The chosen path

She sat at her familiar desk, where the soft yellow light illuminated scattered papers, old books, and piles of documents she hadn't yet tidied up. A feeling of loneliness permeated the small room, regardless of the people around her, regardless of the stories she held that she knew would change the fate of many. But for Mien, each piece of writing was merely a temporary remedy to alleviate her loneliness.

Whenever she sits down to write, it feels like she's trying to escape herself, to escape the emptiness in her heart. Her fingers glide quickly across the keyboard, her eyes follow the words scrolling across the screen, but her mind wanders to moments in her life, times when she needed sharing, needed love from her partner.

The husband she once thought of as her life partner is now like a stranger. The cold feeling of him coming home late, without a word of greeting or a comforting hug, pierces her heart. Every evening, she sits here at her desk, writing poignant reports about the lives and fates of people, yet in her own life, she is the one forgotten. She waits for him to come home, hoping for a brief conversation, a loving glance, but all she receives is silence. He lacks understanding and empathy, always blaming her.

***

Like many other reporters, Mien is all too familiar with exhausting workdays, sleepless nights, and hurried trips to challenging places. She not only faces pressure from her job but also has to accept the risks of venturing into dangerous areas to gather information and uncover the truth. Journalism is not simply about writing or recording information; it's a relentless battle. Behind every report and article are efforts, hardships, and dangers that few people know about.

One of the times Mien faced the most obvious danger was a mission to a remote ethnic minority village where many negative issues were arising. It was a task she knew would be extremely difficult. To reach her source, Mien had to travel along deserted, remote roads where communication networks were weak and there was no phone signal. Everything could only be communicated through local people, but they were also hesitant to help her for fear of getting into trouble.

Mien has faced threats from "underground forces," from those who want to prevent the truth from being revealed. Once, while she was reporting on a corruption case in the industry, she received anonymous calls. A hoarse voice on the phone warned her: "The more you write, the more trouble you'll get into. If you don't stop, you'll pay the price." Mien knew this wasn't a joke, but a serious threat. But her conscience and professional ethics prevented her from stopping, because justice dictated that the truth could not be distorted, but her anxiety was also real.

The stress stemmed not only from direct dangers but also from mental pressure. She constantly had to work under tight deadlines, ensuring timeliness while maintaining depth and accuracy. The relentless calls from editors, requesting updates and corrections, sometimes left Mien feeling suffocated. There were times when she'd just finished an article, barely had time to rest, and then had to immediately leave for another business trip, without even having time to eat.

Furthermore, Mien also faced difficulties in gathering information. People weren't always willing to share their stories, especially when they feared repercussions or retaliation. She had to use all her tact, patience, and sincerity to build trust with the people and witnesses, persuading them to open up and share their stories. She had to listen to heartbreaking and painful stories that many people didn't dare to confide in, and sometimes, those very stories kept her awake at night.

For a reporter like Mien, every workday is a challenge, not only physically but also mentally. She lives under immense pressure to deliver accurate information, faces dangerous situations, and resists temptations while maintaining objectivity and professionalism. Behind every article and vivid report she writes are tireless efforts and silent sacrifices.

***

Each day, Mien immersed herself in her writings, as if that were the only place where she found solace. The stories, the pains, the sacrifices she wrote about seemed to be pieces of the loneliness within her heart. No matter how many excellent articles she wrote in newspapers, how many awards she won in exams, or how much praise she received, in her own home, Mien remained a lonely figure, unnoticed and ununderstood.

Reading Mien's writings, one sees themselves reflected in them, whether as a struggling single mother, a poor laborer, or a young woman full of ambition. Each word, gentle yet sharp, is like a brushstroke sketching the precarious landscapes of life, where dreams and suffering intertwine endlessly. Mien's greatest pain is the internal conflict. She delivers compelling investigative reports and inspiring stories, helping people understand the pain and injustice of society, yet she herself cannot find a way out.

With her beauty and talent, Mien was always praised by everyone, but behind those compliments was a woman who had to confront so many sorrows, hiding her tears in the night. For more than ten years, Mien lived in a fragile, indifferent, and cold marriage. And even so, Mien never regretted choosing journalism. It was the path she could take to seek the truth, expose the truth, and speak up for justice. She was proud of her profession, even though behind the glamour lay considerable sacrifice.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202504/con-duong-da-chon-f4b0bb1/