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| Illustration: Phan Nhan |
Dalat in the last days of autumn, the cool breeze rustles the yellow leaves. The morning mist spreads everywhere. In the misty mist, a young woman slowly walks on the sidewalk, holding a three-year-old girl by the hand. The mother and daughter silently head towards the Pedagogical University.
As soon as I stepped into the school gate, several students rushed out, greetings mixed with laughter. After a while of greetings, the woman's voice was sad:
- Today I came to school to say goodbye to the teachers and friends, I will go to Truong Sa to receive a job. "Huh! You are going to Truong Sa". "The school kept you as a lecturer". "You are really not staying"... Her eyes blinked quickly as if to suppress her emotions, her voice lowered, the woman continued.
- I have decided, I will go to Truong Sa even though I love this school very much. Four years studying with you, so many beautiful memories, I will miss you very much but… I have to go…!
***
Dalat Pedagogical University, class of 19xx, opening day, students from all over the country eagerly flocked to school. In the crowd of new students, many eyes were on 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 had shiny black hair, waist-length and a round face as bright as the full moon.
After the first day of school, settling into the dormitory is the hustle and bustle of studying.
After the first two months of school, Hoai Thuong attracted more and more attention in the whole school because of her outstanding academic achievements, especially her gifted singing voice. Every time the school organized a cultural exchange event, Hoai Thuong would go on stage and sing, captivating many hearts with her soulful, lullaby-like voice.
Hoang Minh, a navy soldier who had just returned from leave, was honored to be invited by the school to participate in a cultural exchange. When Hoai Thuong appeared on stage, the island soldier was immediately captivated and fell in love with the first-year student. During Hoang Minh's performance, he asked to sing a duet with Hoai Thuong, and she agreed. With the navy soldier's strong voice blending with Hoai Thuong's gentle singing, the piece "Gan lam Truong Sa" ended, and applause echoed throughout the university campus. Below the stage, voices echoed: "So great", "So good", "Perfect couple", "Sing it again"... In response to the enthusiastic request, the navy soldier held Hoai Thuong's hand and returned to the stage with a loving look as if sending a message of love. In response to the romantic, strong, soldierly spirit, Hoai Thuong and Minh continued to sing the piece "Noi dao xa". The place he went to was a distant island, the place he went to was a distant sea… The two of them had just started singing, the schoolyard seemed to explode with applause and cheers… The song ended, everyone rushed onto the stage. Hoang Minh opened his arms to receive the colorful bouquets of flowers and gave them all to Hoai Thuong. While receiving the bouquets of flowers brightly, quickly and decisively like a soldier in battle, Hoang Minh suddenly placed a passionate kiss on Hoai Thuong’s cheek, making everyone present extremely excited. “Let’s love each other”, “Kiss again”, “They are such a beautiful couple”… Before Hoang Minh’s strong, soldierly demeanor, Hoai Thuong’s heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest, her face blushing in the midst of everyone.
After the exchange, they made an appointment to meet, their eyes shy. After a few minutes of heavy silence, Minh's strength and sincerity helped both of them open up more: "Let's be friends. Let's share joys and sorrows, and support each other in life..."
From that meeting, they met every few days, when walking on the street, when sitting together over a hot cup of coffee by the roadside. During those short meetings, they exchanged loving glances and handwritten letters instead of words. The love between the female student and the island soldier had just blossomed when Minh returned home. They parted sadly. From then on, letters from the faraway island continuously flew back, letters from the mainland were also regularly sent to the island. The first time she received Minh's letter, Hoai Thuong recited it by heart: "To my future teacher. Do you know that on the faraway island, the wind is strong, the waves are roaring, just like my heart longs for you. I miss the distant plateau where the girl I love lives. Do you know that the sea is extremely harsh. Day after day, the sun burns the skin. The storms want to sweep everything away. But my teammates and I still steadfastly hold on, keeping the island peaceful, keeping every inch of our homeland. I miss the afternoons in Da Lat when we walked together. The sun and wind on the faraway island make me want to breathe in the cold of the pine trees, want to hear you whisper about your lessons, like adding motivation for me to stand firm before the storms... Study hard and wait for me...".
After six months apart, Minh's letters home became more and more frequent. Today, after finishing the last class, Hoai Thuong suddenly received news that Minh was returning to work in the mainland. Time seemed to stop when Hoai Thuong picked Minh up at the pier, they hugged each other tightly, tears welling up in their eyes.
A short week of work, Minh devoted all his free time to his lover, he brought Hoai Thuong home to meet his parents. The two also set a wedding date when Minh got his annual leave. The work time was over, the happy evenings together also ended because Minh had to return to the island. They parted with lingering memories.
