秋日的清晨，空氣中彌漫著一絲涼意。我獨(dú)自走在城郊的小路上，目光不自覺地被路邊的梧桐樹吸引。金黃的落葉隨風(fēng)輕輕飄落，像是在跳一支優(yōu)美的舞姿。
走到一處小河邊，清澈的河水映照著天際的浮云，泛著淡淡的波光。晨露輕輕沾濕了青石板，涼意順著腳底蔓延上來，整個(gè)人都沉浸在一種寧靜的氛圍中。
就在這時(shí)，一位老人突然出現(xiàn)在我的視線中。他穿著一件深藍(lán)色的夾克，手里提著一個(gè)布包，步履穩(wěn)健，仿佛經(jīng)歷了風(fēng)霜。我下意識(shí)地停下腳步，想要問路，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)那個(gè)方向似乎通往一個(gè)陌生的地方。
“小伙子，要到那邊去嗎？”老人的聲音有些沙啞，卻透著一股溫暖。
“是的，那邊有一家 graphic design 的工作室，我想去看看。”我一邊說，一邊小心翼翼地向前走。
老人沒有說話，只是 continued to carry my bag and walked beside me. The path became slightly narrow, and I could feel the tension in the air.
As we walked, the leaves around us began to fall faster, creating a soft rustling sound that seemed to echo our conversation. The river carried the faint sound of birdsong, adding a melodic touch to the scene.
Just as we reached the end of the path, it suddenly rained heavily. The raindrops fell in sheets, washing away the traces of humanity. I looked up and saw the sky darkening, the colors turning from gold to a deep gray.
“What’s happening?” I whispered, holding my breath.
“It’s just a coincidence,” the old man said, breaking the silence. “I’m just passing through. You know these roads are always busy in autumn.”
“But… it feels like it’s the same road I used to walk every day.” I mumbled, tears welling up in my eyes.
“Ah, I see. You were coming back from the studio? I think I remember you from last year’s competition.”
“What? No, I was just a regular freelancer. Anyway, I’m not staying long. I’m going to leave soon.” I quickly replied, trying to hide my emotions.
“Oh, you’re going too?” The old man nodded, still carrying my bag. “That’s too bad. But… maybe we’ll meet again one day. You know how it is, life is unpredictable.”
As the rain continued to fall, I felt a strange sense of peace. The old man’s words, though cryptic, carried a wisdom I couldn’t put my finger on. He kept walking, as if sensing my gaze, and I realized he was taking me towards a place where time seemed to stand still.
When we finally reached the end of the path, the rain had stopped. The air was crisp, and the world felt smaller, like a piece of a puzzle that had been missing a corner.
The river was still there, its surface perfectly clear, but the golden leaves lay thick on the bottom, as if waiting to be picked up. I looked back at the old man, his silhouette against the rain, and thought, maybe the road I used to take was not so different from this one. Maybe life just keeps taking us on unexpected rides.
As I continued walking, the rain had calmed down completely, leaving behind a faint scent of earth and decay. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let the words of the old man echo in my mind. Somewhere, in the distance, there was a familiar sound—a bird song, maybe, or the sound of wind through trees. And in that moment, I knew it was time to go.
Hand in hand, we walked away from the river, the rain no longer a bother. The world had given me a moment of clarity, a reminder that even in the most unexpected places, life could still hold beautiful secrets.
