Chapter 11 — The Light Is Out

"Thinking about the first time I met you, you smiled like that. After five years with you, that smile became less and less."

“It's your fault.”

"Today I didn't come to mess with you. I just often pass by and often see."

“Seeing you live well, I'm really happy. It's also very annoying.”

"Happy because you deserve such a life. Annoyed because the person giving you that life is not me."

“This is the last time I text you.”

“From now on, I won't bother you anymore.”

“Jiang Nghien Hoa, thank you for being with me for five years.”

"Sorry, I didn't know how to appreciate it."

"I wish you happiness. Truly."

I finished reading this message. Put the phone down. Go to the window and look at the night view of the city. Every house lights up, behind every light there is a story. And the story of me and Doan Gia Hua, here it really ends. There is no bloodshed, no heart-wrenching attachment. There was only a late "sorry" and "wish you happiness". Enough. I took a deep breath. Then delete this message, along with that phone number. Those past wounds, resentments and cold hearts will not disappear just because of an apology. But there's no need to chew and swallow again and again. They will gradually fade. Becomes a vague outline in memory. Then one day, it completely disappeared. I returned to the sofa, picked up the phone, and sent Tran Du An a text message.

“Morandi themed exhibition next week, want to go together?”

Three seconds later there was a response:

"Of course! I'll check the time and make an appointment for you."

I laughed a little. The curvature of the corners of the lips is strange even to me. It turns out that this is the feeling of not having to lose fear. It turns out that this is the feeling of being placed in someone else's heart. Relieved. Warm. Fit.

7

One year later, summer. Tran Du An and I are together. There was no dramatic beginning, it was just as natural as water flowing into a river. One day after work, he came to pick me up and we went for a walk by the river. The night wind is very pleasant, blowing the hem of the dress slightly up. He suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“Giang Nghien Hoa.”

“Yes?”

“Be my girlfriend.”

I looked into his serious eyes and smiled.

“Okay.”

It's as simple as that. There was no earth-shattering confession of love, no 999 roses. Only a gentle person, at the right time, says the right thing. But my heart is finally ready. After being together, I discovered that Tran Du An and Doan Gia Hua are two completely different types of people. He will remember all my little habits. Knowing I'm allergic to fleur de lis, every time I buy flowers it's daisies or sunflowers. Knowing that I love everything that tastes of cinnamon flowers, in the fall I will intentionally look for limited edition cinnamon flower sticky rice wine. Knowing I'm afraid of the dark, I stay at my house every night. Yes, he will stay. Not every time, but whenever I need him, he's there. One time in the middle of the night, I suddenly had a stomach ache and groaned softly. He immediately woke up.

"What's wrong? Where are you uncomfortable?"

“Stomach... a bit sore.”

He didn't say a word, then got out of bed, went to the kitchen to warm up milk for me, found a hot compress, and gently placed it on my stomach. Then he hugged me, his palm covering my stomach, gently rub little by little.

"Are you better? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

“No need... much better.”

I snuggled in his arms, my nose stinging. Remember that night of heavy bleeding. Remember the saying "take a painkiller, don't rely on others for everything". Turns out I wasn't too dependent. That person is basically not worthy of me to rely on.

“What's wrong?” Tran Du An sensed my strangeness and lowered his head to look at me, "Are you crying?"

I shook my head, burying my face in his chest.