Picking up a watch

　　A watch that had accompanied me for 7 years,Rolexwas lost in a sudden accident. Truly, you only know how to cherish something after you have lost it; oh, what a painful realisation!

　　There are so many memories and stories associated with watches. The Rolex that accompanied me for 7 years recorded many of my youthful and beautiful moments, witnessing friendships, love, and family bonds. But the longer you have something, the easier it is to ignore its presence; this is something you have to admit.

　　On an ordinary day, a few friends and I planned a trip to the countryside; just thinking about it felt very pleasant, so I readily agreed. I didn't care about the time, as I didn't even glance at the Rolex on my wrist. It felt like a mere accessory. We agreed on a meeting point, and our group set off in high spirits. During the car ride, we chatted away, losing track of time, and it felt like we arrived at our destination, the countryside of ——, in no time.

　　I must say, the scenery in the countryside was very fresh and beautiful, possessing more spirit and less vanity than the bustling city. Our group laughed and talked, and we even had a barbecue. In short, we had a wonderful time. Later, someone suggested going for a swim in the river, as the water in the small countryside stream was very clean and crystal clear. Everyone cheered for the suggestion, so we all stripped down to our underwear and jumped into the river, and I was no exception.

　　When can a person most easily forget everything and ignore outside interference? Perhaps only when they are having fun. Our group played very freely until it started to get dark, and only then did we come ashore. Once on the bank, I felt a bit awkward, though I couldn't say why. My friends were urging me to hurry, so I didn't have time to think too much and left as soon as we got in the car.

　　In the car, I finally had time to reflect on why I felt awkward. I raised my hand to check the time, and suddenly realised my Rolex was gone! My goodness, when did it go missing? Where did it fall? A series of questions flooded my mind, causing my brain to momentarily short-circuit. I told my friends about the missing watch, and we all agreed it must have fallen into the river while we were swimming. Although I thought so too, I still hoped that I hadn't worn the watch out and had left it at home instead.

　　Reality is always cruel; the watch was indeed lost, and I fell into a long period of regret. It is not just regret for the loss, but because I once possessed it yet did not know how to cherish it. If only—but there are no ifs. If you have a watch on your wrist that has accompanied you for a long time, you must cherish it. Pick upWatchand use your own time to care for it.