Once, my sister loved "The Little Prince." At that time, she was in the sixth grade, and we still lived in the old house by the river. I gave her a copy of "The Little Prince" at the bookstore, and she was very happy because her copy had been lost at school.
I had never read "The Little Prince" in my childhood. It is a very thin book, and with my reading speed as an adult, I finished it quickly. To me, this book seemed unremarkable, telling a very ordinary story, and I didn't have any special feelings about it. The title page boldly states, "Dedicated to all those who still have a child inside." Well, perhaps I have grown up and can no longer empathize with children.
When I returned for the Spring Festival, I no longer saw the figure of the Little Prince. My sister is now infatuated with some Korean stars that I don't know, and her drawer is full of various star-related items, clearly becoming a fan. I felt shocked, which then turned into helplessness and unease. I could only comfort myself: she has entered puberty, and her self-awareness is flourishing; it's perfectly normal for her to like these things. Many girls in my school days were also fans, and perhaps for girls, idolizing and establishing aesthetics is a necessary stage of growth.
I have a sense of the worries that my elders had about me, fearing that children would go astray, fearing they wouldn't find the right path. At that time, I only felt that the elders were nagging, that no one understood me. Many years later, I finally understood their feelings.
The book states, "All grown-ups were once children, but only a few of them remember it." I realized that I have come so far, far enough to become an adult who worries about others, far enough to be unable to see my former self clearly.
I still miss that Little Prince, miss that beautiful, pure Little Prince. I miss my sister who relied on me and affectionately called me brother, and I miss the version of myself who walked down the road, filled with curiosity about everything.
Perhaps this is why so many people love "The Little Prince." We were all once Little Princes, but later we lost the Little Prince inside our hearts.