As a child and teenager, my grandmother’s world was shaped by simple, everyday moments. She spent much of her time working in the garden, caring for the household, and living closely with the rhythms of rural Vietnam. Animals were a natural part of this life—not only as livestock, but as quiet companions that shared the same spaces and routines as the family.

When I think about my grandmother’s younger years, I often wonder about the thoughts and feelings she carried within herself. Were there moments when she felt lonely? Moments when she had worries, dreams, or memories she wanted to share, but had no one to truly confide in?

For many women of her generation, emotions were rarely spoken aloud. Their lives were often devoted to family and responsibilities, while their own inner worlds remained unseen. Yet I hope that, in those quiet moments, my grandmother had someone,or something, that could listen to her thoughts and keep her company.

In this imagined memory, a young girl gently holds a golden duck close to her chest, as if protecting a precious treasure. The duck represents more than an animal; it symbolizes a quiet companion, a presence that listens without judgment and holds the unspoken stories of her heart. Its golden color reflects the value of such a connection, something truly precious and beyond measure.

Her gaze speaks the thoughts she cannot say aloud. Her eyes reveal a world filled with emotions, memories, and stories that remain unspoken. Behind her, golden bottle gourds (bầu) symbolize growth, nourishment, and the home she helped care for. The deep, shimmering violet background reflects the depth of her hidden inner world, a place where dreams, feelings, and thoughts quietly exist beneath the surface.

I will never know if my grandmother truly experienced moments like these.

❥ But perhaps, somewhere between memory and imagination, this version of her could have existed, a young girl with a quiet companion who understood her without words.