Chapter 6 — There Are Wounds That Only Truth Can Heal

Turn each page of the book. Looking at the small face under the night light gradually relaxes. My eyelids are getting heavier day by day. When the baby fell asleep... I turned the light down very low. Then sat next to the bed for a long time. Eighteen years old. I live in a dormitory. Six female students share one room. Bunk bed. If you want to bathe, you have to line up. If you want to eat, you have to jostle for a place. Every day during that time... I remember it clearly. There aren't any people. Nothing happened either. Could make me conceive a child... Then lose it with absolutely no memory. From start to finish... This was all a fake. And the person who created that forgery... buried the trap eighteen years ago. After all, what are you waiting for? Wait for a suitable opportunity. Let the nail that had been buried for eighteen years... Pierce straight into my life. That time has come. Why now? The next morning. Mother-in-law called. She asked if I was free. Want to visit Niem Niem. I agree. The two met on Sunday afternoon. After hanging up. I dialed a phone number I hadn't heard from for a long time. That's my cousin's number. Before retiring, he was in charge of file management at the City Police. Relationships are much broader than normal people.

"I want to ask you to help me find someone."

"Name is Tran Thuc Phan."

"Around 2007, it often appeared in the West of the city."

"Middle-aged."

"Can you help me see if there is information about this person in the civil status records?"

My cousin asked me what happened. I calmly replied:

"My pharmacy received a fake check."

"I want to trace the origin."

He said he would help ask questions. Will report back in two days. Sunday afternoon. My mother-in-law sat in my living room. Niem Niem sat on the floor playing puzzles. Ha Kien Minh went to the kitchen to make tea. And I sat opposite her. Today she is wearing a charcoal blue coat. Hair neatly combed. The face is well taken care of. Looks younger than his real age. She chatted with Niem Niem for a few words. Then leaned slightly towards me. Lower your voice.

"The appraisal results are out, right?"

"That's good."

"That's good."

She patted the back of my hand.

"Van Ninh."

"This matter is over."

"Don't investigate further."

"Much investigation..."

"It's not good for you."

I quietly looked at her.

"Do you think I shouldn't continue investigating?"

"It's not that it shouldn't."

She quickly corrected her words.

"I mean..."

"It's not necessary."

"The results are out."

"The child is not mine."

"The civil registry office just needs to report to the police to correct the information."

"There's no need to make a fuss."

"When rumors fly everywhere..."

"That doesn't sound good."

I calmly asked:

"So what about Doan Kim Ba?"

Her hand holding the cup of tea paused for a moment.

"The person in 2007 forged my signature."

"Help others enter Tran Dich household registration into my name."

"That civil status officer's name is Doan Kim Ba."

I looked straight at her. Strangely calm voice.

"I found him."

"He also admitted it."

"Also tell me..."

"Who asked him to do it?"

The expression on the mother-in-law's face changed slightly. Just a fleeting two seconds. Then very quickly it returned to normal. She smiled.

"Van Ninh."

"What are you investigating those things for?"

"Such a small thing."

"Put in a lot of effort strength..."

"Aren't you tired?"

"Not tired."

"I just want to know..."

"Who is Tran Thuc Phan?"

The living room suddenly became quiet. Right at that moment. Ha Kien Minh carried the tea tray out of the kitchen. He stood next to the sofa. First look at your mother. Then looked at me. Niem Niem accidentally knocked down a castle made of plastic bricks. The baby laughed loudly. Clap your hands excitedly. The mother-in-law raised the cup of tea and took a sip. Slowly say:

"I don't know anyone named Tran Thuc Phan."

I stood up. Go to Niem Niem. Squat down and pick up each piece of the toy to help her put it back together.

"Then..."

"Just drink tea first."

That evening. Ha Kien Minh sat in the living room until after eleven o'clock. I finished showering and stepped out. He hasn't gone to sleep yet.

"When my mother came home..."

"Your face doesn't look very good."

I sat down in front of the dressing table. Turn on the hair dryer. Ha Kien Minh put down the phone.

"What you said today..."

"Scared my mother."

"What did you say?"

"You know what you said."

He frowned slightly.

"Van Ninh."

"Do you know?"

"Lately..."

"You make it very difficult for others to get close to you."

The sound of the dryer still buzzing. Through the mirror in front of me... I quietly looked at him. Wait for me to finish.

"I just wanted to tell you..."

His voice softened.

"I want to investigate everything clearly..."

"I don't object."

"Can I change the way I do it?"

"Don't pressure others like that."

"Your mother is old."

"You asked me that today..."

"She must be very upset inside."

I slowly turned off the hair dryer.

"Kien Minh."

I turned off the dryer, turned around and looked straight at him.

"Do you know why I insisted on investigating the person named Tran Thuc Phan?"

"Because I want to know what happened that year."

"Not only that."

I calmly looked at him.

"I'm investigating because someone used my identity."

"Use my name."

"Use my household registration."

"While I was completely unaware..."

"They sponsored a strange child."

"That affects my civil status."

"Affects my honor."

"You have the right to know..."

"Who did it?"

"And why would they do that?"

"I understand."

Ha Kien Minh was about to continue speaking. I interrupted.