Winter arrived early with cold winds, making Minh’s small house even more frigid. Although there was light from the faint oil lamp, the cold and deprivation made the atmosphere in the house suffocating. The long, freezing nights made life harsher than ever.
Early that morning, Minh woke up with growing fatigue. He felt the cold piercing through the thin blanket, and his body lacked energy. In the small kitchen, Minh tried to prepare a simple breakfast from the remaining ingredients—a bit of leftover rice and some bland vegetable broth. Despite this, Minh always tried to keep his family’s breakfast warm and as nutritious as possible.
When Minh entered his mother and grandparents’ room, his mother was lying in bed, her eyes still tired and pained. “You woke up too early,” his mother said w
