My father immediately called me, and when I saw my mother and the baby, I cried and turned around and said…
I am a third-year college student. Since his mother died five years ago, his father has been living alone in the countryside. I thought he would be alone forever, never to walk again. One afternoon, the phone rang.
“Mommy, we’re going home this weekend, I have something important to do. – Dad’s voice was deep and decisive.
My heart was pounding. Important? Dad was frugal and rarely called except to ask. That whole night, I was hot, unable to sleep.
On Saturday morning, I got in the car and headed home. The familiar road, every row of trees, every old tiled roof, suddenly made me feel strange. I hurriedly walked towards the market. The door of the house opened…
Dad was standing there. Beside him was a woman. I was stunned for a moment. Then my eyes dropped… The belly – round, big – seemed to be hiding an undeniable secret. I sighed, my heart pounding:
“No… impossible…
The woman looked up. And I was stunned. It was Lan. Lan – a former classmate. Lan – the girl who during my high school years, I secretly loved and remembered, but never dared to say it even once.
My legs went cold, my mind was spinning. The scene before me seemed to be fighting with me. Papa stood up, his mouth making a noise:
“I… Just let Dad speak…
But I didn’t hear it. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I turned and ran away, despite my father’s depressing call behind me.
I ran straight to the riverbank, where I used to fly kites when I was a child, and sat with my mother in the cold afternoon. As I sat there, my hands clasped over my head, I cried out in vain. Why Lan? The person I had vaguely imagined throughout my youth was now standing beside my father, carrying a drop of his blood.
Heaven and God, Dad found me. He sat down, sighing.
“Mommy, I know you’re confused. But I don’t want to hide you. The Godfather has… Been alone, alone for years. Papa met Lan by chance, and the two of them became close. Lance loved his father very much and… He loved you too.
I stood up, looked straight into my father’s eyes, and said in a bitter voice:
“But do you know… Have you ever liked her? I consider her my entire youth! She is my father’s wife… Do you understand how you feel?!
Dad was stunned. His eyes were red, but he was firm:
“I don’t know. If you knew… Maybe Dad thought differently. Mommy, you should understand… The feelings of youth are a memory. Right now, Lan and her child need a home.
I laughed bitterly. His words were like a knife turning in her heart.
The next day, Lan came to me. She looked at me, her eyes hesitant, her voice trembling:
“Nam… I’m sorry. I know you had feelings before, but we were both young. I love you so much but I never thought we would be together. Life pushes… In the end, I’m with my father. I don’t want to hurt you.
I stopped, my hands clasped:
“I said I didn’t want to, but I chose my father. Do you know it hurts a thousand times?
Lan burst into tears, hugging her pregnant belly as if to protect the child. Looking back at that scene, I suddenly found myself both hateful and sad, angry and helpless.
That night, I searched for the old drawer where my mother’s letter was hidden. The familiar handwriting appeared: “Nam, I hope you live a kind life, love people and cherish your family. If one day you walk again, forgive him, don’t abandon him.”
My tears flowed all over the page. My heart was both broken and saved.
On the wedding day, I stood outside the gate, looking at my father in a simple suit, Lan in a white dress, and gently caressing her pregnant belly. My heart beat faster. I wanted to hurry up, I wanted to shout, “No!” But her feet seemed to be glued to the floor.
In the end, I just silently left an envelope:
“I can’t bless you, but I can’t hate you either. I’m leaving, I hope you’re happy.”
I turned and walked away. The wedding music echoed behind me, and every step I took seemed to step on my own heart.
My youth, my family – all of this was destroyed in that moment.