The Final Gift

A day both boring and warm passed. Resting her head on one arm as a pillow and placing her other hand on her forehead in a thoughtful pose, Thien Thanh remembered the elderly couple who owned the porridge stall and Ms. Hoai's smiles. That moment was so beautiful, making her wish time would just stand still.

She tossed to her side to get comfortable, but she still couldn't fall asleep. At this moment, a soft whisper echoed in her head, as if coming from another world. Distant yet familiar melodies, an old song, humming, humming...

*"Tsuyu no man naka. Kyou wa ameagari.
Namanurui kaze. Shizukana yomichi wo.
Toori nukeru natsu ga chikai.
Hikari kagayaki. Kono me wo ubai.
Te ni shitaku naru. Furete mitaku naru.
Anata wa kono hotaru no you.
Mou ii kai mada mitai. Mou ii kai sono kokoro.
Anata no kimochi ga mienai. Nozomu hodo kurushiku naru.
Soredemo kirai ni narenai..."*
(Hotaru - Movie "Hotarubi No Mori E")

Thien Thanh didn't know when she had fallen asleep, only remembering that in her dream, chains of memories returned, blurry and damp with moisture, yet incredibly comforting...

In her own room, Ms. Hoai smiled softly as she watched the monitor showing the girl who had quietly fallen asleep. It had been a very long time since the girl had been able to sleep so peacefully. Everything happened for a reason. In the afternoon, she had intentionally left Thien Thanh in that garden for a long time, only waking her up when the sun had set and darkness enveloped everything. It was because she wanted to take a walk with Thien Thanh, to let the girl look at the city streets at night—something she hadn't seen in a long time—and also to bring Thien Thanh back to the sweet memories of her parents, the two closest friends in her life. The song Thien Thanh was listening to was one she had secretly asked the elderly owners about... That melody was so soothing. Perhaps today, there was no need for the soothing incense she usually placed in Thien Thanh's room. That serene face brought her some peace of mind.

"Before you have to shoulder such a heavy responsibility, I will do everything I can to find your smile again, Thanh Thanh. It's fine if you don't find your voice, but your smile must not be lost. Your life is your own choice; you must smile at your fate... Surely, a very beautiful path is waiting for you ahead. As for me, I cannot walk further with you. This will be the final gift I give you, my little niece!"

It took immense effort for her to finish the sentence. A stream of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, warm, falling drop by drop onto the cold desk. She didn't know if her remaining time would last until she saw Thien Thanh turn eighteen. But before she collapsed, she would definitely have to help that child smile—not a twisted smile, but a complete, radiant smile like the sun.

And then, unable to control herself, she collapsed onto the desk. Before her consciousness completely faded, she still tried to capture the image of the small girl sleeping peacefully, the corner of her lips curving slightly into a smile...

Thien Thanh suddenly shivered slightly but continued to sleep soundly. No one knew what tomorrow would bring. No one knew if, on that tomorrow, she would be able to flash a sun-kissed smile, radiant like a blooming sunflower. Whether on that tomorrow, she could be as joyful as a young bird, spreading its wings wide to fly across the beautiful sky-blue heaven, finding her hope to live, and living like a real child, no longer burdened by anything...