‘Are you okay?’ A softness of kind mumsiness enters my space. I had wondered how I’d react when the plane took off, whether I’d feel elated, or tearful, or numb. Sitting in seat 8C, all three emotions seemed to have joined hands in some peculiar ritualistic circle, not quite singing ‘kumbaya’, but acknowledging that each had an equal right to exist in non-contradiction in the space that was me, on 18^th July, 2026.

‘Yes, I’m happy’, I sobbed, ‘we’re moving back to Taiwan’.