I got pregnant when I was in Grade 10. My parents looked at me coldly and said, “You brought shame to this family. From now on, we are no longer our children.”

Through sobs, she explained,
“After you left, his father came looking for the child. You were already gone to Saigon. He drank, caused trouble, then disappeared.

Eighteen years ago, one morning, I opened the door and found a newborn lying there. Only this diaper. I knew it was connected to you. I thought something terrible had happened to you… that maybe you were gone forever.”

Her voice broke.

“We failed you once. But we couldn’t abandon this child. We raised him as our own. We never struck him. Never mistreated him.”

I trembled.