Chapter 9 — Twenty Years of Payment

Twenty years... Enough for a city to change its skin. It's enough to make the hatred in a person's heart gradually disappear. However, I did not expect that right before the twenty-year term deposit was due, I would receive a parcel sent from the prison. Inside is a diary. It's To Man's diary. She passed away in prison due to illness half a year ago. Before she died, she told the warden to give this diary to me. I sat by the window and slowly opened the first pages.

"Tham Tu is a demon. But at the same time, he is also a pitiful person."

"He thought he had it all in his hands, but in reality he was just a piece in Lam Khe's father's chess board."

Just the first sentence made my whole body stiffen. With shaking hands, I continued reading. After discovering that Tham Tu had embezzled public funds, Lam Khe's father did not intend to report him to the police. He used that to threaten Tham Tu, forcing him to kill the only person who knew the secret in the basement. That person... is Lam Khe's mother. Tham Tu does not dare to kill people. He came to me. But I didn't kill her either. I let her go. My heart was beating rapidly. I jumped up from the chair.

"I deceived both Tham Tu and Lam Khe's father."

"I found an anonymous female body and put it in the wine cellar, disguised as the body of Lam Khe's mother."

"Lam Khe, if you read this diary..."

"Go to Dali to find a woman named A Phuong."

"She opened a fabric dyeing factory there."

I immediately booked a plane ticket to Dali. Co Dinh came with me. The two of them crept through every small alley in the old town. Finally... We stopped in front of a small hospital. Under the sunlight, an old woman with white hair was slowly weaving fabric. Her movements were very slow. I asked with a trembling voice:

"Excuse me... is Ms. A Phuong here?"

The old woman raised her head. The moment our eyes met... I was dumbfounded. Those eyes... Just like me. The object in her hand fell to the ground. She was stunned. The corners of his eyes immediately turned red.

"Khe Nhi..."

She called out cautiously. Tears also flowed out. I rushed forward, knelt down in front of her and burst into tears.

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm late..."

Mom hugged me tightly. Her body was thin and weak. But that embrace... Still as warm as in memory.

"It's not late."

"It's not late at all."

"Mom is always waiting for you here."

"Waiting every day."

"I know..."

"I will definitely find my mother one day."

It turned out that that year, after letting my mother go, To Man also gave her a sum of money, telling her never to come back. To protect me... Mom could only change her name and last name, remaining anonymous in Dali for twenty years. Those twenty years... She has always silently followed my news. Know I'm married. Know I gave birth. Know I take revenge. Also know... I donated all that money.

"Khe Nhi..."

"You did the right thing."

"That money is a curse."

"Only if you give it away..."

"I'm truly alive again."

Mom's hand gently stroked my hair. I took my mother back to the small town. When Doa Doa saw her grandmother, she jumped up and down with joy. Co Dinh stood and watched the whole family reunite. The corners of his eyes were also red. That weekend... The whole family gathered around the dinner table. While having a meal... Co Dinh suddenly stood up. He took out a ring from his pocket.

"Twenty years ago."

"I want to give you a real home."

I looked at him. Water eyes sparkle at the corners of the eyelids.

"Co Dinh..."

"Have you really thought this through?"

"I was a crazy woman."

Co Dinh smiled.

"I like that crazy side of you."

He gently put the ring on my ring finger.

"From today onwards..."

"My world will only have sunlight."

"There will be no more darkness."

I leaned into his arms. Quietly looking out the window. Those names... Have become a distant memory. The next day. I received a phone call from the bank.

"Hello Miss Lam."

"Your twenty-year term deposit has officially matured."

"The Khe Thuy charity fund established from that donation is currently working very well."

"To date, more than three thousand women have been supported."

"Thank you."

I smiled.

"Thank you everyone."

"It's been hard."

I looked at myself in the mirror. Twenty years ago... I used to think... What I locked... Was Tham Tu's fate. Twenty years later I understand. The person who was locked away for so many years... was my heart. Luckily... That lock was finally opened. I walked out of the room. Mom is teaching Doa Doa to weave. Co Dinh stood next to him, pruning flower branches. Sunlight covered the entire yard. Bright and warm.

"Come here quickly!"

Doa Doa smiled and waved at me. I smiled. Then run towards the people you love. New is life. This is true salvation.