The Soup Dumpling Shop Near My Home

Late at night, as I scroll on my phone, a chubby little bun pops up on the screen, bobbing her head as she eats and pouting sadly, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons. I stare at her and laugh. She's just like the little cousin who lived downstairs from me. That summer, she clutched my sleeve and called out in her baby voice, "Big Sis, pick me up." I peeled candy for her, sheltered her from the rain, and carried her home on my back. Now she's all grown up, and so am I. But when this little bun smiles, the tiny figure who used to cling to me and follow me around comes vividly back to life before my eyes. It turns out some kinds of cuteness are there to remind us that someone once depended on us with all their heart.