Every year, in the third month of the Lunar calendar, the Vietnamese community comes together in cemeteries to observe the "Thanh Minh" period. It's a special time when people take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life to honor traditional values and remember their departed loved ones. This peaceful day is dedicated to reflecting on those who have passed away, drawing people of all ages to visit graves. In the midst of families and gatherings at the city cemetery, there was a young man visiting alone, wearing a solemn expression on his face. He approached a grave and stood there, gazing at the photo on the gravestone—a young girl of nineteen, her lively smile frozen in time. With lilies in hand, the young man placed them in the vase, contemplating how much she resembled the pure and calming nature of the flowers. Lighting incense, he took out his cellphone and played her favorite song, triggering a flood of memories. The emotional lyrics brought tears streaming down his face. He spoke to her photo, reminiscing about the moments they shared. The forever-young girl seemed to respond with a radiant smile that hadn't faded from his memory. As he questioned her smile, a surreal dialogue unfolded, revealing their past encounters. The dream-like conversation continued, with the young man expressing eternal love. However, reality intruded as a passerby interrupted, snapping him back to consciousness. It was then he realized he had been in a dream—a brief encounter with the girl from yesterday. In the waking world, he burned joss paper, offering prayers for her journey in the underworld. The warmth in his heart grew as the paper turned to ash and dispersed into the sky. A year later, he returned, this time not alone but accompanied by a new joy in his life. The gloom from the previous year had lifted, replaced by a happiness he found with a new companion. He shared his newfound joy with the girl from yesterday, whispering that he had followed her advice, lived a good life, and discovered happiness once again. As a gentle wind rustled the leaves, he felt her presence, and in that moment, he thought he heard her giggle—a sign that she, too, had found peace in his happiness. The "Thanh Minh" period holds a special place in Vietnamese culture, providing an opportunity for reflection and connection with the past. It's a time when the boundaries between the living and the departed seem to blur, allowing for moments of profound emotional connection. For this young man, the annual visit to the cemetery became a ritual of love and remembrance. The act of placing flowers and lighting incense was not just a tradition; it was a way for him to bridge the gap between the tangible world and the realm of memories. His conversations with the girl from yesterday, even if they were only in dreams, allowed him to keep the spirit of their connection alive. Burning joss paper was a symbolic gesture, an offering to ensure a smooth journey for the departed soul. It was a heartfelt expression of his wishes for her well-being in the afterlife. The warmth in his heart, as the paper turned to ash and scattered into the sky, symbolized the continuing bond between the living and the dead. The passage of time brought about a change in the young man's life. His return to the cemetery a year later marked not only the passage of time but also personal growth. The new joy he found with a companion signaled a shift from grief to happiness. It was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity to find joy even after facing loss. The whispering wind, carrying with it a sense of presence, reflected the belief that the departed are never truly gone. The young man's perception of hearing her giggle in that moment was a poignant reminder that love and connection transcend the boundaries of life and death. In the tapestry of this story, the "Thanh Minh" period served as a backdrop for a deeply personal journey. It showcased the intertwining of grief, memory, and the resilience of the human heart. The cemetery became a sacred space, not just for paying respects to the departed but also for finding solace, guidance, and eventually, a renewed sense of joy. As the young man left the cemetery that day, he carried with him not only the memories of the girl from yesterday but also a profound understanding of the cyclical nature of life. The "Thanh Minh" period, with its rituals and traditions, became a thread connecting the past, present, and future—a reminder that love endures, transcending the boundaries of time and space.