better not to go further / 這樣就好

人和人的交集到底有甚麼道理呢？年輕時候的我對於新朋友是很有保留的，現在的我也還存有保留的機制，但是隨著年紀增長，我開始想要抓住些甚麼，也許只是一晚的相談甚歡，就讓我想要把那樣的短暫延長，不過，我最終還是想到很久之前的一位朋友送我的一句話，離開了共同的空間和時間，人很少會再有談話上的交集。

Is there any pattern or formula in our coming across new people? When I was young, I was highly reserved in interacting with new friends. I might still be, to a certain degree, but with time passing, I was eager to hold onto something. Maybe it was just a merry night of drinking and talking, but it gave me the longing to lengthen that moment. However, in the end, everything all came down to some remarks made by a friend a long time ago: without being in the same place and time zone, we hardly have anything to talk about.

已經很久沒有在旅行途中和那麼多陌生人有交集了，這次因為一個人，因為我渴望著擴大自己的世界，於是我拋開了自我保留的功能。在某種程度以內的互動都是愉快而美麗的，但是當我對於別人的認識越來越深入時，其實我的內心並沒有充足的準備，於是我看到的和之前的印象不一定相符，我多少有些驚嚇，便不停自問這一切究竟是如何發生，雖然我很明白，是我自己吧！

I had not met so many new people during a trip for a few years. This time I was alone and desired to meet the big world. I thus discarded the in-built function of being reserved. My interaction, within a certain range, was pleasant and beautiful. However, when I got to know some people more than I could afford mentally, I saw something conflicting with my first impression. Then I couldn't stop asking myself how all this had happened. Meanwhile, I knew well that I myself had to take the responsibility.

攝於京都青年旅館 Tour Club 外 / photo taken outside the hostel Tour Club, Kyoto

錯就錯在我太想賦予意義給這些偶然的相逢了，但是它們本身也許是沒有意義的，我看著其他人毫不留戀地前行，我懷疑自己究竟怎麼了，居然在這個不怎麼樣的節骨眼上多愁善感了起來。現在我又要重新學習，瀟灑地讓過去的過去，邁開腳步往前走。

My fault lay in that I wanted too much to give meaning to these coincidental encounters. But perhaps they were meaningless. I saw others move forward without looking back. I wondered what was wrong with me. My sentimentality took hold of me at such an insignificant moment. Now I have to learn again to let bygones be bygones and stride forward.

我不擔心也不再小心翼翼了，如果我們真的有緣，你就會再回到我的生命裡。如果不是，那我們走這裡，就好。

I am no longer worried. Nor am I afraid that I'll lose anything. If we are meant to be, you'll eventually come back to my life. If not, then it is better for us, not to go further.