The Haunted Platform: A Fateful Reunion

In the heart of the bustling city, the domestic terminal stood as a silent sentinel, its grandiose structure a testament to the relentless flow of life. It was a place where dreams took flight, and destinies were shaped. But for young Liu Yifan, the terminal held a more somber memory—one that she had tried to forget.

Years ago, Liu Yifan had been a frequent visitor to the terminal, a place where she had said a final goodbye to her sister, Xiao Lin, who had mysteriously vanished without a trace. The day of Xiao Lin's disappearance was one etched into Liu Yifan's memory like a scar: the cold, rainy afternoon, the empty platform, the echoing footsteps of a life that had suddenly ended.

Now, as Liu Yifan stood on the same platform, her heart pounded with a mix of fear and nostalgia. She had returned to the terminal to attend a memorial service for Xiao Lin, a service she had missed years ago due to unforeseen circumstances. The terminal was quieter than she remembered, the once-bustling atmosphere replaced by an eerie stillness.

As she approached the platform, Liu Yifan noticed a peculiar sign that had never been there before: "Closed for Maintenance." She pushed the thought aside, assuming it was a mistake. The terminal was never closed for maintenance, not during the day at least.

She stepped onto the platform and felt a shiver run down her spine. The air seemed colder here, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She turned around but saw no one. The platform was empty, save for the occasional rustling of wind through the steel bars of the benches.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows at the end of the platform. Liu Yifan's breath caught in her throat as she recognized Xiao Lin. The sight of her sister, so long gone, was both a shock and a comfort. Xiao Lin smiled weakly, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Yifan," Xiao Lin whispered, "I've been waiting for you."

Liu Yifan's heart raced as she stepped closer. "Xiao Lin, it's you? But how? Why are you here?"

Xiao Lin gestured towards the terminal. "This place has always been our sanctuary. When I left, I knew I'd come back one day. But I didn't expect to see you again."

Liu Yifan's eyes filled with tears. "I missed you so much. I thought you were gone forever."

Xiao Lin nodded, her expression softening. "I was, for a while. But then I found a way back. I wanted to say goodbye properly, to make sure you knew I was okay."

As they spoke, Liu Yifan noticed a strange glow emanating from the ground beneath her feet. The platform seemed to shimmer, and the air grew colder. She looked at Xiao Lin, who was now standing in the glow, her form becoming more ethereal with each passing moment.

"Yifan," Xiao Lin said, her voice tinged with urgency, "I need you to promise me something."

Liu Yifan's eyes met her sister's. "Anything, Xiao Lin. Just tell me what you need."

Xiao Lin took a deep breath. "I need you to find peace. I can't rest until I know you're at peace."

Liu Yifan nodded, understanding the gravity of her sister's request. She reached out to touch Xiao Lin, but her hand passed through her sister's form. The glow intensified, and Xiao Lin's face twisted in pain.

"Yifan, please," Xiao Lin whispered. "I need you to let me go."

Before Liu Yifan could react, the glow enveloped Xiao Lin, and she was gone. The platform seemed to collapse in on itself, the shadows growing darker and the air colder still.

Liu Yifan stumbled back, her heart pounding. She looked around the platform, searching for any sign of Xiao Lin, but she was gone. The terminal seemed to return to its normalcy, the eerie stillness replaced by the distant hum of life.

Liu Yifan sat down on the bench, her eyes stinging with tears. She had promised Xiao Lin she would find peace, but she didn't know how. The terminal had been her sister's sanctuary, and now it felt like a place of haunting.

As she sat there, lost in thought, the terminal began to change. The walls seemed to shift, and the air grew colder. Liu Yifan looked up to see Xiao Lin, now fully visible, standing before her.

"Yifan," Xiao Lin said, her voice gentle, "I'm not gone. I'm here with you."

Liu Yifan's eyes widened in shock. "But how? Why are you here now?"

Xiao Lin smiled, her form glowing softly. "I've been here all along, watching over you. I wanted to make sure you were okay, that you found peace."

Liu Yifan's tears flowed freely now. "I'm so sorry, Xiao Lin. I didn't know how to find peace without you."

Xiao Lin shook her head. "You don't need to. You've already found it. You've lived your life with love and purpose, just as I knew you would."

Liu Yifan looked at her sister, who seemed to be made of light and shadows. "But what about you? What will you do now?"

Xiao Lin's smile widened. "I'll be with you always, Yifan. I'll watch over you, and you'll watch over others. We'll never be apart."

As Xiao Lin spoke, the glow around her intensified, and she began to fade. Liu Yifan reached out to touch her, but her hand passed through her sister's form once more.

"Yifan," Xiao Lin said, her voice barely audible, "I love you. And I'll always be with you."

With those final words, Xiao Lin disappeared, leaving Liu Yifan alone on the platform. The terminal seemed to return to its normal state, but Liu Yifan knew that she had been changed forever.

She got up from the bench and walked out of the terminal, the memory of Xiao Lin's final words echoing in her mind. She had found peace, just as her sister had asked. And she knew that, in some way, Xiao Lin was still with her, watching over her from beyond the veil.

As she left the terminal, Liu Yifan felt a sense of closure. She had faced her past, accepted her sister's fate, and found the peace she had been searching for. The terminal, once a place of haunting, had become a sanctuary, a place where she had said goodbye to her sister and found herself.

And so, Liu Yifan walked away from the terminal, her heart filled with love and gratitude, ready to face the future with a newfound sense of purpose.