Chapter 19 — One month before the wedding, the doctor gave me a piece of paper

He looked at me. His eyes were deep and warm.

“I'm in charge of telling those girls that.”

“Even if life falls apart once.”

“It's still possible to start again.”

I suddenly didn't know what to say. Outside the window. City lights light up in strips. A year ago. I used to think happiness was being married to Tran Due. Now look back. The luckiest of my life... Maybe it wasn't meeting him. It's about receiving that small piece of paper. And after losing someone who doesn't deserve it. Meet people who are truly worthy of respect. This is the first time I've seen him smile like that. The corners of the lips curl up clearly. Brings a true sense of relief and joy.

“I'm in.”

"Really?"

“In the law office there are three colleagues who specialize in handling cases related to women's rights.”

“I can form a small group.”

“The location is to use the office meeting room.”

“In the first phase, there is no need to rent private space.”

“That's too good.”

“But there is one condition.”

“You say it.”

“Project name for me to name.”

“...What's the name?”

“Notes.”

I was stunned. The piece of paper that Dr. Lam secretly slipped into my hand that day.

“Just call it ‘Notes’.”

“Because sometimes what changes a person's destiny is just a very small piece of paper.”

“A reminder.”

“A word of warning.”

I looked at him. Then nodded slightly.

“So it's called Paper Notes.”

Food is brought. He poured me a cup of tea.

“There's one more thing.”

“You once asked me why I came back from Beijing.”

“You said you wanted to go back.”

“Not quite.”

He held a cup of tea in his hand. But don't drink.

“When I was in Beijing.”

“One day I happened to read a post on a local forum.”

“A girl named To Niem asked where to buy cheap wedding dresses.”

I was stunned.

“... When was that post from?”

“Three months ago.”

It's true that I once posted asking that question.

“You came back because you saw that post?”

"Not necessarily."

“It's not the only cause.”

“But it was the last straw.”

He put down the tea cup.

“I'm not good at talking about things like this.”

“But that afternoon.”

“The other day you lent me your umbrella.”

“I knew.”

“Even if I want to forget, I cannot forget this person.”

He uses third person. But his eyes looked straight at me. I bowed my head.

“You speak very fluently in court.”

“In court, there are laws to cite.”

“This is not the case.”

I laughed.

“Actually, I still remember that umbrella.”

“You said you didn't remember before.”

“I just lied to you.”

His eyes lit up slightly.

“Are people who study Literature good at deceiving people?”

“So people who study Law are all stubborn like you?”

He laughed. This time the smile was even clearer than before. I also laughed. Outside the window. The city lights light up one after another. That meal lasted more than two hours. We talked a lot. College story. Beijing story. The cases he worked on. The years I have passed. Time to pay. He refused to let me pay.

“I told you you invited me.”

“Then next time I invite you.”

He took me home. The car stopped under the apartment complex. I opened the door and walked down.

"Thank you."

“It's not just because of the lawsuit.”

He nodded slightly.

“Rest early.”

I closed the car door. Take a few steps. Suddenly I heard him calling. I'm back. The car window rolled down. He looked at me.

“That umbrella.”

“I still keep it.”

I stood under the streetlight. Look at the car slowly fade away. He kept an umbrella for ten years. The "Message Paper" community project was quickly implemented. Co Tham brought three lawyers to form a legal support group. Phuong Nhien is in charge of communication and community education. Dr. Lam Tri Vi takes on the role of medical consultant, specializing in the right to information in premarital health examinations. Diep Tieu Duong is in charge of logistics and coordinating volunteers. Chu Vy Vy participated as an experienced person, providing psychological support to the victims. Just for the first month. The project received forty-seven requests for help. Some people's husbands hide their HIV infection. Some people discover after getting married that their partner has a history of mental illness but was never informed. Some people experience domestic violence but don't know how to collect evidence. Among them. Twenty-three cases received legal assistance. Twelve cases were officially initiated. The first winning case was of a girl named Tieu Ha. Her husband conceals a serious genetic disease.