Then I’ll slowly remove that chocolate tin from my cupboard and take out those numerous red packets. And finally I’ll read aloud those handwritten characters of 福，乖，用功，祝福爸爸妈妈 (‘fortune’, ‘obedient’, ‘hard-working’, ‘from papa and mama’) and feel those droplets of scalding hot water roll down my face. And when at last I flip the letter over and see those 4 words I’ll sniff a little and crack a little smile and say it aloud gratefully.

It rose up, and amongst the wreckage of the cell that once caged it, he made out the distinct silhouette of humans. It covered its eyes swiftly with its claws, backing away, hoping to meet some form of a wall where it could finally, finally curl up and hide. It won’t let another human die. Not this time.