Immigration

On a late spring, early summer afternoon, the sky was clear and warm, carrying from the air the hurried flapping of wings and the poignant calls of swallows migrating south to escape the cold. Looking up at the sky, my grandmother sighed, saying, "The most hurried times are the bird migration seasons. How poignant those partings in search of new lands." Hang didn't fully understand her grandmother's words, but looking into the old woman's distant eyes, for no reason, she felt a pang of sadness herself…

Illustrative image.

The weather was getting warmer, and the chaotic sounds from the air seemed to become more frequent, especially in the sunny afternoon. And it seemed that from the persimmon tree by the side of the house, a few chirping and twittering sounds were becoming clearer and clearer. Squinting slightly, Hang saw a pair of "strange birds" frantically hopping around, chirping incessantly. Occasionally, the bird with the red crest mixed with green feathers would excitedly coo, its feet and beak constantly scratching and picking up blades of grass and dry leaves. Hang guessed it was a male bird building a nest. She didn't dare move too quickly, afraid of startling the pair, and whispered to her grandmother, "Grandma, come in, I want to show you something really interesting." Her grandmother's eyes lit up, a stark contrast to her previous distant gaze. "Our house has become a stop on the long journey of these little birds, Hang," she said. Her grandmother's voice sounded a little shaky with joy.

At 30, this is a time for Hang to rest. Actually, she's… unemployed. Since graduating, Hang has worked non-stop, moving through many different jobs. At times, she felt like a moving vehicle with an accelerator but no brakes, only knowing how to move forward. To the point that sometimes, Hang forgot whether she truly found joy and happiness in her work. At this rate, could a young woman's life revolve solely around her home and office, her world confined to a computer screen? Thinking this, Hang resolutely decided to quit. After hearing her granddaughter's story, her grandmother calmly said, "Then you should start with a… migration, like those birds. To find out which land suits you best. To find out where your true home is." Hang reasoned, but her grandmother didn't say anything, "The most urgent times are during migration seasons, how sad, those farewells in search of new lands!" But weren't you also incredibly delighted, surprised, and overjoyed to see those two birds building their nest? Grandma thinks that the destination isn't always more important than the journey. You left behind the old, boring things to find a new path, even if it's bumpy, but not everyone has the courage to leave and face it. Migration might lead to a safe new land, but it can also lead to failure, even costing your life. But my child, "singing, even if it hurts just once," is worthwhile for young people, isn't it?

As she spoke, Grandma turned to look at Hang, her eyes filled with a mixture of joy and determination. From Grandma, in Hang's heart and in her eyes, it seemed as if tiny sparks of fire were dancing.

Spring Flowers

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202504/di-tru-3643607/