“Why are you crying?”

On the kitchen floor, hands cradling her knee, Shuhua whimpered. “It hurts.” Her voice was watery.

“That’s what happens when you fall.” Padding over from the hall, Soojin knelt down. Her knees were bare and her hands cold.

“I didn’t mean to,” Shuhua recoiled, her skin sensitive under the tender caress of Soojin’s fingers.

The chuckle was low yet melodic. “We never do.” Lips hovering over the flesh –scoured, angry, red, tender– Soojin began, “But when you do…” she blew gently, “I’ll be here to wipe your tears and help you back up.”