Thăm Nuôi-Sample 1
A Packet of Xôi —
A Promise Kept
It was never just a packet of xôi.
It was life itself,
compressed into a handful of warm rice,
wrapped in banana leaves,
sprinkled with a pinch of salt
to endure the long road —
just like her.
Inside the small basket:
a little sugar,
a few dried fish,
sweet potatoes,
a bit of coffee —
luxuries so rare
even the guards watched
with hungry eyes.
She hid the packet of xôi carefully,
avoiding quick hands
and unkind eyes,
hoping only
it would reach him.
He ate slowly,
letting the warmth seep into his chest
where ribs pressed against skin,
into a life
slowly worn away.
One more month gained,
his body remembered
what it meant to be human.
One more month gained,
her promise
remained unbroken.
