It’s 9 ‘o clock and the Shanghai sky is aglow with a purplish red hue, poison ivy concentrate watered down enough for glittering mall lights to pierce through. Across from us on the other side of the Huangpu River sits gold pools of international wealth: former European banks wrapped in warm lights. The air is cold, but it’s sweetened by the aftertaste of 松鼠桂鱼 (squirrel fried fish), fried and bathed in a sugary red sauce. This mixes with a faint floral smell. The tiny yellow petals smushed into the lines of my sneaker soles signal the beginning of autumn. 

My hands cling to a delicate cup of varm choklad (hot chocolate), the froth dissipating into soft white steam. The steam tickles my cheeks and I bring the cup to my face for more heat.

I am huddled on the Eriksson family’s sofa, watching the first episode of hit Swedish crime series, Quicksand, and warming my feet under the same blanket as Julia (Eriksson). I take a mental snapshot. I don’t want to forget this warmth…

My zoom screenshot of our final project manager meeting sits quietly in my camera roll, perched next to a photo of my ceiling — accidentally taken by my six-year-old brother, wrestling me for my Ipad.