Chapter 4 — The Day She Returned, I Left

Don't say a word. Do not disturb. Now when he is in pain, there is only To Niem's call next to him:

“Han Chau, there's a party tonight, are you coming?”

He started losing sleep. Every night lying in bed, he remembers Wen Van. Remember the look of her sitting in front of the makeup table removing her makeup. Remember the look of her squatting in the kitchen wiping the floor. Remember the look of her watering flowers on the balcony. Everything she does is quiet. It was so quiet that he had never noticed it before. After she left, he discovered that everywhere in this house was her. He went to Wen Wan's room. That's right, he called it "On Van's room". Married for four years, they always sleep in separate rooms. He said he slept lightly and was not used to having someone lie next to him. On Van said nothing, moving to the living room at the end of the hallway. The living room was very small, only about ten square meters. A single bed. A study desk. A wardrobe. On the wall is a world map. On the table is a pot of betel and a table lamp. When Luc Han Chau walked in, he was stunned. He has never been in this room before. In four years, he has never stepped into the place where On Van slept. The room was very clean. The bed sheet is light blue, the pillow is only one. On the desk there is a calendar, with different colored pens on top to mark the dates. He flipped open the calendar. January 1: New Year's Day. Han Chau had a social party, I ate alone. February 14: Valentine's Day. Han Chau went on a business trip, so I ate alone. March 8: International Women's Day. The company gives me benefits, I take them home. Han Chau is not at home. April 15: Marriage anniversary. Han Chau forgot. I eat alone. May 20: 520. Han Chau sends gifts to To Niem. I eat alone. June 1: Children's Day. Buy a gift for Han Chau, he said childishly. July 7: That passed away. Han Chau works overtime. I eat alone. August 15: Mid-Autumn Festival. Han Chau returned to the old house of the Luc family. I eat alone. September 10: Teachers' Day. It's not a holiday, but wanted to write something. Today Han Chau calls herself "Nim Niem". It's the 17th time. October 1: National Day. Han Chau took To Niem's parents out to eat. I'm at home alone. November 11: Song 11. Buy a new shirt for Han Chau. He didn't say thank you. December 24: Night of Peace. Han Chau said, "To Niem is alone abroad, please call her for a moment." I waited for him for three hours. December 31: New Year's Eve. Han Chau was drunk and called To Niem's name. I pretended not to hear. Luc Han Chau's hands began to shake. He turned the pages, each page backwards. The last page is the day Wen Van left. September 15: Marriage anniversary. Han Chau went to pick up To Niem. I signed a divorce agreement. Finally, I don't need to eat alone anymore. Luc Han Chau stood in that ten square meter room, holding a desk calendar in his hand, standing for a long time. Then he squatted down, burying his face in his hands. He doesn't cry. Men of the Luc family do not cry. But his eyes were red. On Van came to a city where no one knew her. In the South, by the sea, is a small city. She found a lot of information online and then chose this place. The average temperature is twenty-two degrees all year round, not cold in winter, not hot in summer, close to the sea, cheap both low. She didn't choose a big city, because she didn't want to run into any acquaintances on the street. She rented a forty square meter apartment, in an old building without an elevator. Monthly rent is one thousand two, one month deposit, three months advance. She used money in her savings book to pay. The homeowner is a woman over sixty years old, surnamed Tran, a retired teacher. When Aunt Tran took her to see the house, she asked: