Chapter 14 — After Forgetting Your Husband

Tham Duat Hanh looked at her: "Sorry Tue Tue." Tue Tue stood next to me, her fingers tightly hooked around my hand. The mother-in-law's lips trembled, it took a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "Grandma used to speak a bit harshly." Tue Tue looked at her and said in a low voice: "You said I'm a money-losing girl." The mother-in-law's face was extremely unsightly. In the hallway at this time there were lawyers, court staff and people waiting for trial. All her life she had the most dignity, but right now that dignity is being roasted on the fire. Tham Duat Hanh shouted: "Sorry." Her sunglasses slid down, revealing her bloodshot eyes. She gritted her teeth and her voice trembled: "Tue Tue, I'm sorry, grandma shouldn't have scolded you." Tue Tue did not say "It's okay". She just moved closer to me: “I heard it.” That day the court did not immediately announce the verdict. But Tham Duat Hanh signed an additional agreement, giving up the right to dispute custody, property divided according to law, visitation must respect the child's wishes, and absolutely not allowed to bring Ha Tuyen to contact with the child. When he signed, his hands were shaking. The nib of the pen made a mark on the paper, leaving a dark ink mark. He stared at my name and suddenly said: "Tri Chi, I thought you would riot, cry, beg me to come back." He looked up at me, his eyes broken and shapeless.

"I never thought you really didn't need me anymore."

I took my agreement and put it in my bag.

“It's not that I don't need you.”

A ray of hope flashed in his eyes. I said: "I need myself." 【Chapter 11】 The day I got the divorce certificate, the sky was very blue. In front of the Civil Affairs Department's door, there are two osmanthus flower trees planted. Most of the flowers have fallen, and a few pale yellow petals are scattered on the ground, giving off a faint scent when stepped on. I stuffed the dark red notebook into my bag and zipped it up. Tham Duat Hanh stood on the steps, holding a notebook in his hand. He looked for a long time, as if he was looking at a late verdict.

"I'll take you and your mother home."

I said: “No need.” Tue Tue held my hand. Today she is wearing a yellow coat, her whole body is like a baby sun. Seeing Tham Duat Hanh, she did not hide, but also did not step closer. Tham Duat Hanh squatted down and lowered his voice very softly.

“Tue Tue, can dad come visit me later?”

Tue Tue looked at him: "Dad, you can text mom first, I'll ask you, if you want to meet, I'll meet." His throat rolled up: “Okay.” Tue Tue said again: "Dad, you can't bring Aunt Ha here anymore."

“It won't.”

"Don't scold mom either."

“It won't.”

"Don't let grandma scold you either."

Tam Duat Hanh's eyes turned red: "I won't." Tue Tue nodded: "Then next time I want to see dad, I will tell mom." Having finished speaking, she pulled me straight forward. Tham Duat Hanh was still squatting there, his long shadow on the curved steps folded into a small ball. After moving to Ngo Dong street, I started drawing again. My first draft was a comic book about a little girl and an umbrella. At first, the girl always tried to reach high and hold the umbrella, wanting to protect adults from the rain. Then the adult bent down and handed the umbrella handle back to the little girl. On the last page, the little girl holds her own umbrella and walks freely in the sunlight. When I draw After finishing, Tue Tue crawled to the table and looked at it for a long time.

“Mom, is this girl me?”

I asked again: “What do you think?” The girl thought for a moment: "It's the child, but it's also the mother." I was stunned, then smiled. The publisher quickly contacted me and proposed making it into a long-term series. The amount of royalties is not much, but it is enough for my mother and I to live a peaceful life. Tong Chieu came to the house to eat, bringing a bouquet of flowers.