In the five years that followed, Xia Yi wrote him one letter a month without interruption. Her condition still fluctuated, but never worsened to the point where she couldn't write to him. When she relapsed, her tone would become sharp and agitated. She would still resent him and accuse him, but once she regained clarity, she would apologize again.
She constantly cycled between these breakdowns and periods of calm. The frequency, duration, and severity of the breakdowns gradually decreased, while the peace time gradually increased. After an episode of auditory hallucinations that lasted a week two years ago, she hadn’t fallen ill since.
This was a battle that lasted a full eight years. Initially, she would say in her letters that she felt she should have recovered and would never get sick again. But after countless relapses, even after two full years of stability, she remained cautious.