A close-up film photograph of a young tabby cat lying indoors beside patterned fabric cushions. The cat looks directly at the camera with wide, bright eyes, its ears upright and body relaxed. Warm indoor lighting and shallow depth of field create a soft, intimate atmosphere.

Mantou

2021 · Film Photography/FM2
Shanjia, New Taipei City, Taiwan

A close-up film photograph of a young tabby cat lying indoors beside patterned fabric cushions. The cat looks directly at the camera with wide, bright eyes, its ears upright and body relaxed. Warm indoor lighting and shallow depth of field create a soft, intimate atmosphere.

This is Mantou.

In May 2021, we adopted Baozi and Mantou.
Baozi, a calico girl.
Mantou, a tabby boy.

Their adoption came with its own quiet story,
but the simplest way to explain it is this—

the moment we saw them,
it felt strangely familiar.

Like something returning.

Back in 2000, when we first met Meiling and Ailing —
the two sisters we adopted,
who later became angels —
we felt the same thing.

Not choosing.
Not deciding.

Just recognizing.

As if they had already been ours,
and had simply found their way home again.

Mantou has this look —
wide eyes, gentle, curious —
that melts everything in you.

This photo holds that exact moment.

Small.
Soft.
Ordinary.

And completely full of love.