[E-Magazine]: The season closes the chapter on sources of love

At the end of the year, people often talk about change. But perhaps what we long for most isn't a huge change, but rather the ability to retain the small things that have helped us get through the long year.

December arrives with a very gentle breath, as if the old year fears startling us. On familiar streets, the morning dew settles into sparkling droplets, thin as sadness, yet warm as a comforting word. I've always believed that each year there's a month that makes us realize we've grown a little older. Without fanfare, the last month of the year quietly glides through the bustling crowds, offering us moments of introspection.

It's strange how, no matter how many seasons pass, December retains its unique charm. It carries the scent of nostalgia, yet also hints at new hope. The pages of the calendar thin out with each passing day, while hearts grow heavier with nameless thoughts. I often have the habit of pausing in the late afternoon, watching the sun set behind the small houses at the end of the street, wondering what I've managed to do for loved ones this year? Whom have I embraced, and who have I let slip away in regret?

December brings cool, windy afternoons as the leaves rustle softly, like a farewell melody to the season. The last leaves fall from the branches, carrying no heavy burden of separation; they simply complete the cycle of nature. They say December makes hearts softer, and more vulnerable than usual. But not everything fragile is frightening, is it? It is this very fragility that reminds us that we have lived, felt, and weathered storms, yet still held onto a gentle haven.

In the final evenings of the year, the city is illuminated by strings of lights stretching across its streets. These lights are not only for decoration, but also to reconnect things that seemed lost. So many people reunite after months of hard work, touching each other with small greetings that are warmer than a fireplace. Those who have been away return, old friends visit, young people hold hands as they walk through the cold season… All of this makes December a season of reunion, of smiles dried after unspoken tears.

But December is also a month of regrets. We sit and count the unfulfilled goals, the unfulfilled promises, the missed opportunities due to hesitation. Yet, amidst these voids, we learn to forgive ourselves. No one can be perfect in the face of time. The important thing is that we still have the chance to enter the new year with a grateful heart. Grateful for what has come, what has gone, and even what hasn't yet happened.

Sometimes, December is like a quiet old friend sitting beside us, saying little but offering a sense of peace. It reminds us that it's time to sort out the mess, fold away disappointments like an old piece of paper, put it in a drawer, and gently smile: "Enough, let's move on." December never rushes; it simply guides us to the threshold of a new cycle, then gently watches us continue.

I love the feeling of walking through the December night, when the wind is biting but my heart feels warm. The long road ahead isn't fully illuminated, but the streetlights on either side are enough to show where I'm going. Even if I walk slowly, even if I stop occasionally, December patiently walks alongside me, like a pacifier for these slow yet profound journeys.

At the end of the year, people often talk about change. But perhaps what we long for most isn't a huge change, but rather the preservation of the small things that helped us get through the long year. A text message asking how we are, an afternoon spent with Mom, a hug after a busy day, or simply a glance that lets us know we're not alone. December gathers these ordinary things, arranging them into a warm bouquet of memories to carry into the new year.

When the first fireworks lit up the New Year's Eve night sky, I always thought that December had quietly completed its mission. It wasn't as brilliant as spring, as sweet as summer, or as poetic as autumn, but it was the season that allowed us to return to ourselves. Perhaps that's why, every time December ends, an indescribable feeling of wistfulness arises in our hearts, as if we've just said goodbye to a close friend we don't know when we'll see again.

The old year will pass, but December remains within each of us, in a very special little corner. That corner holds the memories of our tears, our laughter, our happiness, and our heartbreak. And it is from that little corner that our hope sprouts.

December is not just the final punctuation mark of the year. It's a gentle whisper: "Just believe, everything will be alright."

Content by: Nguyen Tran Thanh Truc

Photo: Internet source

Graphics: Mai Huyen

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/e-magazine-mua-khep-lai-nhung-nguon-thuong-271528.htm