A Tangerine Branch for Life - Short story by To Ha

In this world overwhelmed by chaotic sounds and hustle and bustle, we look at life with sad eyes because of the so-called pressure surrounding us, seeing relationships between people as a bet. The color of the world in our consciousness gradually fades according to the "happiness index" of humanity, then shatters into pieces...

But in such a world, there are still two people who accept "imperfections", holding hands and walking on a difficult and possibly endless journey, going to the end of the road - where warm light covers, picking up each broken piece, then painting a picture covered with happiness...

Do you believe the story a deaf person told his blind friend about this world?

In this world of more than 8 billion people, we found each other is also a "karma"...

Nhat Binh lives in the eternal darkness, where she can only learn to "see" by hearing and touch, feeling every smallest vibration moving in space, every beat and "stab" of pity mixed with invisible judgment.

As for Hoang Lam, her only close friend, sound is a luxury for a child born with hearing and language disabilities. The only thing that helps her communicate with people and outside sounds is a hearing aid, but her speech is often fragmented and incomplete, sometimes making people around her, including her relatives, feel uncomfortable.

Two pieces of a puzzle, each with its own flaws, found each other on a summer afternoon, where the golden sunlight filled the small alley, covering the little girl who was surrounded by a group of boys who intended to bully her:

- Hey guys, let him go. Or I'll scream!

Hoang Lam tried to mumble incoherent words but his eyes were full of anger as if he was upset with the little girl sitting on the ground with dozens of wounds on her calves. The other kids heard that and just laughed loudly, then quickly left, not forgetting to "give" the person who had just yelled at them a very strong shoulder bump that made the boy a bit dizzy.

- Are you okay? No need to be so reckless. Let me see if you have any scratches? - Nhat Binh touched Hoang Lam's body with his hands, his cloudy eyes looking into the distance.

- Blind? - a guess flashed through Hoang Lam's mind - Is this yours?

Hoang Lam placed the walking stick in her friend’s hand. The stick was now partially broken, with countless cracks along its length. Nhat Binh was shocked to know that the only tool that could take her home was now unusable. While she was still lost in her chaotic thoughts and constant sobbing anxiety, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her forward:

- Where do you live? Let me take you home.

A strange voice from the phone made Nhat Binh startled slightly, but then when she felt the familiar feeling in every breath of the boy she had just met, she felt reassured and pointed forward, happily stating the location of her house. The two of them held hands tightly, happily walking towards the sunset.

- Thank you for helping me. Can we be friends? - Nhat Binh raised his pinky finger, looking forward to the pinky that symbolizes the beginning of a lasting friendship.

- Okay. I'll be your eyes, and you'll be my ears. Together we'll color the world.

Gửi đời một cành quýt đường - Truyện ngắn dự thi của Tô Hạ - Ảnh 1.

So after the promise under the sunset that year, the two of them seemed inseparable, like two perfect pieces of a cruel fate. Hoang Lam became the eyes of both of them, drawing the scene of the early morning sky, each leaf swaying in the wind on the palm of their hand, with the sign language they created together so that only the two of them could understand, and with the different round and contorted expressions on their faces that sometimes made both of them laugh heartily. In return, Binh's sensitivity was the means to connect both of them with the sounds and vibrations of life around them.

But for people with differences like the two of them, how could they live a peaceful life? Every time they were together, the two of them experienced enough looks and empty whispers that had great damage.

Curious eyes…

Fake pity eyes…

All the looks of pity.

- This world is inherently devoid of emotions, only sadness and uncertain pressure. Does recognition exist, or is it just our own illusion? - Nhat Binh spoke slowly, his eyes flashing with sadness.

- Recognition doesn't come naturally, like a tangerine, if you want it to be sweet you have to stretch and ripen, otherwise it's just a distant illusion! - the phone's voice rang evenly.

The two sat in the shade of the park near their house, the only sound left in the space was the wind blowing like a gentle melody.

