Dragonfly

This was another internet story that I translated from the original Chinese version because I really wanted to share it with other people. I don't know who the author is, unfortunately. So if you're the author and feel offended by my translating the story, please let me know immediately. Thank you.

         The girl and the boy ran along the golden beach dotted with glittering shells; tiny crabs scurried here and there, as the setting sun cast its warm rays down upon the laughing couple as they chased each other into the shining water of the deep blue sea. Finally, the girl collapsed onto the smooth, soft sand, laughing breathlessly. The boy, grinning with triumph, lay down beside her and looked at her with eyes so full of gentle care and love that even the seagulls flying overhead seemed overcome with envy.
         "Hurry, or we’ll miss the sunset!” the girl hurriedly scrambled to her feet and dragged the boy up with her. He wordlessly followed her lead, the smile on his face widened as he remembered how much the girl loved sunsets. “There!” the girl said as she climbed eagerly up the steep rock hill overlooking the water. “We’re almost there!” she pointed with her finger up at the topmost rock, large and flat, just wide enough for two people sitting side by side. The girl reached the rock, and stood with her arms spread wide. She took in a deep breath of the salty sea air, then sat cross-legged on the rock. The boy reached the rock soon after her. He sat behind her, and wrapped his arms gently around her. She closed her eyes, then leaned back against his chest and let out a sigh of contentment. She opened her eyes slowly, to enjoy the gradual appearance of the beautiful scene of the sunset into her eyes.
         That night, after he took her home, she stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him gently and sweetly on his lips.

         The boy sighed as he opened his eyes and gazed sorrowfully into the pale, sleeping face on the hospital bed, his fingers entertwined with hers. He recalled the softness of her lips as they touched his, and her shining brown eyes when she looked up at him after the kiss. It was their very first kiss. The boy sighed again, more heavily this time, and tilted his face heavenward. He prayed, for the ten billionth time, that the Lord above would hear his prayers, and cure her of the disease that was robbing her of her health and everyone’s happiness.
         The boy stepped out of the hospital doors and mounted his bluish-silver bike, and made the same trip he’s been making for the last two months, from the day the girl was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with leukemia. He rounded corners and passed shops, until finally he reached a beautiful little church just off a narrow dirt road. He had ridden over the same dirt road for so long that a shallow trench was worn into the dirt, in which tire marks were still distinguishable. He walked slowly into the church and knelt in the first pew. Looking around, he found that he was once again recollecting that day when he and her knelt together in that same pew and made lifelong promises to each other. The boy’s mind jerked back to reality. And he prayed.
         Day after day, the boy made the same trip tirelessly and punctually to the little church, oblivious to the curious stares of the shop owners who wondered why the same boy passed by their stores each day for months.
         It was exactly 100 days from the first time the boy knelt in the first pew and prayed for the girl’s recovery. The boy left his bike outside, then walked unceremoniously to the first pew. Five minutes into his prayer, however, he suddenly heard a soft rush of wind, and a deep, warm voice seemed to float in the air:
         “Would you sacrifice your life for the girl?” the voice asked.
         The boy looked up, his mouth agape and his face shining with tears. He nodded vigorously before he replied urgently, “Yes, yes, I would sacrifice anything for her.”
         “The girl will soon wake up and recover.” The voice said in reply. The boy smiled and nodded tearfully.
         The voice spoke again, “Would you be a dragonfly for three years in exchange?”
         The boy nodded vigorously again and cried joyously, “Yes, yes, I’ll do anything for her.”
         The boy vanished. A small, shiny dragonfly flew up high into the air, and zoomed out the door.

***

         At the hospital, doctors proclaimed that it was a miracle. The girl had waken up, and was regaining her health rapidly. She wondered where the boy was, as her eyes followed the flight of a small, shiny dragonfly that had flown into her window a few days earlier and would not leave. She missed him terribly. After leaving the hospital, she looked everywhere tirelessly for a trace of the boy.
         When one day, fate found her wandering aimlessly towards the little church, she saw a bluish-silver bike leaning against the aging wall, she knew he was gone. She was heartbroken; but she was always comforted by the small, shiny dragonfly that would land on her shoulder or her hand fearlessly during those sleepless nights.

         Time flew by quickly and soundlessly; three years had almost gone by since the boy was gone. The small, shiny dragonfly flew over the girl’s head as she laughed girlishly and turned around to smile at her fiance who stood in the garden, watching her with a smile on his face. He was one of the doctors who cared for her during her illness, and his assiduous pursuit for her love had finally won her over.

         After the wedding at the little church just off the dirt road, the small, shiny dragonfly flew slowly and sadly over the cheering and blissful crowd, and landed noiselessly in the first pew. A tiny tear landed on the floor. The voice suddenly spoke.
         “Do you regret your decision?”
         The dragonfly seemed to be shaking his head. “No,” he replied, “but please let me stay a dragonfly for the rest of my life.”