Chapter 31 — After the Fire Ends, I Return

I'm sorry I didn't have time to call him dad when he was still alive. Grandma Tham hugged my shoulder, her voice trembling:

“In the future, grandma will love you in return.”

I wiped my tears and nodded.

“Yes.”

From behind, there was the sound of very light footsteps. Without turning around, I knew it was Tham Duat. He placed a bouquet of flowers in front of Tham Van's grave and said in a low voice:

“Brother, I brought Tieu Duong home.”

The wind blew through the pine trees, making a very gentle rustling sound. It was like someone was finally breathing a sigh of relief. One year later. Duong Ky opened a second branch. On the opening day, Khuong Van wore a bright red dress, stood in front of the door handing out lucky money to guests, and eloquently announced:

"Today, the owner Hua invites everyone to eat at a discount! Anyone who doesn't eat doesn't respect me!"

My mother laughed until she couldn't close her mouth. Grandma Tham sat in the restaurant, and I personally scooped up a bowl of soup. She tasted a piece and nodded repeatedly:

"Delicious. Just like the one Tham Van used to like."

I laugh:

“Then you have to come often from now on.”

"Of course. It's your niece's shop. If you don't come, where will you go?"

Not far away, Tham Duat was helping carry a few boxes of ingredients into the kitchen. Khuong Van saw it and immediately nudged my shoulder:

“Your little guy really looks more and more like a seasonal worker.”

I glared at her.

“If you say anything else, your salary will be deducted.”

“Do I have a salary?”

“No.”

“So you eliminate loneliness.”

I burst out laughing. At that moment, a figure appeared outside the door. Luc Canh Xuyen stood across the street, looking at Duong Ky's new sign. He didn't come in. Just stood there for a long time. Then he bowed his head, turned and left. I looked at his back, my heart as calm as the surface of water without any ripples. Khuong Van also saw it and asked in a low voice:

“Does it still hurt?”

I shook my head.

“No more pain.”

The scars on my back are still there. When it rains, sometimes the pain is still dull. But I no longer feel ugly because of them. They are proof that I survived. It's a trace of the times I walked away from the fire, from the hurt, from the unworthy people. I turned around and went into the kitchen. In the pot, the soup is boiling. White smoke rose, wrapping around the sunlight outside the window. Mom called me:

“Duong Duong, add onions to this bowl.”

I replied:

“Yes, I'm coming.”

Outside, the sound of guests laughing and talking was bustling. Grandma Tham is talking to my mother. Khuong Van is arguing with the new employee because they call her "sister". Tham Duat stood by the kitchen door, looked at me for a moment and then softly said:

“Tieu Duong, today has been hard.”

I looked at him and smiled slightly:

“Not hard.”

Because from today onwards, the path forward is mine to choose. I am no longer the one left in the fire. She is no longer the girl standing outside the bedroom door, listening to others decide her fate. I'm Hua Duong. Also Tham Duong. She is Tham Van's daughter. She is Tham Tu Lan's daughter. It's me. And my life, in the end, I don't need to live for anyone anymore. RUN OUT OF