1968

Chapter Twelve: June 20th, 1968

Mihn's point of view:

The buzzing of the television in the small, Hanoi Café riddled through my ears as I tried to ignore it. Last night was a long one, considering the fact that I had drank myself to pulp and then fallen asleep on the sofa of my house. Ever since she left, ever since that kiss, I just wasn't the same. Now I was sitting in this café, drinking a coffee and trying to get over my hangover.

I was on the verge of falling asleep but snapped out of it when I heard the news on the television talk of a name familiar. Although it was in Vietnamese, I heard the last name very clearly: Horowitz. "Bồi bàn, có thể bạn bật lên khối lượng, xin vui lòng?" I asked the waiter to turn up the volume of the television. I stood from the table and listened carefully.

"All members of the Horowitz family that currently reside in Vietnam have gone missing after a suspected South Vietnam ambush. The members consist of Hilda and Jack Horowitz, who are war heroes in America for their contribution in the Second World War. Among the other two are their youngest and twin children Jacob and Lorelei Horowitz. A source reported that Jacob remains with General Loan and the American generals that also attended the ambush, safe in a relocation," the newsman explained in Vietnamese. My eyes went wide when I heard Lorelei was missing. I couldn't believe it, and Jacob was the only one who remained? That meant her father and mother were gone as well. Who knew if they were even together. I didn't have it in me to sit there and let her find her own way, I had to find her.

I sprinted home, forgetting the unbearable heat as I ran. I barged into the house, taking my mother by surprise as she readied herself for work that day. She followed me frantically up the stairs and to my bedroom where I began to pack up the only supplies that I would need. I packed my uniform, in case I needed it, and some regular clothes, all into a large backpack that I could carry.

"What are you doing?!" She asked me in Vietnamese. I stopped packing and went to her, hugging her before I told her.

"I have to go. Lorelei is in trouble," I said. This just seemed to make her even more confused.

"You can't leave! You have a job to do. You can't just abandon the army," she went on. I knew that it was completely illegal to run off, but I had to. I had to make sure Lorelei was alright, then I would face whatever had to be thrown at me. As long as I knew she was going to be alright and she was safe with her family again, then I'd be fine taking any punishment they could give me.

"Mother, I love you, but I have to do this. I know this is dangerous and I'll be punished badly when I get back, or if they find me. But you must know, I'll die if I find out she's hurt or even worse. I can't fight for a cause that hurts her, I'm sorry," I replied, my hands placed on her cheeks to let her know I was being truthful. She sighed and closed her eyes as she stretched up to kiss my cheek.

"You love her," she replied. I recollected her saying the same thing to me when Lorelei was still in Hanoi and safe. I remembered scoffing and saying I barely knew her. Now all I have is to tell myself it was all a lie.

"I do, mother, that's why I have to find her," I answered. She nodded and her hand went to mine. She left and went to her closet, and when she came back she handed me a small address book. I opened it up on the marked page and it revealed a name I had never seen in my life.

"That's your cousin in Mỹ Tho. He will help you find her. He lives in our old house. You remember?" She asked. I nodded and recalled the home we lived in briefly before I went off to America with my uncle. I didn't even know I had a cousin. Was this his son?

"Is this uncle Tú's son?" I asked. She sighed and nodded her head.

"He doesn't know about him, and it'd do you well not to repeat it to him when you see him again. His name is Quang, and his mother contacted me after he was born. I've been talking to him for a while, and I'm sure he'll be able to help you. He has a knack for these things," she explained. I nodded and thanked her, kissing the top of her head and hugging her tightly.