Chapter 17 — Half a Life Lost, Half a Life in Peace

"Lac Lac came to find me."

I said nothing.

"He said he doesn't need a father like you."

He smiled bitterly.

"Co Niem doesn't want to talk to you either."

I looked at him. In the end... He had nothing left. No need to lose money. But the people who once made him feel needed... Have all left him. His voice was very quiet.

"Are you worthy?"

He was stunned. I do not console. No pity either. He bowed his head and smiled. The corners of the eyes turned red.

"I wouldn't have said that before."

I calmly replied:

"Because I didn't live well before."

He nodded. After a while, he asked:

"What about now?"

I looked towards the company's glass door. The lights are on inside. Trieu Lam is scolding a new employee. Tham Nghien sat in the corner of the room doing exam questions. The nurses are arranging work schedules for tomorrow. But full of life. I smiled.

"It's very good now."

Three years later. Van Tinh Care opens its seventh store. Tham Nghien passed the university entrance exam to major in Nursing. The date the admission notice is sent. He held the envelope and stood in front of my office door. His face tried to stay calm. But his ears turned red.

"I passed."

I stood up. Receive the notice. Looked for a long time. It's not a prestigious university. The field of study is not flashy either. But I wanted to cry even more than when I saw any of Co Niem's certificates of merit in my previous life. It's not because you make me smile. He is finally living his own life. I smiled.

"Congratulations baby."

Tham Nghien bowed his head.

"Thank you mom."

The atmosphere suddenly became silent for a second. This is the first time you called me mom. I raised my head to look at him. He felt a bit embarrassed and quickly turned to look out the window.

"If you're not used to it..."

"Can you..."

I stepped forward. Gently hug him. His body stiffened for a long time. Then slowly raise your hand. Gently hug me back. But that's enough. Co Niem also came to see me once. He passed the entrance exam to a normal university. Before leaving for school. It came to say goodbye to me. The boy has grown taller every year. Also much more mature.

"Can I still call mom like that in the future?"

I looked at it. Then nodded slightly. Its eye sockets immediately turned red.

"Before, I was really miserable."

I replied immediately: It was choking to the point of being stunned. A second later, he laughed again. But tears also fell. I gave him a tissue.

"It's good to know you're wrong."

"But don't live forever in guilt."

"If you really feel sorry..."

"Then let's live kindly in the future."

Co Niem nodded vigorously.

"You're still as straightforward as ever."

I took out a bank card from the drawer and gave it to Co Niem.

"There's not much inside."

"But enough for me to cover basic living expenses during college."

It does not refuse. Just look at me seriously.

"I'll give it back to mom."

I shook my head.

"No need to pay."

A ray of light just flashed in its eyes. I continued:

"But there won't be any more."

It stopped. Then nodded slightly.

"I understand."

Before leaving. It stood at the door for a long time.

"I wish you happiness, mom."

I smiled.

"Me too."

After Co Niem left. I'm not sad for too long. There are relationships... They don't have to end in blood tear. Sometimes you just need to return them to their original position. Co Minh Vien went bankrupt once. It is said that after Hua Lac Lac went abroad, he no longer contacted him. Co Niem also became more and more distant. Sometimes he sends me messages. But I never answered. Her mother-in-law lived in a rehabilitation hospital for another two years and then passed away. Before passing away. She asked someone to send me an old wooden box. Inside is a gold bracelet. It was the bracelet that she left for Co Minh Xuyen in her previous life. As for this life... She said she wanted to leave it to me. I glanced at it and then took it. Not for forgiveness. But because that bracelet was originally bought by me. When Trieu Lam knew about it. She laughed until her stomach hurt.

"Now you really can't bear the slightest loss."

I laughed.

"You've had enough."

Trieu Lam nodded.

"That's true."

The two of us stood in front of the company door. Sunset light falls. Dye the whole street into a warm yellow. Inside the store. A young girl is assisting an elderly man with rehabilitation exercises. His daughter sat next to him and signed to confirm the service. Everything has clear prices. All responsibilities are recorded transparently. No one has to sacrifice their whole life for an invisible duty. I really like that clarity. Return home in the evening. Tham Nghien has already cooked the noodles. He's still not good at expressing his feelings. Just quietly added another fried egg to my bowl. I sat down to eat noodles. The heat rose slightly. He sat across from me reading a book. The yellow light gently covered his shoulders. The betel pot on the window sill is strangely green. I remember the last day of my previous life. The motel room was cold. I lie on the bed. There was not a single missed call on the phone. I thought then. I am a failure. Being a failed wife. Failed motherhood. Being a daughter-in-law fails. Even being human is a failure. But live again. I just understand. It's not that I failed. It's that they saw my sacrifice as a free life. If you want to use it, use it. If you want to take it, take it. I want to squeeze out every last drop without feeling guilty. And now. I got that life back. The phone vibrated slightly. A message from an unknown number appeared. 【To Van, if there is another life, I will definitely treat you well. —— Co Minh Vien】 I took a look. Then delete it. There will be no afterlife. But even if... It's not your turn. Tham Nghien raised her head.

"Who texted that?"

I bent down to continue eating noodles.

"Spam messages."

He nodded. Then read the book attentively again. I bowed my head and ate each chopstick of noodles. The noodles are a bit soft. Salt is also a bit bland. But very delicious. Outside the window. Night gradually falls. In the distance, fireworks bloomed. A "bang" sound rang out. Light up half the sky. I suddenly remembered many years ago. The first day I stepped into the Co family's house. My mother-in-law once told me:

"If a woman gets married, she must consider her husband's house as her home."

I believed. Believe to the point of losing your child. Losing youth. Lost half my life. Only today did I understand. Family is not a place where others automatically ask you to sacrifice. Family... Is where you can come back when you're tired. When you're hungry, someone will cook you a bowl of noodles. Crying is not considered bad luck or trouble. And in this life. Finally... I have a home that belongs to me.