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| Illustration: Phan Nhan |
In Da Lat during the late autumn days, the gentle breeze rustles through the golden leaves. A morning mist hangs everywhere. In the hazy mist, a young woman walks slowly along the sidewalk, holding the hand of a little girl, about three years old. The mother and daughter silently head towards the University of Education.
As soon as I stepped through the school gate, several students rushed out, their greetings mingling with their cheerful laughter. After a while of exchanging pleasantries, the woman's voice sounded somewhat sad:
"Today I came to school to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates, because I'm going to Truong Sa to take up my new job." "What! You're going to Truong Sa?" "The school is keeping you on as a lecturer." "You're really not staying?"... Her eyes blinked rapidly as if to suppress her emotions, her voice softened, and the woman continued.
- I've made my decision. I'm going to Truong Sa, even though I love this school very much. Four years of studying with my friends, so many beautiful memories. I'll miss them all when I leave, but... I have to go...!
***
On the opening day of the 19xx academic year at Da Lat University of Education, students from all over the country eagerly flocked to enroll. Among the crowd of new students, many eyes were drawn to a girl with a very gentle name: Hoai Thuong. Hoai Thuong came from a rural area with endless tea hills in Bao Lam district. She possessed long, glossy black hair that reached her hips and a round face as bright as the full moon.
After the start of the school year and settling into dormitory accommodations, the hustle and bustle of studying begins.
After the first two months of school, Hoai Thuong attracted even more attention throughout the school because of her outstanding academic achievements, and especially because of her gifted singing voice. Whenever the school organized a cultural exchange event, Hoai Thuong would take the stage and sing, captivating countless hearts with her soulful, soothing voice.
Hoang Minh, a naval soldier on leave, was honored to be invited by the school to participate in a cultural exchange event. When Hoai Thuong appeared on stage, the soldier was immediately captivated and fell in love with the first-year student. When it was Hoang Minh's turn to perform, he expressed his desire to sing a duet with Hoai Thuong, and she agreed. With the powerful voice of the naval soldier blending with Hoai Thuong's gentle singing, the song "So Close to Truong Sa" ended to thunderous applause throughout the university campus. Below the stage, shouts of "Amazing!", "So good!", "A perfect couple!", "Sing it again!" rang out… In response to the enthusiastic requests, the naval soldier took Hoai Thuong's hand and returned to the stage with a loving gaze, conveying a message of love. In response to this romantic, strong, and soldierly gesture, Hoai Thuong and Minh continued to sing "A Place Far Away on the Island". "The place he's going to is a distant island, the place he's going to is a distant sea…" As the two began to sing, the schoolyard erupted with applause and cheers… When the song ended, everyone rushed onto the stage. Hoang Minh extended his arms to receive the vibrant bouquets of flowers and gave them all to Hoai Thuong. Radiantly receiving the flowers, Hoang Minh, quick and decisive like a soldier going into battle, unexpectedly planted a passionate kiss on Hoai Thuong's cheek, exciting everyone present. "Love each other!", "Kiss again!", "They make a beautiful couple…" Faced with Hoang Minh's strong, soldier-like demeanor, Hoai Thuong's heart pounded, her face flushed red amidst the crowd.
After the get-together, they arranged to meet, their eyes meeting shyly. After a few minutes of silence, Minh's strength and sincerity helped them both open up: "Let's be friends. Let's share joys and sorrows, and support each other in life..."
From that first meeting, they met every few days, sometimes strolling through the streets, other times sitting together over a hot cup of coffee by the roadside. During these brief encounters, they exchanged loving glances and handwritten letters as a way of expressing their feelings. The love between the student and the soldier on the island had just begun to blossom when Minh returned from leave. They parted with heavy hearts. From then on, letters from the distant island constantly arrived, and letters from the mainland were also frequently sent to the island. When Hoai Thuong first received Minh's letter, she read it by heart: "To my future teacher. Do you know that on this distant, windy island, the waves roar like my heart yearning for you? I miss the far-off plateau where the girl I love lives. Do you know how harsh the sea is? Day after day, the sun burns our skin. Storms threaten to sweep everything away. But, I and my comrades remain steadfast, holding our ground, protecting the island, preserving every inch of our homeland. I remember the afternoons we strolled through Da Lat. The sun and wind on this distant island make me long to breathe in the cool air of the pine forest, to hear you whisper about our lessons, as if to give me more motivation to stand firm against the storms and tempests… Study hard and wait for me, my dear…"
Six months apart, Minh's letters grew more frequent. Today, after her last class, Hoai Thuong was surprised to receive news that Minh was returning to work on the mainland. Time seemed to stand still as Hoai Thuong greeted Minh at the pier; they embraced tightly, tears welling up in their eyes.
