Chapter 1 — The Last Stop of Marriage

Buying food at a rest stop, my husband leaves me alone and drives away? I immediately went back to my mother's house, took my household registration book and forced him out of my life! Just stop by the rest stop to buy some food. It took exactly five minutes. When I got out... The car was gone. I stood frozen in the middle of the parking lot, almost calling the police to report the crime. I quickly called my husband. The phone rang eight times before someone picked up. It's not him on the other end... It's my son. The boy tried to lower his voice and whispered:

"Mom, grandpa urged dad to drive away. He said you're an adult, can you still get lost?"

I stood in the middle of the parking lot, still carrying the bag of food I bought for the whole car.

"Does your father listen to grandpa that much? Just one step on the accelerator and leave me behind?"

The boy burst into tears.

"Mom, I stopped you... But grandpa scolded me for meddling in adult matters."

I laughed. A cold smile that even I found strange. I immediately booked a plane ticket... Fly straight to my mother's house. It wasn't until the whole family arrived that they suddenly discovered... I didn't just leave. But also bring your household registration book. The phone has just connected. The person who picked up the phone was not Tran Huy. It's my son, Tran Lac. The boy's voice was very small, mixed with sobs.

"Mom... Grandpa urged Dad to drive."

I stood in the middle of the rest stop parking lot. The midday sun baked the asphalt until it was soft, and the air was thick with the smell of gasoline and burning rubber. The plastic bag in my hand was heavy, the straps were so tight that my knuckles turned white. Inside were four servings of freshly heated rice, along with a bowl of spicy and sour vermicelli with added vinegar, a dish my father-in-law specifically told me to buy.

"What...what did you just say?"

I thought I heard wrong. All around me, the sounds of car horns and engine roars were constant, so loud that my eardrums were ringing.

"Grandpa said mom is an adult, can she still get lost? No need to wait anymore, tell dad to drive."

"I stopped you... But grandpa pushed me away and scolded me for many things."

On the other end of the phone, Tran Lac finally burst into tears.

"Mom... what should I do now..."

I was silent. Look towards the entrance to the parking lot. My family's black Passat is gone. Looking at the exit... There's also none. It only took me five minutes to go buy food. Because my father-in-law said he was hungry. Mother-in-law gets motion sickness and nausea. Tran Huy said he would stay and look after the car. So I was the only one queuing, paying, waiting to pick up my items, and then packing. In the end... I was the only one left standing here. Just like a bag of trash that someone conveniently threw away. I suddenly burst out laughing. The laughter was very soft. So quiet that I couldn't even hear it clearly.

"Tran Lac, don't cry."

My voice was unusually calm. Being so calm even I felt strange.

"Listen to me. Give your dad the phone."

The end of the line rang out with a soft argument, mixed with the vague shouting voice of her father-in-law.

"Just tell him to take a taxi home! The whole afternoon is a waste!"

Soon, the phone returned to Tran Lac's hand. The baby cried even harder.

"Mom... Dad didn't answer the phone. Dad was driving, grandpa wouldn't let him pick up the phone."

"Okay, I know."

I hung up. Carrying a bag of food, step by step walk to the trash can at the corner of the rest stop. As soon as I opened the lid, the rotten sour smell hit me straight in my face. I let go. Four servings of rice were still steaming... Along with a bowl of spicy and sour vermicelli that my father-in-law specially ordered instructions... They all fell straight into the trash. The plastic bag hit the wall of the box, making a heavy "thud" sound. I turned around and walked into the lobby of the rest stop. The phone only has ten percent battery left. I'm not looking for a power bank. Which directly opens the ticket booking application. The nearest airport is about an hour away. The earliest flight back to my hometown leaves at three o'clock in the afternoon. Pay. The words "Ticket booking successful" appeared on the screen. I hailed a taxi and was about to leave the station.

"Talent, let me go to the airport."

The driver looked at me, saw that he didn't have any luggage in his hands, and was stunned.

"Girl, where is your luggage?"

"Do not have."

I opened the car door and sat in. The taxi joined the traffic on the highway, speeding in the opposite direction of my original journey. I leaned my head back on the chair, quietly watching the scenery outside the window continuously recede. Ten years of marriage... It seemed like the speed of the car was rewinding each frame in my head. From those sweet early days. Come quiet times. Then in recent years... Only patience remains. Be patient with your father-in-law's harsh mouth. Be patient with your mother-in-law's scrutiny. Be patient with Tran Huy's "three musts" style. He always says:

"My father is naturally like that, please bear with it a bit."

He also always says:

"Your mother has had a hard life, please sympathize a little more."

And the most familiar sentence is:

"We're all family, don't worry too much."

Today, my whole family abandoned me at a rest stop on the highway... Does that count as "don't compare"? The air conditioner in the car blows very cold. So cold that my skin was numb. But I can't feel it anymore. There's only a fire left in my chest. It burns more and more fiercely. Burn away all self-pity. Burn away all resentment. Until it all turns to ash. In the end... Only a cold, hard and quiet space remained. Two hours later. The plane landed in the city where I was born and raised. The familiar moist air hit my face, making me a little more alert. I don't call my parents. Take a taxi... Go straight to me and Tran Huy's house. Open the door and enter. The house is empty. Everything is still the same as when I left. Their whole family is probably still enjoying the "memory review" trip that their father-in-law has been looking forward to for so long. Maybe it wasn't until evening... They discovered that someone in the house was missing. I don't turn on the light. Go straight to the bedroom. Pull out the drawer under the nightstand. At the bottom of the drawer is a dark red velvet box. Inside are neatly placed Tran Lac's household registration book, marriage certificate and birth certificate. I took out my household registration book. Open to information page. Head of household: Tran Huy. Wife: Tham Nhien. Son: Tran Lac. I stared at my name for a long time. Quietly put your household registration book, marriage certificate and child's birth certificate in your bag. Next, I went into the office. Open the safe. Inside is the house ownership certificate, a little spare cash and gold and silver jewelry accumulated over the years. I took out the crimson red notebook. There were two names clearly written on it. Tham Nhien. I also put it in my pocket. Done it all. I went to Tran Lac's room and packed a few changes of clothes. Finally... I returned to the living room. Quietly sit down on the sofa. Wait for them to find out. Wait for the call phone... The phone call that will come sooner or later.