Man and shadow

He stood in front of the mirror adjusting his tie, glanced out the door, and frowned. Usually, at this time, a sleek black Camry would be waiting. He muttered:

- Why hasn't that guy shown his face yet?

He impatiently opened the door and stepped outside. His wife, who had just returned home from her exercise walk, was surprised:

- Where are you going all dressed up like that?

He paused, suddenly remembering something, quickly turned back to take off his suit, and placed his briefcase on the table.

 

He retired a few months ago, but for some reason, he's been acting like a "sleepwalker." He feels as if he's still working, still serving the people and the country. But to say he regrets the privileges he enjoyed while still working to the point of sleepwalking is truly unfair to him.

For years as a leader, wherever he went, he was surrounded by a large entourage of assistants. The moment he expressed an intention to do something, someone would guess it and immediately serve him. Even his favorite dishes were known to his colleagues. He often boasted to his wife, "My colleagues at the office are so kind and compassionate." Living among people who understood him so well, how could he possibly forget that lifestyle?

The son came out of the room, beaming:

- I don't have to go to work today. I'll take you and Dad out for breakfast later.

The best chicken pho restaurant in the city was always packed. After finishing his meal, he looked around and was surprised to see some of his former employees sitting a few tables away. Seeing them, he felt nostalgic. They had been so kind to him; they must miss him terribly now. Thinking this, he quickly stood up and walked towards them. This was his chance to ask about the situation at the office since he left. As soon as they saw him, all four looked up and stared straight at him:

- Hi boss! Wow, since retiring, you've gotten so fat and fair-skinned thanks to your wife's care.

He forced a smile. In the old days, no one dared look him straight in the face like that, no one spoke to him in such a monotonous, childish manner. He sat down, intending to ask about his old workplace, but all four of them stood up:

- Excuse me, we have to go to the office.

After saying that, they hurried out the door. He stood silently, muttering to himself:

Yes! It's probably time to go to work!

***

This year marks the first Lunar New Year since he left his job. When he was still working, he was very busy during this time. Not only at the office, but at home, his house was always full of visitors before, during, and after the New Year. Only the luckiest people would see him; most were fortunate enough to meet the "boss's wife." Yet, on the 28th of the Lunar month, even though all the offices were closed, he hadn't seen anyone come to visit. Not even his usually affectionate staff members had shown up. Perhaps they were waiting until the first or second day of the New Year to come and wish him a happy new year. While he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard voices outside the door and hurried out. It turned out to be the old security guard and the cleaning lady. Both beamed with joy and spoke at the same time:

- Now that you've retired, we finally have the chance to meet you! During Tet (Lunar New Year), we bring a packet of tea and a bottle of wine to offer to our ancestors.

Never in his life had he received such simple gifts that moved him so deeply.

That day, he waited anxiously during the day, and turned off the lights very late at night, just in case someone came to wish him a Happy New Year and saw the lights off, they might be too embarrassed to call out. He swore by the light bulb that he didn't need New Year's gifts. He had plenty of money. But New Year's gifts were a token of affection and respect…

But that year, the only people from his old workplace who came to wish him a Happy New Year were the old security guard and the cleaning lady.

***

Six months after retiring, he left the villa to his son and returned with his wife to their old house in the countryside. Those who knew his situation said that perhaps he felt resentful towards his former colleagues and decided to withdraw from society in this way.

Since returning to his hometown, he has made it a habit to sit by the window every morning, drinking tea and looking out at the kumquat tree.

Today, like every other day, he sipped his hot tea, his eyes gazing out at the garden. Suddenly, he noticed a small bird perched on the windowpane, intently watching him through the glass. The glass was so clear that he could clearly see the bird's tiny, toothpick-like legs. It tilted its head, looked at him, then darted up onto a branch of a kumquat tree, chirping...

A moment later, it suddenly darted straight into the glass pane and then flew up again. It repeated this action several times. The old man watched while sipping his tea. Perhaps the clear glass pane made the bird think it was a hole, so it kept flying headfirst into it. Strangely, the sparrow appeared every day and repeated the same action as on the first day.

From the day he "met" that little bird, he felt happy. And so, without even realizing it, he and the little bird became friends.

The weather had been beautiful these past few days, but the little bird by the windowpane hadn't appeared as usual. He sat silently, holding his teacup, waiting. One day, two days, then three days passed, and the bird still didn't show up. After brewing his tea, he quietly stepped outside and looked up at the kumquat tree to see if he could spot the bird. Disappointed, he glanced around. Suddenly, he discovered the bird's body, its wings spread out, near the wall by the windowpane. With a heavy heart, he bent down and picked up the bird's remains.

Looking up, he was startled to see his reflection lurking in the window frame. For so long, looking out from inside the house, there was light, so he had never seen his own reflection. Today, looking from the outside in the darkness, he saw his reflection clearly in the window pane. He pondered and realized something. It turned out that for all these days, the little bird had mistaken its reflection in the window for a friend and had tried to fly through the glass hoping for a friendly encounter. But sadly, it had collapsed and died from exhaustion. He sighed softly. Oh dear! Could it be that it was just like him, unable to distinguish between a real person and its own shadow?

He quietly dug a small hole, placed the dead sparrow in it, covered it with earth, and planted a sprig of portulaca in its place, his heart filled with sorrow and pity.

This year, he celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) in his hometown. On the 28th of Tet, he received a phone call from his son. His son said that an old security guard and a cleaning lady had brought two bags of cheap Tet goods, and asked if his father wanted to give them to anyone back home, or if not, they would just end up being thrown away. He replied on the phone, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself:

- You must take those two bags of gifts back immediately, because they are the light that distinguishes humans from sparrows.

Of course, the son was bewildered and didn't understand what his father was saying.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202503/nguoi-va-bong-f7e0711/