My name is Thu. It’s been five years since I lost my husband in an accident that, to this day, when I look back, still feels incredibly sudden, meaningless, and painful.

It was raining heavily that day, there was a power outage, and the ground was slippery. He was coming from the warehouse and was about to enter the house when, suddenly, he slipped down the stairs. The neighbor heard the loud bang and ran over, while I screamed and cried without my voice coming out. According to the doctor, he suffered a serious head injury and died instantly.

No one suspected. No one thought there was anything strange about his death. I continued to live as a shadow for the next few years. Only one thing I jealously guarded during those five years: the pot of purple orchids he gave me at our wedding, placed in our bedroom window. Not because she was particularly beautiful. But because it was the only thing that remained with the trace of the heat he had left. I never imagined that this would lead me to a nightmare of reality that I couldn’t believe…

1. Five years later – a broken pot changes everything

It was afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly. The neighbor’s cat jumped onto our balcony chasing my dog. They ran and accidentally bumped into the wooden shelf where the pot of orchids was. I heard a loud bang. I ran away. The flower pot — his only memory — was completely destroyed. I felt my heart shrink. But before I could pick up the pieces, I saw something: A small cloth wrapper, hidden in the soil that had come out of the pot. I stopped. This pot was a gift from him. But I had never seen him with this. I picked it up. The cloth was faded and tied with a black thread. It was obvious that he had been hiding there for a long time. My hand was shaking. I slowly opened the wrapper… And my heart stopped. Inside there was: An old silver USB, with a scratched surface. A small piece of paper with a trembling handwriting that read:

“Thu, if you find this… it means I didn’t survive. Take it to the police. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t let them come near you.”

I felt weak and fell to my knees. My breathing froze. ¿Meant… that he knew he was going to die? What did he mean by “I didn’t survive”? Who were “they”? I cried so much that I almost dropped my phone because of anxiety. He only remembered one number: 113. I called the police with a trembling voice.

2. The police arrive – the first secret revealed

Just ten minutes later, the researcher was there. I could no longer speak clearly, I only pointed to the cloth wrapping. — “My husband… It was not an accident… no…” Lieutenant Minh — the leader — took it and asked the forensic team to check the USB. I sat down, trembling. I felt like the whole house had cooled down. On his return: — “There is a video on the USB. You need to prepare.” I nodded, though I felt weak. The video began. The first thing that appeared—my husband, Huy—sitting in our living room. The light was dim and his face was extremely tense. He spoke:

“Thu, if you’re watching this… I’m gone.” I covered my mouth. Tears fell immediately.

“My death… it won’t be an accident. There’s someone who wants to silence me.” Suddenly, the policemen looked at each other. They all became serious. Huy continued:

“Three months ago. I discovered a strange transaction at the company where I work — money laundering, corruption, involving an outside union.” “I talked to some people, but they found out. They have me in their sights. If they kill me… they’ll fix it to look like an accident. Don’t think I just slipped.” I felt immense pain. I almost fainted.

“Thu… forgive me for not telling you sooner. I was afraid to worry. If you’re still alive… protegent.” The video ended. The room was silent. Lieutenant Minh said, in a deep voice, — “Mrs. Thu… it’s possible that what happened is a planned murder.” My crying grew louder.

3. Re-inspection at the scene of the “accident”

We returned to the house where he “slipped.” Everything looked the same, except for the dust of five years. Lieutenant Minh asked, “Did anyone come to the house on the day of the incident?” I wiped away my tears: “Yes… a colleague of yours. He said he had some papers. His name was… Phong. Tall, dark, always smiling…” Suddenly, he looked at me, serious: — “Ma’am… Phong is one of the suspects in the union that your husband mentioned. He has been in hiding for three years.” I froze. The forensics continued to examine. One of them said, “Sir, there is a mark on the handrail of the staircase as if some device had been attached to make it slippery…” My jaw dropped. Lieutenant Minh said, “Someone placed an extremely slippery substance to make it look like an accident.” I lost all my strength. It was true that my husband had been murdered. And I lived with the murderer for three months, without knowing it.

4. Evidence on the USB – the culprit appears

In the evening, the police thoroughly checked the contents of the USB. There they were:

Email exchanges

Audio recordings

Photos with illegal contracts

A video of a secret recording in the warehouse And the latest—a terrifying voice recording:

“If you keep quiet, you will live. If you speak… you’re dead. It only takes a slip. Your wife is young… it will be easy to find a replacement.”

I cried out loud. The Lieutenant slapped the table: “That’s Nguyễn Thành Phong’s voice. No doubt.” But the most painful thing was the last line my husband said, trembling:

“If I die… Thu will reveal the truth.”

My heart was shattered. He had prepared to die. And he left me as a guardian of the truth.

5. The day he chose to wrestle

I remembered: an hour before the “accident,” I saw something small in his pocket—it looked like a USB. But when he took off his pants, it was gone. Now I understood: They took him away. But he had put a second copy in the pot of orchids. And that’s when I burst into tears nonstop.

6. The capture – and the revelation of everything

Based on the evidence, the operation was launched. Three weeks later, I was told, “We have already captured him.” I did not cry. I was not happy. I felt nothing—my heart was exhausted. But when I was handed the copy of Phong’s confession:

“He discovered money laundering in the company. We just wanted to scare him, but he was stubborn. So we planned to make it look like an accident. He was supposed to give me the USB, but he hid it.”

I could no longer control my tears.

7. My Husband’s Last Letter

A week later, Lieutenant Minh visited me at home. He handed me a small bag: “We found it in the old company office. It looks like it was for you, in case you came back.” I opened it. A letter, handwritten:

“Thu, if you’re reading this, I still have hope. When I return, I will tell you everything. Otherwise… don’t cry. What I’m doing is right. I love you. And I know you’re stronger than you think.”

I hugged the letter as I cried.

8. Ending – I’m No Longer Afraid of the Truth

I bought a new pot of purple orchids. I put it back in place. As a reminder—that the truth he fought for would no longer fade into obscurity. On his altar, I lit incense. And I whispered, “Oh… I did it. I revealed the truth. Rest…” I felt as if a gentle breeze touched the curtain. I closed my eyes. For the first time in five years… He could breathe calmly. There was no more heaviness. There was no more fear. There was no more regret. Only longing — soft but peaceful in my heart.

Because I know that — wherever he is — he’s smiling at me.