During his brief business trip, Minh dedicated his free time entirely to his girlfriend, Hoai Thuong. He introduced her to his parents, and they even set a wedding date for when Minh would be on annual leave next year. His work assignment ended, and their happy evenings together came to a close as Minh had to return to the island. They parted ways with mixed feelings of longing and affection.
As the naval ship sounded its horn and departed, Minh, standing on the deck and watching Hoai Thuong's small hand waving, shouted over the ship's roar: "Trust me, soon I'll come back and marry you. If we have a child, boy or girl - Hai Duong will be the child's name, okay?"
***
A month had passed since she broke up with her boyfriend, and the longing in her heart was mixed with worry. Her menstrual cycle was several days overdue, making Hoai Thuong even more confused. She felt unusual changes in her body, and they were becoming clearer. A tiny life was growing inside her. She was happy, she was joyful, but she was also so worried! Should she tell Minh? And her parents? An unplanned pregnancy while still a student – how would her parents react? Would they be angry, resentful, force her to have an abortion, or loving? And what about her teachers and friends? How would she face them? How would she complete her studies…? After many days of agonizing, Hoai Thuong decided to keep it a secret from her family but wrote a letter to Minh sharing the good news. Several letters went unanswered, making her very anxious, but she completely trusted Minh because of his love and sincerity. Without a reply from Minh, Hoai Thuong was determined to keep the baby, no matter how difficult it might be. She began planning for the difficult days ahead. For now, I have to focus on studying hard, finding a part-time job, and saving money to prepare everything as best as possible for my child's arrival.
At the end of her first semester, Hoai Thuong left the dormitory, rented a cheap room, and got a job at a cafe. During the day, Hoai Thuong attended classes, and after school, she rushed to the cafe to work until 11 PM before returning home. After showering and eating quickly, Hoai Thuong threw herself into embroidery, often not going to bed until 2 AM, and waking up at 4:30 AM to study for school.
One evening while serving customers, she felt weak in her limbs and vomited violently. "What's wrong?" asked the owner of the shop, supporting Hoai Thuong. "Do you need to go to the hospital?" "It's nothing, ma'am, I'm pregnant, a little vomiting will make it go away." "Oh my God, pregnant! Has your boyfriend found out yet, or have you... already?" "He's a soldier stationed on an island, I haven't had a chance to tell him." "I see! I'm a mother myself, so I understand how tiring it is to be pregnant with your first child. It's not busy today, I'll have someone take you home to rest." "Thank you, ma'am, I can go home by myself." "Then go home, rest well and come back to work. I won't deduct your salary." "Thank you so much, ma'am..."
On the way home, Hoai Thuong continued to suffer from morning sickness. She sat down by the roadside and vomited repeatedly. A soldier traveling in the same direction saw this and sat down beside her, asking, "Miss, what's wrong? Can I help you?" Looking up and seeing the young man in a navy uniform, Hoai Thuong was startled: "Are you a navy soldier?" "Yes, I just returned from the island. You don't seem well. Where are you going? I can give you a ride."
"Yes, I live in the boarding house up ahead." So we were going the same way, and I went to that boarding house to meet a female friend of one of my teammates...
Upon arriving at the boarding house, Hoai Thuong opened the door: "Come in... Please have some water. And who are you looking for in this boarding house? I can help." "I'm looking for a female student. I went to the university, and everyone said she'd moved to this boarding house. Her name is Hoai Thuong." "Huh! Hoai Thuong... it's you!" "It's you! Are you... Minh's girlfriend?" "Yes... Minh and I have known each other for a few months since he came home on leave, and we met again when he returned for work last month..." "It really is you," he said slowly, placing his hands on Hoai Thuong's shoulders. "I'm Hoang, Minh's close friend and teammate." "Minh sent a letter and some things to bring back for you." Sensing something unusual, Hoai Thuong took the envelope from Hoang, her hands trembling as she opened it. Glancing at the familiar handwriting, the words seemed to dance chaotically before her eyes, and she screamed, "No!", then collapsed, unconscious. Although he had anticipated what might happen, Hoang couldn't have imagined Hoai Thuong would faint. Surprised and confused, Hoang quickly used his soldier's skills to perform CPR, hoping Hoai Thuong would regain consciousness. After about ten minutes, Hoang's efforts paid off. Her tear-filled eyes, etched with profound pain, slowly opened, her voice choked: "What Minh wrote in the letter isn't true, is it… it can't be… it can't be true… right, brother…?"
***
Not seeing Hoai Thuong at school, after classes, the two close friends rushed to her rented room. Entering the room, they found Hoai Thuong lying down, a wet towel covering her forehead. The landlady was sitting beside her. “What’s wrong with Hoai Thuong?” the landlady asked softly. “Hoai Thuong just dozed off. Let her sleep a little longer. Poor girl! Minh was killed. His comrades reported the news. A strange ship had intruded into our waters, and the naval soldiers immediately approached to intercept it. A gunfight ensued, the strange ship fled, but Minh was too severely wounded and didn’t survive. Before he died, Minh wrote a few lines asking his comrades to bring them back… It’s so heartbreaking! He didn’t even know he had a child!”
