Chapter 6 — Aurora Doesn't Wait For You

"Ms. Tham, the connecting flight ticket you changed for tonight has been issued successfully. The seat for the Helsinki leg has been confirmed, please check in your luggage within two hours." Chu Nghien stared at the camera, her voice lowered. “Do you really want to go?” “Um.” “Just because of this little matter?” I looked at him. “Yes, just because of this little thing.” Tong Van Van's crying stopped in an instant. Chu Nghien stood up from the sofa, the lens shaking violently. “Tham Duong, you stay there, I'll go home now.” “The plane takes off in 40 minutes, you won't make it in time.” His breathing was erratic. “I dare.” I hung up and turned off the video. When Chu Nghien grabbed her phone and rushed out of the greenhouse, the snow outside was dazzling. This was the first time he didn't turn around to see if Tong Van Van was chasing or not. Before the screen went black, he could only see Tham Duong carrying his bag and walking out of the Chu family's dining room. Chu Nghien's mother's call followed, his finger had to press a few times to connect. “Stop her.” The other side was silent for two seconds. "I can't stop it, the car he called earlier is already waiting at the door." Chu Nghien stood in the middle of the snow in a foreign country, pressing the phone to her ear, her voice trembling and low. “Is Tham Duong really gone?” … When I sat in the car, Chu Nghien's mother chased me to the foot of the stairs. She leaned against the door frame, the anger still on her face. “Tham Duong, if you step out of here today, don't let the Chu family let you down the stairs again.” The driver turned to look at me. “Miss, are you going to the airport?” I nodded. The car drove away from the road of the Chu family villa, the figure of Chu Nghien's mother was left behind. The phone is full of missed calls. Chu Nghien called more than a dozen times, Giang Du three times, and even Chu Nghien's father sent a message. "Tieu Tham, calm down so we can talk. Marriage is not a joke." I set my phone to silent mode. The airport lights were dazzling. I checked in my luggage, got my ticket, and went through security. It wasn't until I sat in the waiting room that I discovered my palms were covered in nail marks. Not without pain. It's just that the pain is so excruciating that every action becomes clearer and more decisive. Before boarding the plane, Chu Nghien called again. I picked up the phone. On the other end of the line there was the sound of wind whistling. “Duong Duong, I have booked the nearest flight to return, please don't get on the plane.” “Chu Nghien, I went through security.” "I'll wait for you, even if it's just for an hour. We'll talk in person." “Didn't you already say how many people were there just now?” He paused for a few seconds. “You shouldn't have asked me to apologize.” “What else?” "About the apartment, I will rearrange it, Van Van will not move there." I closed my eyes. “Chu Nghien, until now you are still making arrangements for her.” He choked. “She is sick.” "I know. She's sick, so you can take care of her. But you can't use my life to prolong her life." The other end fell into silence. The boarding announcement loudspeaker rang. I stood up and lined up. "Duong Duong, don't go. Finland is very far, it's not safe for you to go alone." He also said this sentence at the airport. At that moment I almost believed it. “I've been used to being alone for a long time.” I hung up and turned off the power. As the plane soared through the clouds, I looked out the window and saw only solid black. No auroras, no snow houses, just a sigh of relief that I had finally left. … Chu Nghien hurriedly returned home, it was already early evening the next day. The apartment door lock can still be opened, but the furniture in the house is half gone. The door did not have Tham Duong's slippers, the sink did not have her brush, and the pot of mint that was about to wilt on the balcony also disappeared.