Min and Ting. Two Hong Kong Protesters. (the day after a protest turned violent at the airport)

Min is a young man, Ting a young lady, both 24 and fellow students at the university. Min is lying in bed with his broken arm resting on his chest. It is a small windowless room in his parents’ small apartment. His arm was broken 3 days before in a confrontation with police at a train station. Ting has just arrived and sits in a chair at his bedside.

Ting — How is your arm?

Min — Better. Were you at the airport yesterday?

Ting — I was.

Min — What happened?

Ting — It got out of hand.

Min — I’d been worried about that. When things get too heated people lose control.

Ting — It shouldn’t have happened.

Min — It shouldn’t have. (he gives her a long look). You’re going back?

Ting — Yes.

Min — You’re strong.

Ting — We have to stand up to them.

Min — I know. But I worry that we’ve gone too far.

Ting — I worry about it, too.

Min — But you’re still going back?

Ting (smiling) — Yes.

Min repositions his arm.

Ting — When will the cast come off?

Min — Six weeks.

Ting — Better a fractured arm than a fractured head.

Ming — I know. I raised my arm just in time. Otherwise it would’ve been my head.

Ting — And you said it wasn’t a policeman?

Min — No. He was a thug. Hitting us while the policemen looked the other way. It was like 15 of them. Just came straight at us.

Ting — You’re brave.

He smiles.

Min — I’m glad you think so. First he hit me in the ribs, took my breath away, then he aimed for my head. He was so quick. I barely had time to cover.

Ting — I’m glad it wasn’t worse.

Min — Me too.

Ting — If we don’t fight who will? Our parents are too old.

Min — They’re paying the bills.

Ting — Yes, that too.

Min smiles up at Ting.

Min — I’m glad you came to see me.

Ting — Of course. You would’ve done the same for me.

Min — I would.

She raises her open palm and they slap in high five style.

Ting — You think Xi will send in the troops?

Min — If he does it will be brutal. Tiananmen all over again. What are the people in the mainland thinking?

Ting (shrugging, pensively) — Who knows what twist Beijing is putting on the story. Their lives are so controlled. Everything so censored.

Min — Have you been?

Ting — Yes. Three times. Last time was a year ago. Went to visit a cousin in Shanghai.

Min — You could tell the difference?

Ting — Right away. Cameras everywhere. Everyone under surveillance. Suffocating. That’s how it felt to me.

Min — We’re fighting for all the Chinese, aren’t we?

Ting — Yes. Even if they don’t appreciate it.

Min looks away for a moment.

Min — They just don’t know what they’re giving up.

Ting (shakes her head) — I think they know… but they figure there’s a price to pay for their physical comforts and they pay it.

Min — What do they say about Xi changing the constitution so he can keep getting reelected until he dies?

Ting — Oh well.

Min — Will they care if Xi sends in the troops?

Ting lowers her eyes for a moment.

Ting — Maybe some.

Min — I was thinking of Prague before you came… August 1968… when the Russians invaded.

Ting — We’re doing it for us. And China did sign a treaty with the British guaranteeing our rights until 2047.

Min — Xi laughs at it. You think the world will stand by us?

Ting — Some will. The many won’t. We’re on our own. If you lose an eye, you won’t get it back, no matter who stands by you.

Min — I’m so sorry for that girl.

Ting nods slowly.

Min — Did you know her?

Ting — No. All I know is she was giving first aid to a protester on the ground.

Min runs his hand slowly over the cast in his arm.

Ting — Maybe if you’ve never known freedom it’s easier to put up with people controlling you. But if you’ve known freedom… you fight to keep it.

Min — Even if you’ve never known it, you yearn for it. It’s essential to being human.

Ting — The spirit of George Orwell is with us.

Min — Yes it is.

Ting — One day I will write too.

Min — I would love to see that.

Ting — Thank you. I have to go now.

Min — Back to the airport?

Ting — Yes.

Min — Do you have to?

She looks at him and smiles.

Ting — They’re expecting me.

Min — I wish you wouldn’t go.

Ting reaches over and caresses Min’s face.

Ting — You are sweet.

Min — The struggle is bringing us close.

Ting — It is.

Min — Will you be safe and not do anything crazy?

Ting — I will be safe… and not do anything crazy.

Min — Promise?

Ting — Promise.

She takes his hand in hers and kisses it. Then she rises and crosses to the door. She looks back at him and waves a slow goodbye.

Min — Will you call me when it’s done?

Ting — I will.

She exits.

oscarvaldes.net