「i remember the first time you held my hand」 is an interactive Epoetry piece that transforms the digital screen into a canvas for emotional memory. Woven with illustration, text, music, and soundscapes, this work explores the complex dynamics of human connection—specifically the nuances found in relationships with parents, friends, lovers, and even random people who bring unexpected warmth.

As an introvert, I often wait for others to reach out first, allowing intimacy to build gradually. Drawing from personal experience, I designed this piece to reflect the varying stages of these bonds through metaphorical interactions.

For example, to capture the hesitation and tenderness of lovers falling in love, the interaction is designed to be delicate. The player must softly touch the other’s hand multiple times—mimicking the testing of boundaries—before the final “holding hands” animation is triggered. Conversely, to express the struggle of separating from parents, the UI physically resists the player’s input: dragging the hand away causes it to snap back to the start, requiring persistent effort to finally break free.

Every interaction is immersed in custom soundscapes and music, which act as the emotional glue, binding these visual metaphors into a cohesive, meditative flow.