Train

Uyen called her sister, sobbing: "Mom, I miss home. I miss my parents." That's how a little girl is, used to living with her parents, going everywhere with them, now in a strange place, how could she not miss home.

This year Uyen started her first year of university in a city in the South. She was shy by nature and it was her first time away from home, so she only liked to take a bus home. Even though she only went home to go in and out, even though she only helped her father trim the garden or go to the market, or help her mother cook. For many years, Uyen still wore the clothes her sister bought for her. In general, Uyen was a good girl, and almost never asked for anything personal. The day Uyen passed the university entrance exam, her sister and Tuyen were so happy that they cried. Then both husband and wife together arranged to bring Uyen to the city, meticulously choosing a safe and clean place to stay, and buying all the necessary living equipment.

Hearing her sister say Uyen called and said she missed home, Tuyen was anxious and urged her sister: "You arrange to go to the city to stay with your child for a few days. She is very lonely in a strange place, and it is not easy to make friends with others..." After discussing, Tuyen booked a ticket for her sister. She liked to travel by train, because the train was slow but on time, and she could comfortably bring some snacks. She only flew if the distance was too far. So she prepared to visit her daughter. Tuyen took her to the market to buy a kilo of fresh mackerel to cook, went around to buy fish cakes, rice noodle powder, and then prepared all sorts of miscellaneous things according to Uyen's preferences, Tuyen reminded her about anything she lacked...

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Uyen was the result of her unfulfilled love. At that time, she was still naive, like a young bird that had just opened its eyes and had not seen anything, suddenly moved when it accidentally touched a patch of green grass that made her heart flutter. Tuan was a classmate at school. They both left their hometowns to study in a coastal city, and met each other at a school reunion. Then, sometimes Tuan came to her room to invite her to go for coffee, to eat sweet soup, to eat skewers, or sometimes just to take her for a ride around the streets. Sometimes Tuan knocked on her room to give her something he had just bought, or if they didn't know what to do, they would go to the beach and listen to the waves.

On graduation day, she planned to return to her hometown when Tuan suggested going to Da Lat. To her, Da Lat was a dream with romantic images and music, with fog, with flower carpets burying so much joy in her eyes. She hesitated, but softened when Tuan bargained: "We'll stay in two rooms, just go out together." She believed in that, just like people believe that when water leaves its source, it will flow into the ocean. But in this world, anything can happen, and why can't it happen when Da Lat is cold, the young couple is happy in love, playing together, being close. The days in Da Lat were her frivolous days, but also happy days.

After a week together, she and Tuan went their separate ways back to their hometowns, the distance between the two places being 240 kilometers. Tuan promised that after his job was stable, he would come back to her hometown and ask for her hand in marriage. She happily waited, but the waiting was forever waiting. They met a few more times, sometimes just to have a meal together, sometimes sitting together in a coffee shop. Love, by nature, is sudden, is not being able to control a smile and sometimes forgetting the way home. "I'm pregnant", she tremblingly texted Tuan. Did her message reach Tuan or not? She didn't know. But that phone number was never connected when she called later. It turned out that in the age of technology, if you want to forget, if you want to escape, you just need to pull out the sim card you're using and throw it into the void. Those familiar numbers will forever drift into the vastness.

Tuyen met her when she was desperate. He gently took care of her when the weather changed. When the fetus was still in its infancy, the two got married and Uyen was born. Tuyen protected her and her child, he was tolerant like a vast lake that did not create waves so that the lotus flowers could bloom and spread their fragrance.

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The train was on time. The seat next to her was empty. Maybe the person who bought the ticket didn’t get on the train for some reason, or maybe the ticket hadn’t been sold yet. Life is like that, trains depart on time, but sometimes people hesitate - she thought to herself. Occasionally, small carts would be pulled in the hallway “Who wants coffee, soft drinks?”, “Who wants hot chicken porridge?” The vendors on the train were so used to the customers’ habits, they just spoke out of habit, not soliciting. As for her, she was restless between sleep and wakefulness amid the sounds of talking and laughing, and the sound of the train wheels hitting the rails.

She suddenly woke up in the night, opened her veil, and looked out the window. Outside, it seemed like they were walking through a forest, the crescent moon was a bit hazy. She stretched, and suddenly she was startled when the seat next to her was occupied, her stretch touched the man next to her, perhaps the man who had just boarded the train at Thap Cham station. She turned to look, and at that moment, their faces met. She wanted to open her eyes wide, because this coincidence was so strange.

It had been a long time. Tuan was sitting next to her, softly calling her name. She looked at Tuan as if he were a stranger, even though she had no idea that Tuan and she were on this journey together. Then she turned to the window, looking at the night. She told herself that later she would go and beg the conductor to let her go to another car.

Tuan whispered softly in the almost frozen air: “For so many years, I have been wondering whether my child is a boy or a girl. Can you tell me? Do you have any pictures of your child on your phone now?” She did not want to answer Tuan. Her mind was still drifting with the sound of the train tracks. Tuan explained and continued to ask questions, his voice pleading: “I am going to the city. You are taking this train, so your child is studying there, right? Can you give me your child’s address or phone number?”

At this point, she gently replied to Tuan: “Her name is Uyen and she is in her first year of university. Just give her your number. When and where Uyen is ready, I will tell her the truth about you and it is up to her to decide whether to meet you or not.”

Then she changed seats to another compartment and fell asleep in a dreamy sleep until the train arrived at the station at 5:00 a.m.

Her phone rang, Uyen's voice was clear and happy: "Mom, are you at the station yet?". And then Tuyen: "Remember to take a taxi. It's still early, take a taxi for safety."

She listened to Tuyen and climbed into the taxi that was approaching the station. The car glided through the sleepy streets...

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/chuyen-tau-a186811.html