Chapter 29: The School Gate

A few leaves fell from the sycamore tree at the school gate, trampled into the cracks of the paving stones by the students coming and going. The September sun, already at an autumnal angle, slanted across the gilded characters “Jiangcheng No. 1 Middle School” above the school gate.

She stood next to me, clutching the strap of her backpack. It was a brand new navy blue backpack, the cheapest one I’d picked out online. Inside were a workbook, draft paper, a pencil case, a thermos, and a packet of goji berries. The stationery cost less than forty yuan in total.…