If I Had Two Lives

A young woman’s journey of love and identity leads her back to Vietnam, where she confronts her past in If I Had Two Lives.

In If I Had Two Lives, a young woman navigates the complexities of belonging and identity while grappling with her past. Isolated in a Vietnamese military encampment during her childhood, she finds solace in two key relationships: one with a compassionate soldier and another with the only other girl in the camp. These friendships provide her with a sense of comfort but also set the stage for a lifelong search for connection and home.

As she transitions into adulthood in New York, the protagonist remains haunted by her memories of Vietnam. The struggle to find a place where she truly belongs intensifies when she falls in love with a married woman, who strikingly resembles her childhood friend. This connection forces her to confront her unresolved feelings and the ghosts of her past, as she seeks comfort in the familiar traits of strangers who remind her of her soldier friend.

Tragedy ultimately compels her to return to Vietnam, where she must face the memories that have shaped her identity. In If I Had Two Lives, the journey toward self-discovery unfolds against the backdrop of love, loss, and the quest for belonging, illustrating how our past experiences profoundly influence who we become.