Chapter 13: Sunflowers on the Screen
To help more people understand depression, the "Light Through Cracks" team decided to launch a new media outreach initiative called "Light Through Cracks Live". Xia Xia took the lead in setting up a short video account named "Light Through Cracks Live Room".
During their first live stream, Aze, Xiaohang, and Ah Hua from the mountain village joined them. However, not many people tuned in initially, and negative comments flooded the bullet screen like "Depression is just made-up" and "Only idle people get sick like this". Xia Xia's eyes welled up with tears: "Why do people still have so many misunderstandings about this?"
Aze remained calm: "Just like how villagers in the mountains didn't understand it at first, we need to reach people in a way they can accept." Later, they adjusted their content—instead of focusing on professional jargon, they shared real stories and even brought along the original "Collection of Light Through Cracks" to share with the audience. When Aze talked about his own experience, a viewer suddenly commented, "I always feel suffocated and can't sleep at night—am I sick too?"
Aze replied gently: "We can see a doctor, just like we take medicine when we have a cold. It will get better slowly."
Chapter 14: Light Across Oceans
When the news of "Light Through Cracks Going to the Mountains" spread, many overseas schools also extended invitations. The team then launched the "Light Across Oceans" program, aiming to bring psychological support to Chinese students studying abroad.
Xiaotang, now a psychology major in college, volunteered to be a regular tutor: "Sister Lin helped me back then, and now I want to do something for my peers." She designed a "Sunflower Care Package" with self-help guides and small gifts, sending them to students studying abroad.
Before an important exam, Xiaotang visited overseas students and brought them new straw hats woven by Granny Ah: "Don't be nervous—just like growing sunflowers, you've already sown the seeds; now you just wait for them to bloom." When exam results came out, Xiaotang was admitted to a good university and chose psychology as her major, saying she wanted to help more people as Dr. Chen and Sister Lin did.
Chapter 15: Light That Never Fades
That autumn, sunflowers bloomed in the mountain village school. Ah Hua sent photos showing golden fields under blue skies, with children smiling brightly. On the back, she wrote: "Sister Lin, our sunflowers are blooming! You said sunlight will always come—we believe it!"
By now, "Light Through Cracks" had set up "Sunshine Stations" across over ten provinces and cities, helping thousands. They launched the "Light Together" program, inviting recovered individuals, psychologists, and volunteers to support those in need.
At the annual sharing session, Lin Xiao stood among sunflowers, looking at familiar faces—Su Yang, Granny Ah, her parents, Xiaotang, Xiaoxia, Ah Hua—and many new friends connected through "Light Through Cracks". She smiled and said: "At first, I thought I was just finding my way out of darkness, but now I know light can travel far and wide."
As wind rustled the sunflower fields, everyone's faces shone with hope—this light would never fade.
Final Message: Depression is a long journey, but you are never alone. Just like sunflowers that face the sun through rain and wind, we too can carry light in our hearts. May everyone find their way out of darkness and become beacons for others.