The Power of Love

(Baonghean) - “My mother told me that I was born healthy and intact like any other child. However, at 6 months old, after a high fever, my legs were completely paralyzed. My childhood memories are of days struggling with pain, of hospitals filled with the strong smell of antibiotics, of painful injections...”.

Illustration: Hong Toai

Overcoming fate

I was born in Nam Cuong commune (Nam Dan district), a land that is already dry before the sun and flooded before the rain. Both my father and mother work in the city. I grew up in the arms of my grandparents. When it rained, the water rose, the villagers waded through the water, my grandfather carried me to avoid the flood. My grandfather was also my first teacher. He taught me how to write, spell, and do math...

Unable to walk, I always longed to go to school. Then, that longing came true. My parents picked me up and sent me to the city. On the first day of school, I was very nervous and excited. But that excitement was met with sadness, bitterness, and self-pity. None of my friends played with me. Instead of smiles, they threw me curious and sympathetic looks. I wished… if only I could run, I would run home, slam the door, and hug my mother, crying and screaming. But the reality was that I could only travel from home to school and from school back home on my mother’s thin back. Many rainy days, both mother and child were soaked to the skin.

My mother took care of the housework and the office work alone, but she never let me miss a single day of school, even when it was raining or windy. Until one day, my father bought me a rocking chair. I was happy because I could go to school by myself. My friends saw the strange rocking chair, clung to it, one holding on in front, one holding on behind to tease me. As a result, both me and the chair fell into the pond, covered in mud. I cried loudly. If only at that time, I could have Son living in the same room. Every day, Son carried me to class, took care of my meals and helped me with all my daily activities. I was grateful to Son, but there were many times that he was annoyed and angry. And there were many times when Son was frustrated, saying that he would not live with me anymore, but he never abandoned me, until now...

Happiness sprouts

In my fourth year of university, my father went to Hanoi to ask the school to let me keep my study results so that I could return home for leg surgery. The doctors had to remove all the bones in my leg and then splint them straight. I fainted from the excruciating pain. I don’t know how many chopsticks I bit off or how many bed frames I broke. I smashed whatever I could get my hands on, and beat anyone who came near me. The pain turned me into a wild beast. The first few days, my whole family was there for me. When I passed the critical stage, my parents were busy at work, leaving only Thao, the maid, to take care of me. Every time the pain tormented me, Thao became my victim. I threw away all the bowls and chopsticks, and beat Thao every time she came near. When the pain subsided, I saw Thao’s bruised face and swollen limbs, and I understood the situation and felt sorry for her. Yet Thao did not say a word of complaint.

She was still quietly by my side, taking care of me every meal and sleep. My parents loved Thao like their own daughter because she was honest and hard-working. The day I was discharged from the hospital, my parents went to Thao's house and proposed to become in-laws. With the help of both families, Thao and I agreed to get married. Honestly, at that time, Thao and I did not love each other, but only felt sympathy. I loved her because she was so gentle, because she took such good care of me. And perhaps, Thao also loved me because she had witnessed my painful days. A cozy wedding took place, both Thao and I were shy and confused. I did not expect that I would get married so quickly, and even more so, I did not expect that the person walking beside me at the wedding ceremony would be Thao - the family's maid whom I had hardly paid attention to for so long.

After getting married, I went to Hanoi to continue my final year of study, then returned to Vinh to struggle to find a job. The recent surgery helped straighten my legs, I could sit without having to lean back on my hands for support. I could move around more easily with a wheelchair and later a homemade tricycle. I threw myself into work like a moth to a flame. Thao took care of the family alone. Two children were born one after another and Thao also had a stable job. There is nothing happier than when both children grow up healthy and obedient. They are the bond that connects my husband and I. Thao and I share more with each other, understand each other more and love each other more.

Many storms came when my father passed away after a serious illness, my mother was also old and weak, had difficulty walking, and the family's economy collapsed. I threw myself into making money, while she, still alone, took care of my mother and the children. Family life went through many storms but she remained the same, diligent, quiet and thoughtful. Her world was limited to her office, her children's school and the small house with pots and pans. I know, I understand her sacrifices, but many times I vented my frustrations on her in society. She never complained or blamed me. I felt as if she was born to endure my sorrows and pains...?

I really feel lucky to marry a wife like Thao. Even though she is not sharp, skillful, or sweet-talking, I always feel at peace when I am with her. Even though life ahead still has many difficulties, my life boat will still have many ups and downs, I believe that the boat will eventually reach the shore of happiness. Because I know, beside me there are always friends like Son, behind me there are always Thao and my children. I used to blame life for being unfair to me, but now I have to thank life. My parents, my friends, Thao and my children are the "gods" who saved my life, helped me realize the meaning and be more attached to this life!

Nguyen Le(take note)