Chapter 8 — There Are Wounds That Only Truth Can Heal

Doan Kim Ba's admission statement. Lam Tinh's mother's testimony about Tran Thuc Phan's many interactions with my mother-in-law. I put down the phone. Take a deep breath. It's time. I only called Doan Kim Ba after the two sides arranged a time to meet.

"Mr. Doan."

"I need you to write me a report."

"Content included."

"May 2007."

"Who asked you to do the household registration procedure for Tran Dich?"

"What name do they take?"

"Signature on application form..."

"It was written by you."

"Or provided by someone else."

"The whole process."

"Please write down the truth."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Then he became hoarse.

"If you write that..."

"For me it's not a good thing."

"He's retired."

I calmly replied.

"It was almost twenty years ago."

"Proactively cooperate."

"Voluntarily declare."

"Anyway..."

"It's better than being investigated."

He sighed softly.

"Give me two days."

The DNA assessment center is located right in the city center. The waiting lobby is very spacious. Everyone sat and waited. Someone came to confirm the blood relationship. There are people who do judicial assessments. The number machine continuously rang each time. I asked Tran Dich to come here. It's not just him. But there is also Ha Kien Minh. I texted you. Said that Tran Dich wanted to meet to clarify everything. It's hard for me to handle it alone. Asked if he could come. He answered very quickly.

"Of course I will come."

I never told you... Besides you... I also made an appointment with someone else. That afternoon. The waiting lobby is quite crowded. The seats were more than half full. Tran Dich arrived first. Still the old faded jacket. Still the backpack with worn straps. He stood at the door looking around. He stepped forward. Quietly sit down next to me.

"Today..."

"What did you call me here for?"

"To make things clear."

Five minutes later. Ha Kien Minh walked in. Seeing me and Tran Dich sitting next to each other. His steps stopped. Then go ahead. Sit down on the other side of me. In the hall. The sound of people talking. The sound of a phone calling a number. It keeps ringing. I took out a file folder from my pocket. Place on your knees.

"Kien Minh."

"I invited you to come today."

"I want to be in front of Tran Dich."

"Make everything clear."

He nodded. His face remained calm. Can't see anything. I turned to Tran Dich.

"Do you know..."

"Why did your mother use my name to register your household that year?"

"Don't know."

He shook his head.

"Grandma just said..."

"There is a kind person."

I slowly opened the file bag.

"My mother."

"My grandmother."

"Tran Thuc Phan."

"May 2007."

"Found a person named Doan Kim Ba."

"Use your identity."

"To make a household registration for you."

"I just received Doan Kim Ba's report."

"He confirmed the whole thing."

Right at that moment. Ha Kien Minh's hand placed on the armrest of the chair tightened slightly. I continue.

"And before doing that."

"Tran Thuc Phan has repeatedly visited a person living in the old neighborhood."

I slowly turned my head. Looking straight at Ha Kien Minh.

"The person she met..."

"It's my mother."

Right at that moment. The dialer rang again. A person stood up and walked towards the check-in counter. Ha Kien Minh still did not change his face. Only the lips slightly pursed tighter.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is very simple."

I retrieved a copy of the signature from the archive. Give it to me.

"This is the signature inside civil status records."

"And here..."

"It's my real signature."

"Let's see."

"What's the difference?"

He took it. Look for about two seconds. Then raise your head.

"Not the same handwriting."

"The signature was forged."

I looked straight at him.

"From the person who told Tran Thuc Phan to use my identity."

"To the person who provided my household registration information."

"Let me introduce Doan Kim Ba."

"All..."

"They all have a direct connection to your mother."

Sit next to me. Tran Dich's face became more and more serious. Ha Kien Minh returned the paper. The voice was harder than before.

"I mean..."

"Your mother is involved in this?"

"I haven't concluded yet."

I calmly replied.

"I'm just saying..."

"What I investigated."

"What I investigated..."

"It's probably not true."

He lowered his voice.

"Just because someone saw that you two had met before."

"Is it possible to conclude that your mother is involved?"

"It's not just witnesses."

I opened another set of documents.

"In the report."

"Doan Kim Ba wrote very clearly."

"The person who brought Tran Thuc Phan to meet him..."

"It's an intermediary known locally."

"That middleman..."

"It's my mother's old neighbor."

"I just moved to the South two years ago."

"Now..."

"I know the name."

"I also know the address."

Ha Kien Minh... Don't say another word. In the hall. The air conditioner is still humming. People pass by. No one noticed the three people sitting in the corner of the room. Tran Dich tightened his backpack strap. Then looked at Ha Kien Minh. Finally spoke up.

"Miss Co's idea..."

"I understand."

"I still have one question to ask you."

Ha Kien Minh turned to look at him. Tran Dich raised his head. His eyes were so calm that he didn't look like an eighteen year old boy.

"That year..."

"Do you know me?"

That moment. All the sounds in the hall... Suddenly seemed to recede far away. Ha Kien Minh stared at Tran Dich's face.