The navy ship blew its whistle as it left the dock. Standing on the deck, watching Hoai Thuong's small hand waving, Minh shouted over the ship's noise: "Trust me, soon, I will come back to marry you. If we have a child, boy or girl - Hai Duong is the child's name, you hear me!"
***
A month after breaking up with her lover, the feeling of longing and worry mixed in her heart. A woman's menstrual cycle had passed several days, making Hoai Thuong even more confused. She felt unusual changes in her body and it became clearer and clearer. A small creature was present inside her. She was happy, joyful, but why was she so worried! Should she tell Minh? And her parents! Having an unwanted pregnancy while still a student, how would her parents react? Angry, resentful, forcing her to abort the fetus or loving? And her teachers and friends, how should she face it! How could she complete her studies...? After many days of thinking, Hoai Thuong decided to hide it from her family but wrote a letter to tell Minh the good news. She was very worried that she had not received a reply from several letters sent, but she completely trusted Minh because of his love and sincerity for her. Not receiving a reply from Minh, Hoai Thuong was still determined to keep the baby no matter how hard it was. She began to plan for the difficult days ahead. For now, you have to try to study well, find a part-time job, save money to prepare the best for your baby's birth.
After finishing the first semester, Hoai Thuong left the dormitory, rented a cheap room and found a job at a coffee shop. During the day, Hoai Thuong went to class, then rushed to the coffee shop to work until 11pm before returning home. After bathing and eating quickly, Hoai Thuong threw herself into embroidery, often going to bed at 2am and waking up at 4:30am to do homework to go to school.
One evening while serving customers, she felt weak in the legs and threw up. “What’s wrong with you?” - the owner of the restaurant, holding Hoai Thuong, mouth in a flurry - “Do you need to go to the hospital?” “It’s okay, I’m pregnant, I’ll be fine after a little vomiting.” “Oh my, I’m pregnant! Your boyfriend knows, he’s always whipping horses….” “He’s an island soldier, I haven’t had time to tell him yet.” “I see! You’re a mother so you understand, being pregnant with your first child is tiring. Today there are few customers, I’ll have someone take you home to rest.” “Thank you, I can go home by myself.” “Then you go home, rest until you’re well before coming to work, I won’t deduct your salary.” “Yes, I’m very grateful to you…”.
On the way back, Hoai Thuong continued to be tormented by morning sickness. She sat down on the side of the road and vomited continuously. A soldier who was going in the same direction saw this and sat down next to her and asked: "Miss, what's wrong with you? Can I help you?" Looking up, Hoai Thuong was stunned: "Are you a navy soldier?". "Yes, I just returned from the island. It seems like you're not feeling well. Where are you going? I'll take you home."
“Yes, I live in the boarding house in front of there.” So we were at the end of our rope, so I went back to that boarding house to meet a girlfriend of my teammate”...
Arriving at the rented room, Hoai Thuong opened the door: “Come in… Have a drink. Who are you looking for in the rental area, I can help”. “I’m looking for a female student. I went to the university, everyone said she had moved to this rental area. Her name is Hoai Thuong”. “Huh! Hoai Thuong… it’s me”. “It’s me! Are you… Minh’s girlfriend”. “Yes… Minh and I have known each other for a few months when he was on leave, we just met when he came back from work last month…”. “That’s right, it’s me - placing both hands on Hoai Thuong’s shoulders, he slowly said: “I’m Hoang, Minh’s best friend and comrade. Minh sent me a letter and some things to bring back for you”. Sensing something unusual, receiving the envelope from Hoang, Hoai Thuong’s hands trembled as she opened the letter. Skimming through the familiar lines, the words seemed to dance chaotically before her eyes, she shouted: “No!”, then collapsed, fainted. Although Hoang had anticipated what might happen, he still could not have expected Hoai Thuong to faint. Surprised and confused, Hoang quickly used his soldier's skills to quickly breathe, hoping that Hoai Thuong would wake up soon. After about ten minutes, Hoang's efforts were rewarded. Her teary eyes, deeply engraved with extreme pain, slowly opened, her voice choked: "What Minh wrote in the letter is not true, right... it's not... it can't be true... right...?".
***
Not seeing Hoai Thuong come to school, after class, two close friends hurried to the rented room. Entering the room, Hoai Thuong was lying down, a wet towel covering her forehead. The landlady was sitting next to her. "Hoai Thuong, what's wrong?" The landlady's voice was small: "Hoai Thuong just fell asleep, let her sleep a bit. Poor girl! Minh sacrificed himself. His comrades came back to report. A strange ship invaded the waters, the navy soldiers immediately approached to stop it. A gunfight broke out, the strange ship fled but Minh was too badly injured, he did not survive. Before he died, Minh wrote a few lines asking his comrades to bring back... So painful! He did not even know he had a child!".
