Chapter 29 — Marriage Is A Trap

“But I'm still a human being.”

“A complete human being.”

I pinned that letter under the glass of my desk. Read it once a day. To remind myself… The meaning of writing has never been about how many books you sell. There was a seventy-year-old woman... Because of your few words... She began to look back at all fifty years of her life. Another big thing that happened that year was... To Hoa Anh sent me a letter from the prison. The letter is very short. About your father... I shouldn't vent my anger on you. It wasn't until she came here... that she really understood it. As for To Thi Culture's matter... You can handle it however you want. She no longer has the right to intervene. My mother is a good person. I'm a lot like her. I read that letter twice. Then put it away. No reply. Not because of unforgiveness. There are words that don't need a response. It's already a response. The last day of that year... It was the first anniversary of Co Dien and I being together. I don't give flowers. No dinner reservations. He took me to a place. My parents' cemetery. Two tombstones are next to each other. The names of my father and mother were engraved on it. In front of the grave there are traces that have just been cleaned up. The flowers are also new.

“Have you been here before?”

“Once a month.”

“Since we've been together.”

I looked at him.

“You came to my parents' grave?”

“While I've never even met them.”

“I know you.”

“That's enough.”

“So what are you doing here?”

“Talk to them.”

“Tell them what you've been doing lately.”

“How to live.”

“Tell them…”

“That you live very well.”

The wind blows through the trees in the cemetery. Standing in front of my parents' grave... For the first time in twelve years... I burst into tears. Not because of heartache. Finally, someone did something for me that I always wanted to do... But didn't dare to do. On the way back... Outside the car window are the lights of thousands of rooftops. Co Dien drove. One hand on the steering wheel. I reached over... Holding his other hand. He didn't say anything. Just squeeze your fingers a little tighter. The lights outside the window receded one by one. Just like the old days. Gone... Won't come back again. But ahead… There are still many other lights. Three years later. I am thirty-two years old. Kien Hoa Fund... Has become one of the largest marriage and family support funds in the country. In total, more than five thousand women were helped. Opened branches in twelve cities. Fifty full-time employees. More than two thousand volunteers. The fund's key project…

“Her Second Life”…

Voted as one of the ten typical volunteer brands of the year. My book has reached its eighth volume. Total sales exceeded thirty million copies. Translated into nine languages. The name Nam Son... No longer needs any explanation. But in everyday life... I'm just To Niem. Every morning wake up at seven o'clock. Write a two-hour draft. In the morning, handle the fund's work. In the afternoon, answer emails... Read letters sent by readers. Cook dinner at night... Or wait for Co Dien to cook dinner. We are not married yet. It's not that I don't want to. But not in a hurry. Co Dien once said something... I still remember it very clearly.

“I don't need a piece of paper to prove our relationship.”

“But if you want…”

“Any time is fine.”

“Wait until I finish writing the next book Satisfied."

He looked at me.

“I've said this three times already.”

“Then wait for the fourth time.”

A lot has happened. Phuong Dao is out of prison. After being released from prison... She didn't look for me. Didn't look for Luc Canh Tham either. I heard he went back to his hometown. Work as an employee in a small store. A reporter came... Wanting her to talk about the past. She only said one sentence.

“I don't want to repeat the old story again.”

“Now I just want to live in peace.”

I don't know if she's sincere or just acting. But I don't care anymore. Vuong Chi Cuong is still in prison. The same goes for To Hoa Anh. Her appeal was rejected. Two years ago... Phuong Le Hoa was extradited back to the country. Indicted on charges of incitement to commit a crime and fraud. The case is still in trial. Co Dien has completely severed his relationship with Phuong Le Hoa. I once said... The only thing I regret... Is not seeing her true face more clearly sooner.

“If I had found out sooner…”

“Maybe I wouldn't have been hurt by her.”

I looked at him.

“If I had found out sooner…”

“Maybe we won't see each other.”

He thought silently for a few seconds.

“I don't regret it anymore.”

What about Luc Canh Tham? I heard he left this city. Work as a project manager for a small company. Monthly salary ten thousand yuan. He didn't contact me again. Me too. Once during a publishing industry exchange... Someone asked me:

“Miss Nam Son.”

“Is there anything else you want to say to your ex-husband?”

I thought for a moment.

“Wishing him peace.”

“Is that all?”

“That's all.”

The name Luc Canh Tham... In my life... Has become a footnote. Not a scar. Not hatred. No regrets either. Just a comment. Like the small lines at the bottom of a book page. If you don't bend down to read... It will be as if it never existed.