Chapter 8 — The Door Closes, You Also Leave

My voice is hoarse. But it's extremely clear.

“In a sea of fire…”

“You told me to wait.”

“Now…”

“Don't use kneeling to force me to turn around.”

His whole body seemed to turn to stone. I turned the wheelchair around and pressed the elevator button. Before the elevator door closed... I still saw him standing motionless in place. His face was covered with confusion and despair. I no longer want to explain to you what it means to lose. There are doors... Once you close them yourself... Don't expect... I will open it a second time from the inside. The one who struck first... was Tham Nhu again. While all the evidence was still being processed... She posted a very long article online. The attached photo is a photo of her on oxygen in the hospital, her suitcase burned black and some very shallow scratches on her arm. She wrote:

"I went to stay at my best friend's house for many years and had a fire and almost lost my life. After waking up, I was asked to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. The old apartment building already had problems with the electrical system. I'm just a girl who just graduated from college, and I really can't handle it anymore."

She never mentioned scented candles. No mention of heating bags. No mention of locking the door from the outside. Not to mention... That I was locked in the bedroom, banging on the door until both my hands were torn. The comment section quickly exploded. Someone scolded me for being greedy for money. Some people say that old houses are inherently flammable, so how can they hold the occupants responsible? Some people even came to the design studio account I opened and flooded it with offensive comments.

“Making money on other people's blood.”

“Your friends are still in the hospital but you still ask for money, it's really cold-blooded.”

“If you have the courage, show the evidence.”

I lie on the hospital bed. Quietly read every comment. Lawyer Phuong stood next to me and spoke calmly.

“Don't respond with emotion.”

“Respond with the truth.”

I nodded slightly. Can Nghiem changed another phone number to text me. 【Hua Kha, Tham Nhu was attacked by netizens to the point of collapse.】 【Can you tell the lawyer not to publish the statement for now?】 【She only posted because she was too scared, not really wanting to harm you.】 【If you publicize the evidence now, her whole life will really be over.】 After reading those lines... I just find it ridiculous. The person who went online to make it up was her. Just quietly lying in the hospital recovering. Yet in your eyes... The one who needs to give in... It's always me. I sent him the last message. 【Can Nghiem, do you know why my right hand was injured like this?】 He didn't answer right away. I continue to send. 【Because at that time... you were standing on the other side of the door.】 I blocked that phone number. That evening... The police officially announced the incident. The content is very short. But every sentence is clear. Using scented candles with unlicensed flames. The charging heating device is covered, causing the temperature to increase, causing fire to surrounding fabric materials. The bedroom door has signs of being locked from the outside due to human impact. The trapped person was rescued by the fire department. Currently, the individuals involved are still being investigated to clarify responsibility. At the same time, lawyer Phuong also announced a legal statement. Attached is the entire timeline of the incident, diagnostic records from the hospital, and results lock inspection and some images extracted from surveillance cameras with personal information hidden. Public opinion immediately reversed. In the morning, someone criticized me. All the anger was directed at Tham Nhu's account.

“So you just lit the scented candle, stuffed the heating bag under the pillow, and locked the door?”

“I almost burned my best friend to death, but the first thing I did after waking up was go online and cry about my suffering?”

“People banged on the door until both of their hands were torn, but you still told them to slander you?”

Tham Nhu continuously deleted comments. Then close the comments section. Finally... Delete the account too. But it was too late. In the group of mutual friends, someone even mentioned how in the past she often complained of poverty to borrow money and then did not pay it back. The internship unit also sent a notice of recruitment cancellation. The homeowner and downstairs neighbors also officially filed a compensation claim. Tham Nhu called me more than ten times. I don't listen. She sent each voice message. Crying until I could barely breathe.

“Kha Kha... are you determined to force me to the end?”

“I already apologized... why are you still doing this?”

“I really didn't mean to lock you up... I was just so scared..."

I only listened to the first part. Then delete it. Her fear... From beginning to end... Was only used to protect herself. As for my fear... She has never seen it.