Chapter 9 — The Door Closes, You Also Leave

The day Trinh Da came to the hospital to add a signature to the file, he just happened to see me sitting blankly looking at the phone screen. He gave me the documents.

"If the other person continues to harass you, keep all the evidence and report to the police."

I nodded. He was silent for a few seconds then continued.

“You could have survived that day…”

“It's not just because we arrived on time.”

I raised my head to look at him. He said calmly.

“You kept banging on the door.”

“Constantly making noise.”

“Thanks to that, we were able to determine her location the fastest.”

My nose suddenly stings. That day... I thought... No one heard me calling for help. Turns out it wasn't. The person who should have listened... chose not to listen. Before leaving, Trinh Da left me a sheet of instructions.

“After leaving the hospital, you should have full fire prevention equipment in your home.”

“Smoke detector.”

“Fire blanket.”

“Escape hammer.”

“Everyone should prepare.”

“In addition, the bedroom door should also be replaced with a lock that can be opened from the inside.”

I received the paper. It's very thin. But in that moment... I felt like I was holding something that could truly protect me. Not a boyfriend. Not friends either. It's knowledge. It's evidence. It's a retreat I prepared myself. Hospital discharge date. It's sunny. My right hand still cannot use full force. The throat is still hoarse when talking. But the doctor said the recovery process was very positive. My parents took me home. It was not the rented apartment that was destroyed by fire. It's a new apartment they temporarily rented for me. Floor is not high. Clean emergency exits. The lock is also an emergency lock, just need to press from the inside to open immediately. The first thing I do after entering the house... Isn't look at the bedroom. It's about installing a smoke detector. My father stood on the ladder. I stood below to support. Mom put the fire blanket in a drawer in the kitchen. Then put a mini fire extinguisher right next to the door. She spoke softly.

“From now on…”

“We will never bet on anyone's conscience again.”

I nodded slightly. That afternoon... Can Nghiem came to visit. He stood in front of the apartment complex gate. The whole person became noticeably thinner. Deep sunken eye sockets. The security guard called and asked if I wanted to meet. At first I was going to refuse. Mom looked at me.

“If you don't want to, then there's no need to meet.”

I thought for a moment. Still down in the end. There are words... Only when it's all said... Everything will truly end. Just saw me. Can Nghiem's eyes immediately turned red. I stopped. There was about two meters between us. In his hand he held a paper bag.

“Scarf.”

“Notebook.”

“Even my cat cup.”

“I found them in the burned house.”

“It's been washed.”

I don't accept. His expression stiffened.

“I used that cup for three years.”

“The thing is burned.”

“I don't want to keep it anymore.”

He bowed his head. It took a long time to speak up.

“I went to see a psychiatrist.”

“The doctor said you had an acute stress reaction that day.”

“That doesn't mean I don't love you.”

I looked at him. He hastily explained.

“I'm not making excuses.”

“I just wanted to tell you…”

“Now I understand where I went wrong.”

“You shouldn't assume that I will be calmer.”

“Don't think I will definitely accept it can bear it.”

I calmly looked at him.

“I asked you a question.”

“If that day…”

“There is no video camera...”

“Will you admit it?”

His whole body stiffened. The answer has been available for a long time. I looked at him and spoke slowly.

“At first…”

“You said you couldn't make it in time.”

“Then you said... the smoke was too thick.”

“Then you said again... Tham Nhu pulled you back.”

“Until the video was made public…”

“I just admitted I was wrong.”

Can Nghiem's lips turned white.

“Hua Kha... at that time I was really scared to the point of being stunned.”

I nodded slightly.

“You have the right to regret.”

“But I... also have the right not to forgive.”

His tears fell silently.

“Our four years…”

“Is there really no chance left?”

I looked at the face before my eyes. There was a time... I loved you very much. Love so much that I even thought about getting married. I once imagined that in the future I would decorate our house with him. I thought about raising a cat. On weekends, we go to the market together and cook simple meals. But all those futures... They were all destroyed by a sea of fire the moment that door closed. I looked at him.

“Can Nghiem.”

“That day…”

“I gave you the chance.”

His pupils trembled slightly. I continue.

“When I banged on the door…”

“Your hand was on the doorknob.”

“It was you... letting go of your own hands.”

He suddenly covered his face. Crying so much that my shoulders were shaking.

“I dream about that scene every night…”

I am not at all comforted. He choked up and continued.

“From now on... I will never let anyone stand in front of you again.”