The small house awakens with lingering feelings
It was still early, the fog still covered the small alleys in Tien Lu commune, Hung Yen province. In the house of Mrs. Ngo Thi Tuyet (80 years old), the lights had been on for a long time. Today is the day her daughter, worker Dao Thi Thinh, left her hometown to return to Dong Nai to work. At 6 am on February 22, Ms. Thinh got on the bus to Hanoi to gather with the delegation, then took the company's bus to Dong Nai to continue working. But since the sky was not yet completely bright, the atmosphere in the house was quiet and heavy.
Ms. Thinh sat folding each set of clothes into a suitcase. No longer as rushed as on regular business trips. Each shirt, each item was folded slowly, as if she was trying to hold onto every moment at home. Occasionally, she stopped, looked around the room, looked at the old walls, familiar items - places associated with childhood, with mother, with family throughout life.
Ms. Ngo Thi Tuyet sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her thin hands placed on her knees, her eyes not leaving her daughter. Not crying loudly, only tears silently fell. At the age of 80, she was used to breakups, but this time it was still like the first time.
Going home and then leaving again, knowing that I have to go to work, but my heart is still saddened" - Mrs. Tuyet said softly, choked up.
Ms. Dao Thi Thuan - Ms. Thinh's older sister, stood at the door, watching her sister-in-law pack her belongings. She didn't say much, just quietly helped her sister-in-law pack her belongings, adjust her suitcase straps, and prepare a bag of food to take on a long journey. Each movement was slow, as if afraid of losing a rare reunion moment.
Inside the house, the young children wrapped around her. One held hands, one hugged their legs, one leaned on their shoulders. Innocent but tight hugs, full of longing. One burst into tears, one just silently hugged for a long time, refusing to leave. Ms. Thinh bent down, hugged each child, comforting them: "Teacher will go to work and then come back. Be good, stay home and listen to grandma and mother.
But her own voice was also trembling.
The bus leaving home and the promise for a long journey
When the clock hand reached the 6 o'clock mark, everything had to start. The suitcase was pulled out to the porch. The handbag was neatly placed. No one wanted to say "go", but everyone understood that the farewell time had come.
Before stepping out the door, Ms. Thinh turned back and hugged her mother for a long time. Ms. Tuyet tightened her child's hand. Not many words of advice, just a very long hug - enough to hold 27 years of waiting, a lifetime of loving her child.
Ms. Thuan hugged me, patted my back lightly: "Go in there, take care of your health, work well, just call home if you have anything.
The children stood in line to greet the teacher. The red eyes, the tiny waves of hands, the "Teacher, let's go" words were fleeting but made adults' hearts tighten.
Ms. Thinh got into the car in silence. The car slowly rolled out to the alley entrance. From inside the car, she looked back at the small house for the last time. The image of her mother standing at the door, her older sister standing on the porch, and the children standing huddled together - all faded in the early morning mist.
From her hometown, she went to Hanoi to gather with the delegation, then followed the company's car back to Dong Nai, continuing the familiar cycle of worker life. A long, familiar journey, but this time carrying many other emotions.
On the way, Ms. Thinh spoke about the Trade Union organization with deep gratitude: "If there were no Trade Union, no "Trade Union Flight", I would probably never have a true Tet at home. I am very grateful. Not only for travel support, but also for giving me a memory I will never forget in my life.
She said that she will bring hometown gifts to the South to give to friends and colleagues - those who have been attached to and shared with her for many years away from home. "I want to share my joy with everyone. My Tet is not just at home, but also affection for workers" - she said.
And in her heart, there was a silent promise: to continue to stick with the job, strive to work better, live more responsibly - with her family, with the business, with the Trade Union organization that helped her have precious union member moments.
The bus rolled, taking her away from her hometown. But behind her, there was no longer the emptiness of Tet seasons away from home like before, but a warm memory: a reunion Tet after 27 years, a house full of laughter, and a farewell morning full of tears but full of love.
That is the spiritual baggage for her to continue her journey of making a living - not only as a worker far from home, but as a child, sister, aunt who has returned to the true meaning, and knows that she always has a place to return to.
