The path chosen

She sat at her familiar desk, where the pale yellow light shone on the scattered pages, old books, and piles of documents that she had not yet had time to clean up. The feeling of loneliness filled the small room, despite the many people around her, despite the fact that in her hands she held stories that she knew would change the fate of many people. But for Mien, each article was just a temporary remedy to soothe her loneliness.

Every time she sat down to write, she felt like she was trying to escape herself, escape the emptiness in her heart. Her hands flew quickly over the keyboard, her eyes followed the words running across the screen, but her mind was lost in the moments of life, the times when she needed to share, needed love from her partner.

The husband she once thought was her companion throughout her life's journey, now felt like a stranger. The cold feeling when he came home late, without a word of greeting, without a hug of comfort, made her heart ache. Every night, she still sat here, at her desk, writing touching reports about lives and people's fates, but in her own life, she was the one who was forgotten. In the evenings, she waited for him to come home, hoping for a short conversation, a loving look, but all was silence. He had no understanding, no sympathy and always thought she was the one at fault.

***

Like many other reporters, Mien is used to tiring working days, sleepless nights, and rushed trips to challenging places. She not only faces pressure from work, but also has to accept risks when going into dangerous areas to collect information and find the truth. Journalism is not just simply sitting and writing or recording information, but also a never-ending battle, behind each report, each article are efforts, hardships, and dangers that few people know about.

One of the times Mien faced the most obvious danger was a business trip to a remote ethnic minority village where many negative issues were emerging. A mission that she knew would be very difficult. To access the source of information, Mien had to go through deserted, remote roads, where the information network was very weak, there was no phone signal. Everything could only be connected through the local people, but they did not dare to support her for fear of being implicated.

Mien has faced threats from “underground forces” and 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 will get into. If you don’t stop, you will pay the price.” Mien knew clearly that this was not a joke, but a serious threat. But her conscience and professional ethics did not allow her to stop, because for justice the truth cannot be distorted, but the anxiety was also real.

The feeling of stress comes not only from direct dangers but also from mental pressure. She always has to work in urgent deadlines, to ensure that the news is timely, but also profound and truthful. The constant calls from the editor, asking for more information, and editing some details, sometimes make Mien feel suffocated. There are times when she has just finished an article, has not had time to rest, and has to immediately leave for another business trip, without having time to eat or drink.

In addition, Mien also faced difficulties in gathering information. People were not always willing to share their stories, especially when they feared being implicated or retaliated against. She had to use all her tact, patience and sincerity to build trust with the people and witnesses, convincing them to open up and share their stories. She had to listen to painful, heartbreaking stories that many people did not dare to tell, and sometimes, those stories kept her up at night.

For a reporter like Mien, every day at work is a challenge not only physically but also mentally. She has to live with the enormous pressure of providing accurate information, facing dangerous situations, keeping herself from succumbing to temptations, while still maintaining objectivity and professionalism in her work. Behind every article, every vivid report she writes, are her tireless efforts and silent sacrifices.

***

Every day that passed, Mien immersed herself in her writings, as if that was the only place she could find comfort. The stories, the pains, the sacrifices that she wrote, seemed like they were pieces of the loneliness in her heart. No matter how many good articles she wrote in the newspaper, how many awards she received in each exam, how many compliments she received, in her own home, Mien was still a lonely figure, no one noticed, no one understood.

When reading Mien's articles, people seem to see themselves in them, whether they are a struggling single mother, a poor worker or an ambitious young girl. Each of her words, gentle yet sharp, is like a pen sketching out the precarious scenes of life, where dreams and suffering are constantly intertwined. Mien's most painful thing is the conflict in her heart. She is the one who brings good reports, writes inspiring stories, helps people understand more about the pain and injustice of society, but she herself cannot find a way out.

With her beautiful and talented appearance, Mien is always praised by everyone, but behind those compliments is a woman who has to face many worries, hiding her tears at night. For more than ten years, Mien has lived in a fragile, indifferent and cold marriage. And even so, Mien has never regretted choosing journalism. It is the path where she can seek the truth, expose the truth and speak up for justice. She is proud of her profession, even though behind the glory there are no small sacrifices.

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