We spent the last few days together tying up loose ends and getting things organized. Qatar Airways gives two checked bags at 50 pounds each and the family had gathered a collection of items they would send with me from the countryside. My brother in law, whose name I’m trying to figure out how to spell properly, Would be bringing the packages from An Lao and I was a little disappointed I didn’t make it there this trip. My father in law Bà had been injured at work and was unable to join my mother in law to the wedding. I hear names here, learn to pronounce them, but when I see them written is is so far off what my mind thinks it should be. Our uncertainty with paperwork and constant visits to the government complex in Da Nang kept us from traveling to far away so we didn’t make it to my wife’s hometown this trip.
He showed up early in the evening on Friday and the amount of items he had was a bit humorous. I had to pack at least one checked bag for myself as Qatar only allowed 15 pounds in a carry-on. They sent me everything from cold rice cakes, clothes, rice sheets for frying, dried beans and traditional Vietnamese gardening tools. It was not possible for me to take it all so Diễm and I would catalog the items and rank them in priority. We were having trouble with procurement of my ticket home so cold and fresh food was definitely out. It would be Monday night before I would leave and fresh fish and sweet rice cakes were not a possibility. My brother-in-law stayed the night with us and as he was unable to come to the wedding, his wife Diễm’s sister was in the wedding party and he had to stay behind to mind the home, I prepared him a spread fit for a king. After dinner the two of us went out for a cup of coffee.
The next morning we went for breakfast and coffee and hung out until his transport back to the village was ready at 11 that morning. What would follow was a few days were our cameras were down and Diễm and I capitalized on what precious time we had left. We would cook, order some things out and mostly just relax in the comfort of our apartment. We were lazy and loving and it was a much needed time for us. There are few pictures in the last days, it was one of those periods in time we lived for each other alone. Movies, food, reminiscing, fortifying our commitment to each other. It was a very gentle and loving time. In fact two days would pass and with the exception of the mart 2 blocks down were we bought drinks and a few snacks, we never left the apartment.
Monday came and it was time to prepare my departure. Before we would get started we were both hungry and I asked her what was her favorite thing to eat. If she could make any choice for our last lunch what would it be. She asked if we could have sushi. Sushi is a very expensive meal for Vietnamese standards and it was a treat she had rarely had. It was a favorite of mine and would be a wonderful lunch. She found a spot across the river and we grabbed a taxi and headed over. It was a quaint little Japanese style restaurant that was very authentic. We had a few rolls a salad and some traditional tuna over rice. The fish was so fresh it wasn’t even cold. True room temperature Japanese style sushi, the avocado was like cream and the fish tasted of the sea. It was surprisingly inexpensive, entire bill was about $13, but when you can eat on the street and have a few beers for less than $5 it was a splurge.
We had brought a few things from Diễm’s apartment and had quite a pantry of dried and non perishable items she could use at home. A friend of hers came by and they loaded all of her stuff with them on a motorbike and I saw them off. In about an hour she would return. I had done my best to weigh the two packages to 50 pounds each in her absence and had to make a quick run to the mart as I had run out of packing tape. I had passed the same pathetic chicken everyday on the way to the mart, today I would snap a photo. After an intense box taping session we ordered some dinner as the fridge had been emptied and we enjoyed our last meal together for at least a few months. We talked for awhile and then it was time to go. I watched the sun set over the mountains from our apartment window for the last time. Phú, the gentleman who managed the building, was headed up to see us off. He helped me with my luggage and we climbed into our taxi for the short ride to Da Nang International airport. We quietly sat holding hands in the back of the taxi as our current time together was drawing closer to an end. 
Upon arrival at the Airport we sat and had a cup of coffee as check in was not yet open. About an hour later I checked my bags and collected my boarding pass. As I still had several hours before my flight boarded I held off going through security, an attempt to squeeze every last moment I could with my wife. We sat at a restaurant in the front of the airport and shared an appetizer of spring rolls while I snuck a few candid shots of Diễm. The hour had grown late and it was time to go. At the entrance to security I latched onto her as hard as I could and finally had to let go. As I made it through the exit visa process and security I never took my eyes off of her, she stayed and watched me until I finally had to walk toward the gate and out of sight. I sat alone at the gate choking back tears and praying the next phase would be relatively quick and routine. Quick could be months to years, I’m hoping for months, and routine would ideally be simply by the book. I hoped the next time I saw her it would be to hand her a plane ticket to take her home. 
