Chapter 10 — Lam Ha Mat

As the plane took off, I watched the ground gradually shrink. The phone has gone into airplane mode. No one can suddenly tell me to return to look after the store. No one took out the red envelope before boarding the plane, forcing me to bet my luck one more time. When I see other people taking family photos in the lobby, I still think of ten albums without me. When passing by the souvenir shop, I also remembered the refrigerator magnet bag in my house. But I'm no longer waiting for them to make up for it. After the plane landed, I turned on my phone. Mom sent two text messages. The first message asked: "Are you there yet?" The second message was sent half an hour ago. "Reply when you have time, no need to rush." I replied: "Arrived." She sent another word: "Okay." She did not continue to ask when I would return. I dragged my luggage out of the airport and took a car to the hotel. After checking in, the receptionist gave me my room card. My name is written on the card cover. In the evening, I went to the beach alone. No one took family photos with me. I also don't stand on the sand to prove that I live better than anyone else. I just sat for a while, listening to the sound of the waves rising and receding. Ten years ago, I graduated from high school. I look after the store until eleven o'clock at night. Mom showed me the sea through the phone screen. I told her: "Next time I will go too." She replied: "Of course." The "next time" ten years ago was finally done by me. After that, I went to the snowy mountains again. Going to the city where my parents used to stay for their silver wedding anniversary. Also goes to places that have never appeared in the family album. I don't go back to the route my sister used to take. Wherever I want to go, I go. Sometimes my parents still invite me home to eat. I will return. But after eating, he left. Dad no longer stuffed me with store keys. My mother also did not use my sister's weakness to force me to shoulder her life. Our relationship has never been the same again. No need to come back either. One time my sister asked me: "Sister, do you still hate me?" I said: "You just don't continue to take responsibility for me." She didn't ask further. After that, Chu Hanh Da asked his friends to ask if I had a new lover or not. I don't answer. Whether there is a new person or not, it has nothing to do with me leaving him. In the spring, my mother arranged a short trip. She no longer organizes draws. The store closes two days in advance. Dad said it's okay to make a little money. The younger sister was in charge of arranging where to send Dau Bao. The three of them went together. Mom sent a photo of us together, asking if I wanted to put it in the album. I said: "The trip is for my parents and me, everyone can keep it to themselves." She did not continue to say "our family". That day, I deleted the reminder that was permanently set every year in my phone calendar. The name of the prompt is: Family Travel Draw. For ten years, every time I hoped to win the lottery to travel, then over and over I told myself that there was still a next time. No need now. I opened the mailbox, confirming the order for the next trip. The only person departing was me. There are no tickets to stay. There are also no travel tickets. There is only one ticket that truly belongs to me. My name is clearly written on it. Lam Ha Mat.