Hoai Thuong suddenly woke up, she shouted "Minh!", then burst into tears, causing her two friends and the landlady to shed tears as well.
Her best friend hugged Hoai Thuong tightly: "I know this pain is immense, but you have to overcome it, you have to live well. For your child and for him. You have to raise him to be a grown man, worthy of his father's sacrifice." "That's right," the landlady added, "You have to live well, you have to raise your child to be a grown man, Minh will be very happy in the afterlife ."
With the encouragement and attentive care of her two friends and the landlady, and the strong movements of the fetus giving Hoai Thuong the motivation to overcome her suffering, she gradually regained her balance, returned to the classroom, and continued her part-time job.
***
One early autumn day, as the gentle breeze rustled through the streets, a lovely baby girl named Hai Duong was born. Tears of joy welled up as teachers and friends came to congratulate her. The gifts from everyone were enough for Hai Duong to use for a whole year, deeply moving Hoai Thuong. Her two best friends were always there during her maternity leave. “Try your best! We’ll take turns looking after Hai Duong. We’ll take notes for you to study at home. Hai Duong must grow up healthy and beautiful so that her father, Minh, won’t be sad.” Hoai Thuong hugged her two friends tightly, tears streaming down her sorrowful face. Holding a steaming bowl of pork leg stew, the landlady urged Hoai Thuong: “Try to eat, you need to eat a lot to have milk for the baby. Your circumstances are so difficult, yet you still decided to keep the child, studying and working at the same time to raise a child – it’s so hard, I really appreciate it. I’m not rich either, but I’ll give you and your baby money for rent until Hai Duong goes to daycare. I’ll try my best to help you in any way I can…”
"Thank you so much, sister. I will try my best to get through this difficult time, and when the baby is older, I will go to work to repay you."
***
As baby Hai Duong grew older, Hoai Thuong's life became increasingly difficult. With so many expenses for daily life and education, three months after giving birth, Hoai Thuong regularly worked part-time at a coffee shop, and late into the night, she diligently embroidered delicate lace. She tried her best to earn enough money to care for her child. But fate seemed to be testing her, trying to exhaust her strength. Baby Hai Duong was frequently ill, requiring at least one hospital visit every month, constantly interrupting her studies and part-time work. Today, baby Hai Duong was hospitalized again due to a high fever. “Doctor, please help my child, she is everything to me…” “Don’t worry, the hospital will do its best for her. She was weak from the womb. Perhaps you’ve been working too much and not eating enough, which is why she’s so weak…”
***
The hardships and struggles of the mother and daughter were finally overcome when their four years of university studies came to an end. Having graduated with honors, Hoai Thuong was offered a teaching position by the university. Receiving this honor, her teachers and friends gathered around to congratulate her, but Hoai Thuong's decision surprised everyone. In response to the congratulations, Hoai Thuong's voice was tinged with sadness: "Thank you, teachers and friends, for your love and support, but I have decided to go to Truong Sa to teach. I have submitted a volunteer application and it has been approved by the provincial leaders..."
***
The ship sounded its horn and left the dock. Besides the naval soldiers, there was also Hoai Thuong and her mother. After several days and nights at sea, the ship finally reached Truong Sa Island as dawn broke on the distant horizon.
Upon arriving on the island, everyone was greeted with warm hugs and radiant smiles from the naval soldiers and the island's inhabitants. Hai Duong and her mother received special attention because Hai Duong had just arrived from the mainland. Even more special, she was the youngest child on the island at that time. In the days leading up to this, the entire island had been abuzz with the news that she was the daughter of the fallen soldier Minh. The entire island had been spreading the word about the mother and daughter and their love story. Receiving such a warm and loving welcome, Hoai Thuong was deeply moved, her longing for Minh intensifying, causing tears to well up uncontrollably. At that moment, she only wanted to take her daughter to Minh's grave. Noticing Hoai Thuong's anxiety, Lieutenant Colonel Nhat Tien, the island commander, and several soldiers immediately escorted the mother and daughter to the grave.
Kneeling before Minh's grave, Hoai Thuong's voice choked with emotion: "Minh…! I brought our child to you, but… you couldn't even hold our child… not even once. For our beloved country, you dedicated your youth. Being with you, I felt peace. My child and I will live lives worthy of your sacrifice and that of your comrades, the soldiers who sacrificed themselves to protect every inch of our sacred homeland…"
In the distance, the horizon glowed with a brilliant golden light. Layers upon layers of turquoise waves crashed against the shore. The sea was unusually calm today. The gentle murmur of the waves seemed to be calling his name…
Source: http://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202502/song-mai-goi-ten-anh-fe54562/
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