Chapter 1 — Half a Life of Rain and Wind Because of You

Firefighter Tran Tieu once fell from upstairs to save a female college student who committed suicide, almost paralyzing half of her body. It was me who was by his side, found a specialist for him, transferred him to the hospital, and continuously worked with him in rehabilitation for three years. Finally, he was able to stand up again. It is now our seventh year of marriage. But I want a divorce. My close friend, a lawyer, whom I invited to help draft the divorce agreement, looked at me in disbelief.

"Are you crazy? That year the whole world prevented you from marrying Tran Tieu who was in a wheelchair, but you still insisted on marrying him."

“It's very difficult for him to stand up now, but you want a divorce?”

I just calmly pulled out from the bouquet of fresh flowers the shipper had just delivered a card with another girl's name written on it, and placed it in front of my best friend.

“This is the reason I want a divorce.”

1

My friend immediately picked up the card and opened it. But when she saw the name "Ta Nghien" on the card, her expression suddenly stopped. Looking at her appearance, the corner of my lips revealed a bitter smile.

"It's so pitiful, isn't it? The flower Tran Tieu gave me on our seventh wedding anniversary could have been spelled wrongly as that girl's name."

My best friend's hand holding the card tightened.

"Don't think so, it's probably the wrong flower shop. Dear Tran Tieu..."

The last sentence, the best friend still did not say it. Maybe even she doesn't believe that Tran Tieu still loves me. That year, Tran Tieu fell from the stairs and broke his spine. Even the doctor said that he would have to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Only I don't believe it. I cried until my heart was torn apart, saying there would definitely be a way for him to get up. But when I tried to find every opportunity for Tran Tieu to stand up again, the first thing Tran Tieu said after leaving the ICU was:

“Don't blame her.”

Maybe because of that statement. Later, for 1088 days, Tran Tieu was in a wheelchair. When I fought against the whole world to marry him, the most thing Tran Tieu did every day was write letters to the girl who made him confined to a wheelchair. Call that girl. Thanks to his efforts, the girl returned to university and became a normal student. And you, thanks to my efforts, also successfully stood up. Even returned to his original job position. But then what? The first day he stood up, he didn't hug me and his parents but cried with joy. He went looking for that girl again. Completing the wish list that the two of them had written down on the phone, in letters, over the past three years. Go see a love movie with the first snow of the season. On a warm spring day, flowers bloom, come to the lawn to slide grass. Climb a mountain full of dogtails to watch the sunset and sunrise. Four years after Tran Tieu stood up, he took that girl to do all the romantic things only couples do. As for me, the person who had overcome difficulties with him, he saw me as an obvious existence, left behind at home. Even yesterday, I called Tran Tieu dozens of times. Tell him not to forget that today is our seventh wedding anniversary. I want to celebrate, and I've already booked a restaurant. Tran Tieu agreed very firmly. He also really didn't forget our seven-year wedding anniversary. Also ordered a bouquet of flowers to be shipped to me. But the flower was the tulip that the girl liked best. Even the name on the card was written as the other girl's name. So, based on this alone, what reason do I have for not getting a divorce? So that night, after seeing my best friend go, I immediately applied to volunteer to teach in a remote area for the school. I wanted to do this seven years ago. After all, when I was young, I relied on the help of kind people to come to this city to study at university, eventually becoming a teacher. I have always wanted to return to my hometown to volunteer and teach. But because of an unexpected incident with Tran Tieu, this dream was completely shelved. Now that's cool. After going through Tran Tieu's story, my personality became more stable and my attachment to the big city became less. Back home, I can probably stay.

2

I just finished submitting my volunteer teaching application for the school. The sound of the electronic lock rang, Tran Tieu pushed the door open and entered. He looked at me wearing a dress and makeup. He paused for a moment. But just for a moment, he quickly said:

"This afternoon, Ta Nghien asked for half a day off. I'll see you up the mountain in the afternoon. I have to hurry out now."

After speaking, he took off his black firefighter suit and went into the room. And I looked at his back, standing there dumbfounded. Because the moment he opened the door and walked in, I really thought he would leave early and come back to celebrate our anniversary with me. So am I in love with myself again? Like last time, on Dragon Boat Festival, there was a dragon boat racing performance. He kept scrolling on his phone to see instructions on the most beautiful places to watch dragon boat racing. I misunderstood that he wanted to take me to see it. Instinctively, I asked:

"When are we going to watch the dragon boat race? During Doan Ngo Festival, I may have to be on duty."

Tran Tieu replied without thinking:

"Don't worry, go to work, I've made an appointment with Ta Nghien."

One sentence completely turned me into a clown. This time too. After changing clothes, Tran Tieu saw me standing still, not even changing my movements, so he walked over and kissed me on the face.

“Your wife is so beautiful today.”

But as soon as he finished saying that, he quickly turned around and went to put on his shoes. Looking at his movements, in the end I still couldn't hold back. The moment he walked out the door, I called him back.

"Tran Tieu, have you forgotten? I booked a restaurant tonight to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary."

Tran Tieu's movements stiffened slightly. But just a moment later, he came over and kissed me one more time.

"How could I forget? Me and Ta Nghien will try to go to the restaurant in the afternoon. You go first."

After saying that, he didn't look at me again and just walked out the door. As for me, I looked at his back and stood there stupidly. Anyway, other than being dumbfounded, I really couldn't do anything else. Arguing loudly with Tran Tieu? I've argued before. But his statement "If you don't go see Ta Nghien, she will die" made me completely unable to argue anymore. Anyway, my jealousy and unreasonableness really cannot bear the weight of another girl's life. But luckily all this is about to end. So after the sound of the door slamming closed, I was no longer the same as before, silently shedding tears alone. Don't sit on the sofa like a lost puppet, unable to wake up for a long time. I turned around Returned to the room, took out the suitcase stuffed under the bed. The things inside are all things I brought from my hometown in the Northwest. Since the incident with Tran Tieu, I no longer take them out. After seven years, when I looked back at photos of my hometown on the golden plateau and photos of my parents, I remembered that since I got married, I had never gone home to visit them again. Even two years ago, when my mother fell and had to have surgery, I only transferred money back and did not go home. During these years, because of Tran Tieu, how many important things in my life have I missed?