Love Knows No Order

I had often pondered over what love truly is, yet I could never arrive at a flawless answer. Whenever the concept of love came to mind, a vivid scene would unfold before my eyes: a profusion of brilliant flowers blooming simultaneously, without any particular sequence or forewarning. They unfurl their vivid hues unreservedly, without the slightest hint of concealment. These blossoms symbolize my perception of love.

I was left heartbroken after a painful breakup. My boyfriend of three years had tied the knot with a stunning blonde girl on the other side of the ocean. Before he departed, I queried him, "We've been together for such a long time. Why did you fall in love with someone else?" He replied, "Love knows no order. Once I fell for her, I stopped loving you." Is that truly the sole reason? I was unable to probe further, but one thing remained etched in my memory: "Love knows no order."

In an attempt to start afresh, I made a series of changes. I switched my phone number, relocated to a new abode, and joined a new company. However, the sorrow that was meant to be shared by two now weighed solely on me. I found it an arduous burden to bear and simply couldn't extricate myself from the depths of sadness.

At the new company, I was akin to an autistic individual, barely perceiving the outside world. Apart from my daily work, I scarcely interacted with anyone. My colleagues regarded me as extremely withdrawn and mysterious. One weekend, my coworkers planned an outing for a meal. As usual, I was about to head home after packing up. Suddenly, he approached me and said, "You've been here for quite some time but haven't gotten acquainted with everyone. Tomorrow presents a great opportunity." Before I could utter a word of refusal, he announced loudly, "Everyone listen! Lily has agreed to join us tonight." Due to social propriety, I didn't object any further.

That evening, my colleagues exhibited an unprecedented curiosity about my mysterious nature. "In truth, I just went through a breakup and I'm rather sad." Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, I became courageous enough to confront this fact. My colleagues immediately began to condemn men tacitly and then offered me comfort. I didn't want tonight's gathering to transform into a condemnation session of heartbreakers, so I tried my best to forget and immerse myself in the festive atmosphere. When it was time to go home at night, I was on the same path as him. He was no longer as lively and humorous as he was in the company but instead appeared somewhat melancholic. "I'm sorry for making you come out and play. You must be very tired." "It's all right. I haven't been this exhausted in a long time. I should be able to sleep well tonight." "Would you like me to escort you home?" he asked. "No need. Your girlfriend must be waiting for you at home." I declined his kind offer.

That night, I slept extremely well. Over the weekend, I went shopping with a long-lost friend and indulged in a grand shopping spree. "So, I can truly step out of this rut." Gazing at my still beautiful reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but sigh. When I went to work on Monday, my bright smile and stunning outfit astonished my colleagues. His astounded look filled me with even more pride. "Congratulations on rediscovering yourself." he said. "Then I should thank you. How about I treat you to dinner tonight?" He pondered for a while and then agreed. In the evening, the elegant music in the restaurant made us both reluctant to speak. He once again wore that melancholic expression. I gazed at him in a daze. His eyes also rested on me. We communicated silently through our gazes. "Is this the real you?" I asked softly. "Perhaps." "Why are you so different at the company?" "Maybe it's for disguise. Or perhaps no one truly understands how to appreciate." I wanted to say that I appreciated him, but I figured he would understand even if I didn't voice it. When we walked home together that night, he held my hand. We walked a long distance without even considering taking a bus. The next day at the company, he was still as lively and funny as ever, making everyone laugh. I even began to wonder if he was the same person as the one from the previous night. But when I quietly gazed into his eyes, I found that familiar hint of melancholy.

We carried on our silent relationship. Every night, we held hands and walked home together like two helpless children. Finally, one day when we were about to part, he said, "I love you." I knew that something significant was about to unfold between us. "I'll submit my resignation to the company tomorrow. We shouldn't see each other anymore." "Why?" I asked. "We can't continue like this. I'm afraid I'll truly fall in love with you." "Why can't you love me in this way?" "Because I already have a girlfriend. We've been together for a long time. She needs me more than you do." "Is that it? Just because she's been with you for a long time?" "Yes," he said weakly, as if he couldn't even convince himself. "But love knows no order. Do you understand? This is a profound truth I just learned." He shook his head and walked away without uttering another word.

That winter, I experienced a second heartbreak. But I understood that love knows no order unless someone insists on shackling it with reason.

Conclusion: Love is a beautiful adventure. In this journey, we encounter various people and experience diverse events. But no matter what we encounter, we mustn't forget that love knows no order. When true love strikes, we cannot resist or choose. In this world, many people give up their love for various reasons. They might feel bound by responsibility and cannot easily abandon their existing relationships. Or they might think love should be rational and not be swayed by emotions. However, they forget that love itself is an irrational emotion. When we truly fall in love with someone, we will pursue and protect it with all our might. Just like the love between him and me, although short-lived, it made me experience true love. We didn't consider who came first or who was more suitable. We simply loved each other. But in the end, we were bound by reason and gave up this love. Perhaps some might say what we did was wrong. But I believe that love has no right or wrong. We cannot give up our love because we fear hurting others, nor can we suppress our feelings due to responsibility. Love is free and belongs to those who bravely pursue it. In the realm of love, we should be courageous in pursuing our happiness and not be restrained by the concept of order. For love knows no order, only true love endures.