The first day of April began with “The Waltz of March” still unfinished on my computer. Its author—me—was still torn over whether to let the character meet their end or keep them joyfully dancing through life. Each choice holds a possibility. A happy ending wins readers’ hearts, but a tragic one might leave them lingering, haunted by the story’s weight.
The first day of April also marked my first time trying coconut ice cream at Bảo Oanh by West Lake. The sun was shining when I rode my bike out, but by the time I finished, the wind had picked up, and I was shivering. I met two old college friends, and we caught up, weaving between the new and the nostalgic. Sitting on the breezy fifth floor stirred something in me. On one side stood the 20-story Sofitel Plaza, its terraced architecture pulling me back to the days when I hustled after a film crew for my old company. Its sea-green hue felt oddly hollow, desolate. The square windows, perfectly aligned, and the meticulous luxury boxed in so tightly—it all made me restless. Or maybe it’s just that the old wounds run so deep that any place or detail tied to them still stings?
Unfinished Business
Oh, I haven’t wished Nga a happy birthday yet.
And I haven’t mentioned how Ngân’s café stirred so many emotions in me. Maybe the next time I’m feeling down, I’ll drag my laptop there and tap out a few sappy, dime-a-dozen love stories for fun. As I left, I noticed two Western guys across the street, diligently painting and decorating the front of a fast-food joint. It caught my eye, though I’m not sure why—there are plenty of reasons, but I’ll keep them to myself.
April’s Cravings
April’s arrival has cranked my longing for Huế and Hội An to a fever pitch. It’s a craving that’s been simmering too long, to the point where the thought of if I don’t go now, when will I? Maybe never slithers into every corner of my mind, leaving me almost feverish. That might sound dramatic, but at this age—teetering on 30, far from my 20s—anything feels possible. It’s just a matter of being wild and reckless enough to act.
A New Phase
April kicks off a new chapter of self-awareness and learning to accept the world around me. Once you embrace things, life gets easier to navigate, lighter to breathe. Like waking up each morning, inhaling the fresh air, working, and then resting. Eating, sleeping, living fully. In a few weeks, I might even regain my old, rounder shape. But with all these experiences, life feels richer, and that fuels my work with more material.
Of course, new stresses will creep in. I just hope I can balance it all, find harmony, and live April to its fullest.