- I don't have eyes to see other people's sadness.

- I don't have ears to listen to empty gossip.

But at least, the two of them still have a pair of hands to touch the things that exist in the most real way, and a heart to feel the miracles of life.

- If this world does not accept happiness, then we will prove that happiness already exists in this world and it will never disappear.

The red-covered diary page with the neat handwriting of two little boys and girls. In the world of that diary, there are no judgmental eyes, no malicious whispers, and no pity, only love and the colors of a happy life, only a blind girl who can tell stories with her cloudy eyes, and a deaf boy who listens with his small "ears".

Then on the last day of summer vacation, when the sunset fell on the sea, illuminating the sand and four small feet walking along the shore, Hoang Lam picked up some colorful stones shining under the sunlight, an idea flashed as the light was gradually disappearing behind the horizon.

- Nhat Binh, let's start a business. I can make it into handmade jewelry.

The girl pondered for a while as if carefully considering this idea, then she nodded with a smile on her lips. Thus, a small stall in Hoang Lam's bakery was born with the name "Imperfect Crystal". - in that imperfection, the works are created like masterpieces under the hands of skilled artisans.

Every night, Hoang Lam goes to her little "artist" corner, slowly shaping each stone into different types of jewelry with all kinds of colors - the clear blue of the sky, the red of rose petals, the orange of sunset, or the pink of cotton candy. As for little girl Nhat Binh, with only her sensitive hands and her own acumen, she creates exquisite boxes with all kinds of different patterns and decorations. Together, they create unique jewelry, and each piece of jewelry carries within it a story about the world they live in.

In the early days, regular customers were curious about the small jewelry display near the glass door, and passersby were curious enough to stop and look. But then they just turned away and walked away.

- Why do I feel like it's not okay? - Nhat Binh worriedly shook the sleeve of his friend who was sitting near the door.

But Hoang Lam's determined eyes and tight grip on her hand made her feel more secure in their decision...

One Friday in late fall, when they finished school and were asked by their friend's mother to watch the store for a while while she went to the market, a middle-aged woman with gray hair, a slightly tired look in her eyes, and a business suit walked into the bakery, then stopped at the "jewelry" display corner:

- Did you two make these jewelry? - the woman turned to ask the two children.

- Yes, that's right. It was created by imperfect people like us, but it is a "perfect" product, of "happiness".

- So that's what the phrase "Imperfect Crystal" means.

With a naive and slightly mumbled sentence from his friend that day, they not only sold a piece of jewelry, but also received a smile that dispelled fatigue and a look without any pity, only respect.

Then, every Friday, the woman would come to the shop as a regular customer. She would buy cakes to support the shop, along with inexpensive jewelry that was meaningful in its making.

- This world is so harsh that sometimes she wants to give up, but the two of you are like angels saving her from fatigue, painting her life with a bit of bright color of something called happiness.

The stories that the regular customer brought to the two children were like medicine to heal their emotional wounds from many years ago.

- Sometimes, what one person has is another person's dream. Both of them wish to be normal like everyone else, but everyone else wishes to have the strength and happiness like the two of them.

- Nobody is perfect. I know that, and I learn to accept my flaws so that I can move forward.

Nhat Binh swung his legs on the small wooden chair, his eyes looking far away out the window even though it was only the endless night.

Recognition sometimes doesn't need to be exaggerated, just one person knows, a moment when appreciation is given most sincerely, then the "sweetness" of the conversation between the two of us will ripen...

Light does not give us miracles, it is a combination of sunlight, of colors, of stories that the two children put into each piece of jewelry as if telling their own life story. "Life is not easy".

So we have to paint our own life with different colors of sadness and joy. And the story of the deaf person telling his blind friend about this world will continue.

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was held to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising individuals or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The contest has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Journalism, reportage, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles, reports, notes:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 first prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 third prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025. The works will be evaluated through the preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest