02 The Taste That I Carry

“Aw, dried lychee, I haven’t eaten it for a long time!”

I was surprised and opened the package of dried lychee quickly, picked up one, and used two fingers with a pinch, “Ka-chow.” A dry sound bloomed between the fingers, and the pulp was dried and wrinkled shell sticking, it was brown and translucent, like dark amber with a faint light. I couldn’t wait to bite, and the sweetness slowly seeped out when the dried lychee went into my mouth. I looked at the cracked shell of the dried lychee, like a crack in time, and suddenly remembered my grandfather’s sister.

Every time I visited my grandfather’s sister, she would always greet me with a smile on her face, “囡囡 (nuo nuo)”, and take out a pack of dried lychee from her clean cupboard, as if she had already prepared and waited for a long time. And I would always get it excitedly, then peel off the shell skilfully, and eat it while listening to the ramblings from her. 

My dad would always take me to my grandfather’s sister, and I would read the newspaper with her using a magnifying glass and studying the old phone that she always pressed the wrong buttons on. Dad said I was a very loving and loyal child, and I have always fulfilled such a responsibility. The time I spent with my grandfather’s sister could not be described as boring but rather felt indescribably long and quiet.

In such a fast-paced, intelligent era, I can’t imagine how elderly people like my grandfather’s sister spend their days. Time and sunshine flowed slowly and peacefully in her room. I held her wrinkled, dry, thin hand to escape through the hustle and bustle outside the house with her. Then I grew up and was also wrapped up in this torrent. The days pushed me farther away like a swift current. I visited her less and less, as if there were always more pressing matters to attend. Dried lychee was also nearly forgotten in the iterations of new flavours and my busyness.