Chapter 10 — I Just Take Back What Belongs To Me

I walked to open the door.

"Please come back."

He remained standing motionless. It seemed I couldn't believe my ears.

"Lam Niem..."

I looked at him one last time.

"Tran Hao."

"We are divorced."

"You no longer have the right to enter my life."

His eye rims were red.

"Lam Niem... you really know it's wrong..."

I calmly replied:

"Do you know if it's wrong or not..."

"...no longer has anything to do with me."

"Please come out."

Tran Hao stood there for a long time. Finally... He turned and left. The door closed. I leaned my back against the door. Exhale a long breath. Finally... It's all over. I walked out onto the balcony. Light a cigarette. This is my second time smoking. The sky outside is strangely blue. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Khuong Vy.

"The house transfer procedure has been completed. Come pick up the papers this week."

I replied:

"Thank you, Ms. Vy."

She sent a big hug emoji.

"Nien Niem, congratulations."

"A new life has begun."

New life... I looked at the sky outside the window. Smiling softly. New life... Has begun. ________________________________________ One month later. I moved back to the old house my father left behind. The house has been renovated. Everything is different from before. Only the wall in the living room... Still intact. When he was alive, his father loved hanging paintings and calligraphy on that wall. After he passed away... It was empty for many years. I hung a photo there. It's a picture of my father holding me when I was three years old. In the photo... He smiled brightly. I looked at the photo.

"I got the house back."

Outside the window... The golden sunshine is just beautiful. The phone rang.

"Nien Niem, are you done cleaning?"

"Done, Mom."

"Let's come over this afternoon."

"Mom packed dumplings for me."

I smiled. I stood by the window looking down at the street below. This road... How familiar. When I was little... Dad used to take me to buy ice cream on this street. My school years... I passed here every day to go to school. I sold that house. Moving to the place Tran Hao called...

"Our home."

I have returned. The phone lights up again. It's a message from Tran Hao.

"Lam Niem, you really know what's wrong."

"Can you give me one more chance?"

I just glanced. Then delete immediately. What Khuong Vy said is very correct. There are people... Who don't deserve a second chance. Afternoon. Mom brought flour and meat filling.

"Nien Niem, come here and help mom wrap the dumplings."

I wear an apron. Stand next to your mother and roll each piece of pie crust. A moment later... Mom asked softly:

"What will you do next?"

I smiled.

"Go to work as before."

"Live like before."

Mom looked at me.

"Aren't you going to find anyone else?"

I shook my head.

"No rush."

"Alone is also very good."

Mom looked at me silently. A long time later he said:

"Nem Niem..."

"I'm the only one who's my daughter."

"As long as you live happily..."

"...mother will rest assured."

I put down the rolling pin.

"I will live well."

Mom patted my back. The corners of his eyes were red. Mother and daughter sat together and ate dumplings. Outside the window. The street lights were on. Gentle yellow light covers the entire street. I suddenly remembered my childhood years. Also on an evening like that. The whole family of three gathered around the table to eat dumplings. Dad always smiled and said:

"Nien Niem, eat more."

"Grow up quickly."

He left me many years ago. What he left behind give me... I got it back. Not just the house. But also... The alertness to understand that your value never needs to be determined by others. I sat alone in the living room. Quietly looking at my father's photo on the wall. I smiled slightly.

"The house you left behind was always mine."

"I'm just taking back what belongs to me."

Outside the window... The night is beautiful. I turned off the light. Lie down on the bed. A new day... Will start tomorrow.