I dreamed that I was closing down my company, preparing to move back to the United States. Inside the shop, I was packing and organizing things, with sister Joyce, accompanying me.
A tall, thin man entered the shop, and I remembered seeing him before. He leaned lightly against a couch nearby, and Joyce approached him, asking, 'Are you interested in this couch?' I also walked over. He replied, 'No, I just think it's a beautiful couch and wanted to take a look,' then left.
I briefly chatted with Joyce. I mentioned I needed to tidy up here as the moving company would soon come to take away items.
A young couple came to look at the goods. They were interested in a vintage French-style green and white desk. One of the desk drawers had a slight flaw where it wouldn't close properly. The gentleman spoke somewhat critically, probably hoping to negotiate the price down. I explained that I included an extra set of drawer parts for them, easy to repair.
As I was about to leave the shop, my high school classmates Emily and Yifang came to see me, apparently for some old exam papers I had for them. However, due to a previous leak in the company, I had placed these papers in various crevices to absorb water.
I retrieved these damp exam papers from under the couch and various crevices, found a suitable cardboard box on the roadside, placed the papers inside, and handed them to Emily.
Since they were helping me out, I asked them to give me the receipts for seafood they planned to eat later. They agreed.
I returned to my home in Tianmu to continue packing. Accountant Alex came to see me to discuss financial matters. He mentioned receiving a call from Emily asking about expense reporting for meals.
Alex said the company's financial affairs were nearly sorted out and asked how things were progressing. I told him everything was packed up, unsold inventory would be stored in Taichung, and I was exploring options to manage it. Other items were being prepared for shipment back to the US, finalizing loose ends.
Just as I was thinking things were nearly organized and was searching for the phone book to contact moving company Xiao Lin, he coincidentally called: 'Sis!' I asked, 'How did you know I was just about to call you?'
Xiao Lin said we had agreed he would come to move things on Friday and he was concerned I might forget. I assured him I hadn't forgotten. Since the items were split into two batches—some to Taichung storage handled by someone else, and the others to the US handled by him.
After explaining the details, I looked around, feeling a bit sentimental. Years of hard work were coming to an end. But that's just how things go...
夢見我將公司結束營業，準備搬回美國。我在店裡把東西打包與整理，Joyce 師姐在旁邊陪我。
有位瘦高白淨的男客人走進店裡，我記得我看過他。他輕靠在一張沙發旁邊，Joyce 師姐走過去問他：「你對這沙發有興趣嗎？」我也順便走過去。他說：「沒有，只是覺得沙發很漂亮，過來看看。」就離開了。
我跟 Joyce 師姐大概聊了一下。我說我要把這邊整理一下，接下來搬家公司要來搬走物品。
一對年輕夫妻來看貨，他們看上一件法式復古綠白相間的書桌。書桌其中一個抽屜有一點瑕疵，關不緊會掉出來。那位先生講話有點酸，大概想再殺價。我跟他們說明我附了一組額外的抽屜配件給他們，很容易修理。
當我要離開店裡的時候，高中同學 Emily 與 Yifang 來找我，好像我有一些以前的考卷要拿給她們。但好像之前公司漏水，我把這些考卷放在各個夾縫中去吸水。
我從沙發底下、各個夾縫把這些吸過水的考卷拿出來，在馬路邊找到一個尺寸合適的紙箱，將考卷放在紙箱裡，交給 Emily。
因為她們兩人是來幫我，我跟她們說，待會她們去吃海產的時候，把報帳發票給我。她們說好。
我回到天母的家繼續打包。會計師 Alex 來找我，討論會計帳務的事。他說接到 Emily 打來的電話，詢問吃東西如何報帳。
Alex 說公司會計事務都處理得差不多了，問我事情處理得如何。我說東西都打包了，賣不掉的庫存放台中倉，看看還有什麼方法可以把它們處理掉。其他東西準備運回美國，就是做收尾的動作。
當我在想東西整理得差不多了，正在找電話簿要聯絡搬家公司小林的時候，小林正好打電話來：「姐姐！」，我說：「咦？你怎麼知道我正要找你？」
小林說我跟他約禮拜五要來搬，他怕我忘了。我說沒忘。因為物品分兩批，一批到台中倉，我找別人搬；另一批要運美國，由他來處理。
交待完細節後，我環顧四周，有點感傷。這些年的努力在收尾。不過也就只能這樣了...
Ending 1: A Positive Closure
As I looked around, feeling a bit sentimental, I received a call from an old friend who heard about my move. We reminisced about the past and made plans to meet up in the United States. This conversation filled me with excitement and optimism for the new chapter ahead, knowing that old connections would follow me into my new life.
Ending 2: An Unexpected Opportunity
While wrapping up the final details with Xiao Lin, a potential buyer walked into the shop. They were interested in purchasing the remaining inventory. We quickly negotiated a fair deal, and just like that, my unsold items found a new home. This unexpected turn made the transition smoother and more rewarding, allowing me to leave with a sense of accomplishment.
Ending 3: A Touch of Nostalgia
As I prepared to leave the shop for the last time, I found an old photo album tucked away in a corner. Flipping through the pages, I was flooded with memories of the journey that brought me here. The nostalgic trip down memory lane filled me with a deep appreciation for all I had experienced and achieved. I left the shop with a heart full of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose for the future.
Ending 4: A New Beginning
Just as I finished discussing the moving details with Xiao Lin, a young entrepreneur entered the shop. They were starting a similar business and sought advice. Sharing my experiences and wisdom with them, I felt a sense of legacy and continuity. Seeing their excitement and ambition reassured me that my journey's end was paving the way for someone else's beginning.
Ending 5: A Mysterious Twist
After finalizing everything with Xiao Lin, I found an old, ornate key hidden in a drawer. Curious, I took the key and searched the shop for its lock. To my surprise, it opened a hidden compartment behind a bookshelf, revealing a box of precious keepsakes and a letter from the previous owner. The letter spoke of dreams and aspirations, mirroring my own journey, and offered a sense of closure and connection to the past.
Ending 6: An Emotional Farewell
Before leaving, my colleagues and close friends threw a surprise farewell party in the shop. We shared stories, laughter, and tears, celebrating the end of an era and the start of a new one. Their heartfelt wishes and support made me realize I wasn't leaving everything behind but carrying their love and memories with me. This emotional send-off strengthened my resolve to embrace the future with courage and hope.