Chapter 8 — Where Sunset Falls

“I'll be right there.”

He said. He put his phone away, looked at me, opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he couldn't say a word. I looked at him. Waiting for him to say the sentence I had heard so well that I knew it by heart.

“Khuong Niem,” He hesitated: “You can take the car home yourself.”

Indeed. Still the same saying. Just like the first time I was hospitalized, just like the second time I had surgery, and just like countless times over the past three years. I looked at him and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Okay.” I replied.

He was stunned, seemingly not expecting me to react so calmly. I lowered my umbrella, and the rain instantly poured down on me, chilling me to the bone.

“Go,” I said: “She's waiting for you.”

I turned around and walked towards the subway station.

“Khuong Niem!”

His voice rang out from behind. I didn't turn back. After taking a few steps, I heard the sound of the car door closing behind me, followed by the sound of the engine starting, and the sound of wheels rolling through a puddle. I continued to step forward. When I reached the entrance to the subway station, I stopped and turned around to take a look. On the empty street, only the streetlights and the pouring rain remained. His car is long gone. Exactly like every time for the past three years. 10. The day the divorce certificate was sent, the weather was very nice, Hai Thanh welcomed the sunshine after a few gloomy days. I sat in the taxi, watched the street scene pass through the window, sent Lam Vi a text message: *I got the paper, can you send it to him for me.* Lam Vi replied: *Send it to where?* I thought for a moment, typed: *Company. He's there all day.* Lam Vi: *Ok.* After sending the message, I turned off the phone, took out another phone from my bag, and installed a new SIM card. When the plane took off, I watched the buildings get smaller through the window, and for the first time felt deeply that I was free. The first destination is Paris. I found a cafe on the banks of the Seine River, sat down, ordered a latte, and watched the tourist boats passing back and forth on the river. The sun is beautiful, the wind is cool, everything is wonderful. Lam Vi sent a message to: *Sent. Luc Thoi Yen's assistant signed the receipt.* I replied: *Yes.* Lam Vi: *Where are you?* I took a photo of the Seine River and sent it to her. Lam Vi sent back a series of exclamation points, then texted: *Very good. Have fun, don't think about those bad things anymore.* I texted back: *Don't think about it anymore.* After that, I went to Switzerland, Italy, Greece. Every time I go to one place, I change a hotel. When I go to another place, I send Lam Vi a photo. Her reaction gradually turned from exclamation to admiration, then from admiration to concern. Her last text message was: *Luc Thoi Yen came to find me.* I looked at that text and didn't reply. Lam Vi texted again: *Not just once. Stop me at the law office, call me, ask me where you went. I said I didn't know, he didn't believe me.* I still didn't answer. Lam Vi: *He looks... quite miserable. Shaggy beard and red eyes, completely different from before. He said he only wanted to meet you once.* I stared at those words for a long time. Then type: *I'm in Greece, going to Santorini tomorrow. The sunset here is very beautiful.* Lam Vi did not mention his story anymore. One The following week, I woke up in a hotel perched on a cliff in Santorini. Pushing the window open, outside is the blue Aegean sea, an incredibly beautiful color. The phone rang once. It's Lam Vi's voice call. I picked up the phone.

“Niem Niem,” Her voice sounded a bit strange: “Something happened to Luc Thoi Yen.”

I held the phone tightly and said nothing.