Chapter 15 — From now on, mountains and rivers do not match each other

Slowly open your eyes. The vision that was initially scattered, finally gathered on my face. Lips moved, emitting an extremely weak sound:

"Not remarried... I'm awake..."

I burst into tears.

—

Luc Tram Chu recovered very slowly, but very steadily. After moving to the regular hospital room, every day I came to do physical therapy for him. Acupuncture, massage, medicinal baths, the whole process. He was also very cooperative, no matter how bitter the medicine was, he gulped it down without frowning. One afternoon, the sunshine was so beautiful, I pushed the wheelchair and took him out to the garden to bask in the sun.

"Vu Vi," he suddenly spoke up, "I really don't know about the children. That year the doctor said she was infertile, my first reaction was to feel sorry for her, afraid that she would be sad, so I thought of a way to become a surrogate..."

“I know,” I interrupted, “Luc Man said it all.”

“So have you… forgiven me yet?”

I didn't answer, but asked him back: "What if I can never forgive you?" He was silent for a moment.

“Then I will wait,” he said, “Wait all my life. Wait until you are too old to walk anymore, I will push you out to dry in the sun; wait until you lose all your teeth, I will cook porridge for you; wait until…”

“Okay okay,” I couldn't help but laugh, “So cheesy.”

He also smiled and grabbed my hand: "Vu Vi, we've wasted too much time. In the following days, I don't want to waste any more." I didn't pull my hand back. The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of gardenia flowers. Summer is almost here.

—

The day Luc Tram Chu was discharged from the hospital, we held a small family party. Right in the yard of the old house, two trays of feasts were displayed. Master Tan, Mrs. Tran, the workers at Nhan Hoa Duong, and even the old neighbors in the alley all came. The children ran and played, laughter filled the yard. Lam Da brought along his girlfriend - a nun he knew in medical school, and shyly offered me tea. Lam Nguyet passed into an important secondary school, holding her admission notice and showing it everywhere. Luc Tram Chu stood up and raised his glass of wine.

“Today, I want to officially announce two things.”

Everyone listened silently.

“First,” he turned to look at me, “I proposed to Ms. Khuong Vu Vi.”

Everyone cheered and teased.

“Second,” he smiled, waiting for the noise to subside, “She already agreed.”

The applause and cheers almost blew the roof off. I stood in the middle of that noise and looked at him, he was also looking at me. In my eyes there is light, there is love, there is a future. After eating, the children went out to light fireworks. Luc Tram Chu put his arm around my shoulder and we looked up together. Fireworks bloom in the night sky, brilliant and dazzling.

“Vu Vi,” he whispered in my ear, “This time, let's take it slow.”

“Okay,” I leaned my head on his shoulder, “Just take it slow.”

This life is still very long. We have enough time to make up for everything we missed. And turn the upcoming road into a beautiful landscape painting. RUN OUT OF