Hoai Thuong suddenly woke up, she shouted "Minh!", then burst into tears, making her two friends and the landlady unable to hold back their tears.
Her best friend hugged Hoai Thuong tightly: “I know, this pain is too great, but you have to overcome it, you have to live well. For the child and for him. You have to raise him to adulthood, worthy of his father's sacrifice”. “That's right" - The landlady continued - "You have to live well, you have to raise your child to adulthood, in the other world Minh will be very happy".
Receiving encouragement and dedicated care from two friends and the landlady, the strong movements of the fetus gave Hoai Thuong more motivation to overcome her suffering. She gradually regained her balance, returned to school and continued her part-time job.
***
One early autumn day, the cool breeze was blowing down the street, a cute baby girl named Hai Duong was born. She was so happy when her teachers and friends came to congratulate her. Everyone's gifts were enough for Hai Duong to use for the whole year, making Hoai Thuong extremely touched. Her two best friends were always there during Hoai Thuong's maternity leave. "Try to listen! We will take turns taking care of Hai Duong. We will take notes and bring them home for you to study at home. Hai Duong must grow up healthy and beautiful so that Minh's father won't be sad." Hoai Thuong hugged her two friends tightly, tears rolling down her miserable face. Holding a bowl of steaming pig's feet soup, the landlady urged Hoai Thuong: "Try to eat, you have to eat a lot to have milk for the baby. The situation is really difficult but you still decided to keep the child, studying and working to raise a child is really too difficult, which makes me very grateful. I'm not rich either, but I will give you two money for room until Hai Duong goes to daycare. I will try to help you with anything...
"Thank you so much, I will try to get through this difficult time. When the baby is strong, I will go to work to repay you."
***
As Hai Duong grew up, Hoai Thuong's life became more and more difficult. There were many expenses for living and studying, so three months after giving birth, Hoai Thuong regularly worked part-time at a coffee shop, and at midnight she worked hard embroidering lace. She tried everything just to have enough money to take care of her child. But fate was like a challenge, wanting to drain her strength. Hai Duong often got sick, every month she had to go to the hospital at least once, causing her studies and part-time work to be interrupted frequently. Today, Hai Duong was hospitalized again due to a high fever. "Doctor, please help my child, he is everything to me...". "Don't worry, the hospital will give him all the best. He was weak since he was in the womb. He must have worked a lot and didn't eat enough nutrition, so he is very weak...".
***
The hard and miserable life of mother and daughter finally passed when the four years of studying as students ended. Receiving a diploma of excellence, Hoai Thuong was retained by the school as a lecturer. Receiving that honor, teachers and friends gathered around to congratulate her, but Hoai Thuong's decision surprised everyone. Before the congratulations, Hoai Thuong's voice was sad: "Thank you teachers, thank you friends for loving me, but I decided to go to Truong Sa to teach. I wrote a volunteer application and the provincial leaders approved it...".
***
The ship blew its whistle and left the dock. Besides the navy soldiers, there was also Hoai Thuong and her mother. After several days and nights at sea, the ship finally reached Truong Sa island when dawn was just rising over the horizon.
Welcoming everyone to the island were the hugs and bright smiles of the navy soldiers and the islanders. Hai Duong and her child 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. The previous days, the whole island was in an uproar when they heard that she was the child of martyr Minh. The whole island had been telling each other about the mother and child and the love between the mother and Minh. Receiving the welcome and love of everyone like blood relatives, Hoai Thuong was extremely moved, missing Minh even more, making her tears flow uncontrollably. Right now, she just wanted to take her child to Minh's grave. Realizing Hoai Thuong's restlessness, Lieutenant Colonel - Island Chief Nhat Tien and several soldiers immediately took the mother and child to the grave.
Kneeling before Minh's grave, Hoai Thuong's voice choked: "Minh...! I brought the child to you but... you couldn't hold the child... even once. For the beloved country, you devoted your youth. By your side, I feel peace. My child and I will live worthy of the sacrifices of you and your comrades, the soldiers who sacrificed to protect every inch of the sacred territorial waters of the Fatherland...".
Far away on the horizon, the dawn spread a golden glow. Layer upon layer of emerald green waves lapped at the shore. The sea was strangely calm today. The sound of the waves lapped as if calling his name forever…
Source: http://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202502/song-mai-goi-ten-anh-fe54562/
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