Casual Conversation: Autumn Night

1. You sent me a picture of autumn that wasn't quite "fully ripe" with the caption: "Leaves are starting to change color." You explained further: "In the Northwest and Northeast of America, the leaves are mostly red. In the South, yellow is the predominant color. Where I live, there are mountains, plains, valleys, and lakes. When autumn arrives, the leaves change color depending on the temperature. The high mountains get cold first, then the foothills, then the valleys, and finally the cities. If the high mountains are starting to change color now, the valleys and cities won't have autumn colors until the end of November. By then, autumn in the high mountains will have already faded since the end of October."

A few years ago, I had a friend I met through a friend's friend's friend. During our chats on Viber, we talked about all sorts of things. One autumn, with its golden hues and vibrant colors, my friend regretted not being able to drive to work and admire the beautiful scenery alone. She messaged me, wanting to share that breathtaking autumn with me and asked if I agreed.

When you left for work, I had just finished dinner in Vietnam, so I nodded in agreement. For weeks on end, whenever it was time for you to go to work, I would sit at my computer and wait to watch your live stream on my phone. Every day I was captivated by the golden and red leaves along the roadside. I even memorized your route, knowing where to turn left and right. And in the end, it was always: "I'm going to work now, I'll hang up. The leaves are still beautiful, let's go together again tomorrow." I understood that happiness in sharing, having something to share, truly exists.

I felt delighted not only to be able to vividly admire the golden and red hues of autumn on the other side of the globe, with live commentary, but also to be living in the digital age, separated by an ocean yet feeling as close as if I were sitting in the car with a friend on the way to work, talking about all sorts of things, and watching autumn pass by. Everything seemed to transcend time, space, and geographical distance...

2. Saigon this time of year has days with blinding sunshine; where would you find the romantic autumn with golden leaves, even on those mild autumn afternoons?

One night, I had a get-together with my roommates, eating and chatting until late. Since we lived near the apartment building, we decided to walk home, taking a longer route to make the night seem longer, as it's rare to wander around in such a gentle, late-night atmosphere. And surprisingly, along the quiet road we traveled, the houses were asleep, and the rows of yellow streetlights cast shadows on the trees, giving the night an incredibly peaceful golden hue. One friend suddenly exclaimed, "Autumn night!", then sang softly: "The garden at night, the moon shines. Flowers stand still like sad eyes. My heart is stirred. Listening to the flowers' words. Petals linger sadly in the wind. A gentle, intoxicating fragrance. The wind sways ..."

The whole group was stunned by the clear, melodious sound of your singing in the autumn night. Without a word, everyone stopped to admire the night sky and the trees with their golden leaves (because of the yellow lights), which felt both strange and familiar, as if they hadn't seen them in a long time.

"Through the leaves and branches, the moonlight spreads gently, lulling the soul with longing..."

Your voice soared high, with a hint of coquetry. "The night is quiet and melancholic. The sound of autumn whispers. In the trees, a dreamy silence..." It was a long time before we finally emerged from our dream as you uttered the last words of Dang The Phong's song " Autumn Night" : "The moon sets. The grass and trees grow silent. Winter is sad in the starlight. As if shining into our eyes with such coldness. Shaking our souls then dissolving."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-dam-dem-thu-185241207162035413.htm