Arthur sat by the window, watching the street scene outside rush by. The subway sped through the dark tunnel, emitting a steady rumble.
He clutched a yellowed old photograph—a team photo taken five years ago. Back then, he and Elena had been close colleagues, pulling countless all-nighters together and landing the company’s biggest project of the year.
Back then, they thought things would go on like that forever.
Until that rainy night, when the company announced the layoff list. Arthur’s name was on it, while Elena’s was on the promotion list.
“I’m sorry, Arthur,” Elena said to him in the empty office, her eyes shifting nervously. “I had no choice.”
Arthur said nothing; he simply packed up his things in silence and turned to leave. They hadn’t seen each other or been in touch since.
Now, Arthur works as an ordinary employee at a small company, leading an unremarkable life. As for Elena, he’d heard she’d become a rising star in the industry.
The subway pulled into the station, and Arthur followed the crowd out of the car. He glanced up at the station sign and suddenly froze.
The next stop was the very station where Elena’s company was located.
As if by some inexplicable impulse, he didn’t get off but stayed seated, watching the station names flash by one after another outside the window. He didn’t know what he was hoping for—perhaps he just wanted to catch a distant glimpse of that once-familiar figure, to see if she was doing well.
When the train pulled into the next station, Arthur finally got off. He walked out of the station and looked at the bustling street before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Just then, he spotted Elena.
Dressed in an elegant business suit, she was stepping out of a luxury car, flanked by several assistants. She looked even more mature—and even more radiant—than she had five years ago.
Arthur instinctively tried to step aside, but it was too late. Elena’s gaze swept across the crowd and landed right on him.
As their eyes met, time seemed to stand still.
A flicker of surprise crossed Elena’s face, quickly giving way to a complex expression. She hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Arthur.
“Arthur?” Her voice trembled slightly. “It’s been a long time.”
Arthur nodded and forced a smile. “It’s been a long time, Elena. Are you… doing okay?”
“I’m fine,” Elena said, lowering her head, unable to meet his gaze. “And you?”
“I’m fine, too,” Arthur smiled. “Just in a different place, living a different life.”
The two fell silent for a moment, the air thick with awkwardness and distance.
“I… I have to go. I’ll be heading out now.” Elena broke the silence and turned to leave.
“Wait.” Arthur called out to her.
Elena stopped in her tracks and looked back at him.
Arthur pulled the old photo out of his pocket and handed it to her: “Here, I’ll give this back to you. After all, we went through so much together.”
Elena took the photo and looked at her younger self in it; a glimmer of tears flashed in her eyes.
“Thank you, Arthur,” she said softly. “Thank you for everything you did back then…”
She didn’t finish her sentence; she just gave Arthur a deep look, then turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Arthur stood where he was, watching her retreating figure, and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of relief welling up inside him.
He turned toward the subway station, ready to head home. Just then, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him.
He looked back—it was Elena.
She ran up to him, out of breath, holding a business card.
“Arthur, wait!” She pressed the card into his hand. “Here’s my new number. If you… if you’d like, we could…”
Arthur looked at the business card in his hand, then at Elena, and suddenly smiled.
“No, thank you, Elena.” He shook his head. “We… have no connection left now that we’ve parted ways.”
With that, he turned and walked into the subway station, never looking back.
Elena stood where she was, watching his back, and tears finally welled up in her eyes.
As for Arthur, the moment he stepped onto the subway, a sense of unprecedented relief suddenly washed over him.
He finally understood that some people from the past are destined to remain only as memories. True letting go isn’t about forgetting, but about accepting it with composure and moving forward.
The subway pulled away slowly. Arthur leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
