Short story: Small garden

Illustration: Vu Thuy

She drained the last drops of wine into her glass. The sunlight streamed in through the crack in the door, reaching her legs, revealing her fair skin. The sunlight was so dazzling, but she felt so sad.

Since her husband went abroad, she felt that life had become much more difficult. She did not get along with her husband's parents, especially his mother. Although her husband had quite modern ideas, his parents did not. Her mother-in-law rarely said it out loud, but her attitude towards her was unpleasant.

- I told you, you're pregnant, don't drink anymore - Just then the mother-in-law walked into the room and spoke in a cold voice.

Her words were as light as a breeze, but she knew that behind them was a hidden dissatisfaction that she always seemed to have with her. She thought that half a glass of wine would not affect anything, but then she kept silent. For the past four months, since her husband left, she had chosen silence instead of confronting her. Because of that, the distance between her and her parents-in-law had become more and more distant.

But suddenly she heard a rattling sound on the attic. Linh sensed something unusual, so she quickly walked up there. Her mother-in-law was pulling the rose bushes she had planted out of their pots.

- Mom, I like roses so I only plant three. What are you doing? - She asked.

- The house is small, there is no room to grow flowers. Mom must use these pots to grow clean vegetables. If you want flowers, you and your husband should earn money to buy a bigger house to grow them.

- If you want to pull out my tree, you should ask me first, right?

- If you want to plant a tree, you should ask your mother first, right?

She said nothing more, angrily going downstairs. Usually, when such arguments happened, the one who argued to the end, the one who always wanted to win, the one who refused to give in was her mother. The day her husband left was the same. They had been married for more than two years but had not yet had a child, she wanted her husband to refuse that opportunity to stay home to take care of the family and if he could not have a child naturally, then find other methods. But her mother-in-law insisted on taking the child away.

- You have to go. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You can still take care of the children in a few years.

Her husband, after consulting many people, after weighing all the risks and benefits, told her just three days before departure:

- I've thought it over, so I should go. We're still young, it's not too late to put off having children for a few years. Besides, my mom...

- Your mother, your mother - She was angry - Is everything your mother says true?

- There you go again! If I go, the only thing I'll worry about is this. You and mom at home, please be patient with each other.

Unexpectedly, three weeks after her husband left, she discovered she was pregnant.

- You see, sometimes God favors people. If he had listened to you and stayed home, wouldn't he have missed a great opportunity? - Her mother-in-law's face was filled with joy.

But during her pregnancy, her mother-in-law, although more attentive, still could not make her give up the idea that she was trying to act like that. She knew that she never considered her as her own child, never treated her sincerely, openly, and intimately like her own mother. She was not a backward country woman, but she did not like the way she drank alcohol, even if it was just a small glass of wine. Her eyes showed displeasure when she saw her just going out to buy food but dressed elaborately and wearing heavy makeup. And she certainly hated her sexy dresses. Although she did not dare to say it directly, she knew through her eyes and attitude.

That afternoon, she decided to go out to buy some things. She caught a glimpse of her mother-in-law in the living room and smiled, thinking, “I should dress up even more beautifully.” Then she put on makeup and chose a very elegant white strapless dress.

- Where are you going? - Mother-in-law asked.

- Yes, I just go buy some cosmetics.

- Cosmetics are right at the beginning of the street, within walking distance. So why do you have to wear so much makeup and dress up?

- I always wear makeup when I go out, it's become a habit, Mom.

- Pregnant women shouldn't put on makeup all the time. Cosmetics are full of chemicals and aren't good for anything. Can't you go nine months without makeup? You only have about a month left before you give birth.

- Oh my god, who is like that these days? Women have to be beautiful all the time…

- Is it better to be beautiful for yourself or good for your child? - She interrupted her - Stop it, stop trying to be beautiful. Your husband is far away, who will you let see your beauty?

- Why did you say that to me?

- Is that not right?

She tried to hold back but the tears just flowed out.

- I just hoped that if we had a grandchild, our relationship would be better, we would each do something for each other, if not for each other then for the baby… But you are even more cruel to me.

- Cruel? Who are you calling cruel? - The mother-in-law shouted, she had never seen her so angry - And the fetus in her belly, it's not certain that it's my grandchild.

At this point she could not bear it any longer. She burst into tears. Thinking of her mother, she cried even louder. If only she were here, she would bury her face in her chest and cry.

She felt her heart ache. The world was like a balloon slowly deflating from loss of air. Then she heard nothing, only felt her body collapsing. The staircase suddenly felt like a cliff. She kept falling, with no end in sight.

In her last conscious seconds, she was only vaguely aware of her father-in-law shaking her shoulder and frantically calling her. She fell asleep, throwing herself into a sweet sleep where there was no more room for pain.

She finally woke up in the hospital. The white walls and the smell of chemicals made her sick. The doctor told her that they had successfully delivered the baby and that it was healthy, although premature.

- You should rest well. Your mother just went out and will probably come in soon. The baby is being cared for in the neonatal unit. If there are no problems, you and your baby will be discharged in about two days.

It turned out that her mother-in-law had just gone out to pick up her biological mother. The two of them entered the room together. Her biological mother came to hug her, while her mother-in-law stood at a distance, looking at her shyly.

Two days later, she and her child were brought home. The baby boy looked exactly like his grandmother as soon as he was born. Her mother-in-law did all the cooking, laundry, and taking care of her daughter-in-law and the baby. Her biological mother stayed for a week before returning to her hometown for some business.

- Why don't you hire a maid to make things easier? You can't do it all by yourself. - Her mother said to her in-laws.

- Not yet. I have three children and can manage everything by myself. Don't worry, I will take good care of them.

Having said that, her mother-in-law looked at her. She looked away to avoid meeting the embarrassment in her mother-in-law's eyes.

After her mother returned, she felt that the family atmosphere was more somber, and her relationship with her husband's parents was not as natural as before. She actively avoided looking at her mother-in-law and avoiding communicating with her. She also focused on doing everything and became quiet, mostly just cuddling her grandchild. At times like that, she was happier and more comfortable.

One day, while her child was sleeping, she took the opportunity to leave her room and went up to the attic to breathe some fresh air. Suddenly, she stopped, as if she could not believe her eyes. The garden on the attic had been planted with many roses, and they were competing to bloom with colorful flowers. While she was still in amazement, she heard her mother-in-law's voice behind her:

- I like roses, mom bought them to plant!

She was about to say something, but then just smiled silently…