time machine / 時光機

舊曆年到了，想假裝沒這回事都不行，時間在各處灑滿了痕跡，我只要隨便一轉頭，每個角落都提醒著我，歲月不饒人。

Chinese New Year is closer than around the corner. Even though I'd like to be left in peace, it's just impossible. Time scatters traces everywhere. Whenever I turn my head, I read the signs saying that in time everyone is fair.

上星期在我的一人跨校考察旅行裡，回到了年少時就讀的國中，儘管街道冠上了高貴的「敦南」名，巷子底的矮平房依舊存在，為了滿足我浪漫的情懷，把傘丟在一邊，在人家的門口前立刻速寫了起來，一邊回想，和我一同上下學的友伴已經移民他國十多年，我還在同個小圈子裡轉來轉去的。

Last week on my one-man trip to different schools, I had a chance to go back to my junior high school. Even though the narrow street has been given a rich-sounding new name, the row of old houses still sits there. Being an inveterate romantic, I dropped the umbrella right away and got down to sketch in the rain. Standing in front of people's residence, I recalled the good old days and thought of the companion that went back and forth with me between the school and our neighborhood. She started her new life in another country more than a decade ago, and I am still here, in the same area.

如果一年只需要回憶一個過去的細節，都還在我的忍受範圍之內。就在我才從十多歲的時光浪潮回到現實，突然發現今年家中的男性同胞迷上極簡風，所有過往的、不再回顧的紀念品紛紛都基於占空間的理由必須全數出清。很多之前累積的林林總總，因為有些不捨，被置放在某個角落，雖然心裡也很清楚，不會再拿出來溫習了，要丟掉還是需要一股強大的決心。

It'd be reasonably bearable if I don't have to review more than one detail of the past per year. Right when I slid back into the present from the overwhelming emotional tides, I suddenly found that the guys in my family are totally infatuated with the extremely simple decorative style. All the souvenirs from the past, those which will not be looked at anymore, have to be thrown away based on the reason that they take up too much space. The "stuff" I have accumulated are placed deep in the shelves out of my attachment to the past though I am also clearly aware that I won't give them another glimpse. Still, it takes rock-firm determination to leave them behind.

晃了數天之後，我終於能夠面對現實，一邊整理一邊做最後的回顧，看到大學時成堆的筆記，才回想起當時我真的很認真向學啊！現在時間都花到甚麼事情上了，也說不上來。

After wandering around for a few days, I finally pulled myself together. While sorting out the files, books, and papers, I thought to myself that this would be my last time looking back. On seeing piles of notes made in college, it reminded me how studious I was at that time. So what am I so busy with now? I can't give a very satisfactory answer to be honest.

從今天起，暫時我只想往前進，時光機留著明年此時再來搭吧！

From today on, I only feel like moving ahead. I'll leave the time machine for next year, at this time!