...but my parents are very dominant. Once they have decided on something, no one can change their minds."

Her voice became lower and lower. Her eyes dimmed.

"Then you should give it a try. How would you know if you don't try?" I clenched my fist and encouraged her, saying, "Like you said. If you want to be brave once, it's this time. Do it for yourself!"

Estelle took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.

"Okay, I'll give it a try!" She was hopeful again.

She suddenly looked up and asked me curiously, "What about you? What brave thing do you want to do?"

"Me?" I smiled, saying, "I want to be brave. I would start my own business, even if there are many voices of opposition. I still want to give it a try."