"Life isn't counted by how many breath you take,...

... but by moments that take your breath away"
That's what my ex-girlfriend has been saying lately. We ended on a great term few years ago and are still keeping in touch ever since. I never had a chance to ask her if I was ever in one of her breath-taking moments; however, one thing I know is that she was definitely in mine. In other words, every moment I'm with her is as such.
I remember it started on a valentine night, when I waited for her in a coffee shop close to the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School. Usually, the shop was merely like any other student cafes. But that night, it became so special. Locating a bit far from the main road, street lights couldn't reach the place. The entire place was dark, except for a soft light at the bar and burning candles at each table. Easy music was played in the background and people talked quietly. Even the handsome waiter walked back and forth without making any noise. As I sat there holding a red rose on my hand, I counted down nervously every second to our first date. She came, as beautiful as ever, and I became breathless for as long as we talked that night...
I remember morning after morning that I left for school really early. I would ride my bycicle from Cat Linh street to Ton Duc Thang, go through Van Chuong alley and an outdoor market to get to Kham Thien street, then rush along Le Duan street to get to Bach Khoa area, where her house located. Each time seeing her coming out of her house and smiling at me was when my breath stopped, for I could never explain the way she made me feel. Then, we would ride side by side on almost the same track back to school, leasurely enjoy Hanoi's rare moment of clear traffics. Sometimes, when I got to her place late, we would have to struggle through the infamous traffic jam of Hanoi's streets, which is always full of people, all kind of vehicles, and of course, heavy black smoke. The worst part was that I never knew how to explain to my teacher why I stucked in such conditions, while my house was within walking distance from school. But it was all worth it...
I remember after extra late-night classes we took together, I would ride along her side, or took her on her bike, back to her home. We would stop by a little shop on the sidewalk to grasp some hot grilled Indian corns to calm the hunger. We might take the longer way around Back Khoa's garden, just to spend a few more minutes with each other. Or when I took her on her bike, she would reach her arms forward and hold me tight, lean her head on my back and keep us close. They were the kind of moments that even now, they could still take my breath away everytime I think about them...
And I remember...
Each of our moments was witnessed by a street, a conner or a soul of Hanoi. It is Hanoi that could give us such special moments, and it will be Hanoi that I will come back for more. Her life has changed and so has mine. But I believe in Hanoi.
-nxh