It is said that when the forest is deep, I see a deer; when the sea is blue, I see a whale; and when I wake up, I see you. But in reality:

When the forest is deep, mist rises; when the sea is blue, waves surge; and when I wake up, the night continues. I see no deer, no whale, and no you. But in the end:

The deer comes with the mist, the whale rides the waves. How do you know I’m not there if you don’t look back?In my view:

The deer disappears into the deep forest when it sees people, the whale runs into the shallows with the waves, just as I fear when I see you.

After all: the deer fears people, the tide recedes, and the mist hides your heart. I can’t see you, nor can I see myself.

Sarah and Tom grew up together; their parents were close friends. They went to the same schools from primary to high school. Tom always liked being around Sarah, and she got used to it. By sophomore year, they were inseparable. Tom, though talkative in class, was a good student, and teachers mostly ignored his chatter.

During the summer, Tom invited Sarah out. She readily agreed, asking where they were headed, but he only replied, “Wherever you want to go.” On the bus, Sarah enjoyed the scenery and eventually fell asleep, her head resting on Tom’s shoulder. Tom was overjoyed, having always cherished her. As sunlight touched her face, he was tempted to kiss her, but the bus’s sudden stop woke her. She saw Tom’s blushing face and laughed, causing him to turn away instinctively.

Getting off the bus, Sarah looked at the endless sea and then at Tom, asking how he knew she wanted to come here. Tom joked that he knew everything about her. They spent the day happily and returned late.

In their senior year, they both got into a prestigious university. Sarah majored in history, Tom in computer science. Though in different fields, they spent much time together. Everyone thought they were a couple, but they never defined their relationship. Four years flew by.

Tom started working at a company, earning a decent salary, while Sarah became a museum curator with a modest income. They lived in the same city but in different places, seeing each other occasionally. As their responsibilities grew, their meetings became less frequent. Despite this, their hidden feelings slowly surfaced. Sarah lacked the courage to confess, while Tom wanted to become successful before declaring his love.

Approaching the age for marriage, Sarah faced pressure from her family to go on blind dates. She resisted, waiting for Tom. Learning his workplace and address from friends, she excitedly went to see him. Waiting outside his apartment, she finally saw him, but he was with another girl. The girl gave Tom a bouquet, and though he hesitated, he accepted it. They embraced while Sarah hid, crying silently.

Heartbroken, Sarah agreed to her family’s blind dates. Three months later, Tom, having stabilized his job, went to propose to Sarah, bringing gifts to her home. To his shock, a man answered the door, introducing himself as Sarah’s husband. Tom was stunned.

At that moment, Sarah returned from grocery shopping, dropping her bags upon seeing Tom. Her husband welcomed him in. Sarah’s eyes welled with tears, but she held back. Tom tried to stay composed, handing her the gifts and congratulating her on her marriage before leaving.

Outside, Tom met friends at a bar, where he learned Sarah had looked for him but misunderstood his embrace with the other girl. Heartbroken, she had accepted her family’s arrangements.

Tom cried, realizing the pain of unspoken love. He knew now that love unexpressed is love wasted.

Unspoken love is a solo act, filled with bittersweet moments known only to one. If you love someone, don’t wait. Pursue them courageously, for time waits for no one.