Auntie Wan / 汪阿姨

許多人選擇不生小孩的理由是，這個世界太險惡，新世代要面對那麼多前所未見的挑戰是不公平的，我一直都認為活著就充滿無限可能，每個人會找到自己的路，但最近的天災頻繁，進步的科技好像並沒有讓人過更好的生活，我開始認同憂心人士的觀點，新生兒有甚麼義務去承受之前世世代代累積的貪惡和自私呢？

I’ve heard that many people choose not to have children because this world is too sinister and rugged. It is unfair for the newborns to be confronted with so many unprecedented challenges. I had always believed that life itself was full of possibilities, and that everyone would find their way to survive. However, I’ve come to identify with others since large-scale natural calamities occur at such a frequent rate and advanced technology doesn’t actually ensure a better life. It doesn’t make sense for the new generation to bear the negative consequences caused by greed, evil and selfishness of their ancestors.

現在我們再也不能拍胸脯地說，等你長大或幾十年以後這種字眼，安然活著的每一天都是賺到的，隨時都要心存感激。我也知道正在眼前發生的浩劫，但我還是要因為孩子們微小的、瑣碎的進步感到喜悅：小楷的句子字數增加到三四個字了，雖然大家猛教他對我說汪達姨，我在他口中變成了汪阿姨。我離開世界的時候，要帶著是這樣的回憶。

Now we can’t say with assurance words like, “After you grow up,” or “in decades…” Every day when we are still able to go about our daily routines is an extra gift. It is blasphemous to live without a thankful heart. I am so aware of the terrible catastrophe that is playing out right in front of my eyes, but meanwhile I want to be joyful for the kids’ tiny and trivial progress—Kai is capable of saying more than three words in each sentence. Everyone repeats to him how to say “auntie Wanda,” though I turn out to be auntie Wan. When I leave the world, I want to go away with such memories.