Losing two of my loved ones at the same time broke my heart. But life had to go on.
I sold vegetables to make a living. Later, a relative introduced me to a job as a housekeeper for an older man with a salary of 10 million VND per month. He was a widower, seven years older than me. At that time, he had a broken bone and had to stay in bed, but his children were too busy to take care of him, so they hired a housekeeper.
Considering that I was already 50 years old, this job was better than selling vegetables, so I accepted it and quickly packed my bags and moved to the city.
After my husband’s passing, I sold vegetables to get by. (Illustration)
In the following days, I took care of my boss very dedicatedly, cleaned the house thoroughly, cooked delicious meals every day, and took him out to sunbathe. Both of us, widowed and lonely, gradually found a connection in our souls.
After half a year of meticulous care, he recovered his health, moved around with ease, and had a better appetite. When his son came to visit, he thanked me and promised to give me an extra month’s salary as a bonus.
I happily accepted the money and prepared to leave, as he could now take care of himself. But at this point, he asked me to stay and said:
“My wife passed away more than 10 years ago, and since then, I’ve been living alone, eating carelessly. As I get older, I feel lonelier, and my children are too busy to visit often. You’re also a widow, and you don’t have any relatives here. If you don’t mind, would you consider spending the rest of our lives together? I have a pension and some savings, enough for both of us to live comfortably.”
Living with him for a while, I also developed special feelings. After careful consideration, I agreed. And so, we got married. His children did not object.
After the wedding, we built a happy life together. We did everything together, from taking walks to going to the market and doing household chores. Time flew by, and before we knew it, ten years had passed. However, life is not always smooth sailing.
After getting married, we built a happy life together. (Illustration)
One day, I discovered a lump in my left breast. The doctor diagnosed me with mid-stage breast cancer and recommended surgery. The good news was that the prognosis was favorable, but the treatment cost was enormous for me. Fortunately, 60% could be covered by insurance. Still, it was a far cry from my savings. So, after considering my options, I told my husband that I wouldn’t undergo treatment.
However, my husband insisted that I was only 62 years old, and the prognosis for recovery was good. He assured me that the insurance would cover 60%, and he would figure out the rest.
That night, I tossed and turned, thinking about my husband, who had been by my side through it all. I worried that his promise to pay for my medical expenses might just be empty words. While we had faced many challenges together, we didn’t have any children together, so he had no obligation to me. I also thought that if I passed away, I would soon be reunited with my late husband and son. So, perhaps it was for the best.
But then, I reflected on my life and the hardships I had endured. Finally, I had found a stable life in the city, no longer worrying about food or clothing. My husband treated me very well, always buying me new clothes and shoes with the change of seasons, and even throwing birthday parties with flowers and gifts.
To be honest, I couldn’t bear to let go of this life, but I was also afraid that staying might bring me pain if my husband didn’t keep his word about my treatment. I didn’t want him to be burdened because of me. So, the next day, I quietly packed my bags, intending to return to my hometown alone.
Before leaving, I cooked a sumptuous meal for my husband. After he finished eating, I washed the dishes for the last time and overheard him calling his son:
“Son, Aunt Li (that’s me) has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have 150 million VND, please send us an additional 50 million for her treatment.”
Hearing this, I was deeply touched. My husband continued:
“She has taken care of me for ten years without asking for anything in return. If we calculate her salary as a housekeeper, it would be about 120 million VND per year, which amounts to 1.2 billion VND for ten years. The money we spend on her treatment is nothing compared to her dedication.”
Hearing these words, I couldn’t hold back my tears, and I decided not to leave. Soon after, my surgery was successful, and I recovered quickly. I felt incredibly fortunate and cherished the happy life I had built.
