chapter 13

My flight was at five in the morning, and I had a connecting flight at two. Overall, it was a grueling 18-hour journey, and by the time I finally reached my apartment, it was nearly 11:30 at night. The whole neighborhood was quiet, with only the streetlights casting a dim glow over the empty streets.

I took out my gate pass and entered the community, dragging my tired body toward my building. Taking the elevator up to the fifth floor, all I could think about was collapsing onto my bed. But little did I know, my night was far from over.

As the elevator doors opened, I stepped into the hallway and pulled out my keys. But as I neared my door, I froze.

Something—someone—was leaning against it.

"A child?" I mumbled, crouching down. A small girl, barely two or three years old, was curled up against my door, a tiny backpack beside her. She was fast asleep.

Confused and shocked, I studied her face carefully, but I didn't recognize her as one of my neighbors' children. Who is she? And why is she here at this hour?

Gently, I tapped her cheek to wake her. "Hey, sweetheart," I said softly, though I doubted she'd be able to answer any questions. Still, I couldn't just leave a small child unguarded like this.

At my touch, her eyes fluttered open. She blinked up at me, looking dazed—probably still half-asleep.

"How did you get here?" I asked as she rubbed her eyes.

She looked at me for a brief moment. Then, suddenly, her sleepy eyes lit up with excitement.

"Mama!"

Her cheerful cry stunned me.

I instinctively turned around, expecting to see someone behind me—someone she had recognized. But there was no one. It was just the two of us in the dimly lit hallway.

I looked back at her, trying to stay calm. "Sweetheart, you've got the wrong person. I'm not your mommy. Where are your parents?" I asked gently.

But she ignored my words entirely. Instead, she jumped up and wrapped her tiny arms around my leg.

"Mama, I was waiting for you! Where were you?" she pouted. "I thought I'd be here all alone. You're a bad mommy! I'll tell Dada that you left me all alone and went somewhere!"

Her baby voice was so soft and innocent, yet her words sent a chill through me.

"Dada?"

I had no idea what was going on, but I was too exhausted to deal with this. Taking a deep breath, I tried to stay patient.

"Listen, little missy, I am not your mother," I said, my tone firm but not harsh. "Let me call security. They'll find your parents."

The last thing I wanted was to deal with an unwanted problem like this right now. But as I reached for my phone, her tiny arms only tightened around my leg, refusing to let go.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and I instantly had a bad feeling. That face—that face—was never a good sign.

And then, as expected, the whole hallway echoed with her heart-wrenching cries.

"Mama!!! Mama doesn't want Ashley anymore! Boohoo!!!"

Her wailing was so loud it made my head spin. In sheer panic, I scooped her up into my arms, desperately trying to shush her before she woke the entire building.

"Sweetheart, stop crying, please. Stop," I pleaded, bouncing her slightly, but it only made her sob harder.

I sighed in defeat. This is not how I imagined my night going.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry. Mama was wrong. Please forgive me," I said, forcing myself to play along.

I had no other choice. She was just a child—probably scared and confused, and somehow, she had mistaken me for her mother. The best thing to do right now was to get inside first. Then, I'd inform security.

Since this was a gated community, she had to belong to someone in the building. There was no way she just appeared out of nowhere… right?

After what felt like an eternity, she finally stopped crying. Her obsidian eyes blinked up at me, and then, with the most adorable smile I had ever seen, she said,

"Really? Mama recognized me now? I thought Ashley would be all alone. Dada said he will come later, but if Mama was also going to leave me, then what would I have done?"

She spoke with an odd maturity, like a little adult, but her words made me pause. He will come later?

Did that mean her father had left her somewhere to wait? Had she wandered off to my apartment by mistake?

"Yes, sweetheart. Mama was wrong," I said, biting my tongue to keep from saying anything that might make her cry again.

"And where is… Dada? Where did he go?" I asked as I fumbled with my keys, balancing her weight in one arm while unlocking my apartment door with the other.

"Dada?" She tilted her head in confusion. "Mama, where is Dada?"

I mentally slapped myself. Clearly, I can't expect a 3 year child have clear memory. I needed to tread carefully.

"It's alright, sweetheart. He will be here soon," I reassured her, hoping to keep her calm.

"Really? I miss him," she mumbled, her small fingers clutching the fabric of my shirt.

Her innocent words made something in my chest tighten. She was undeniably adorable. And while it wasn't my responsibility, I figured I could look after her for a little while—at least until her parents came looking for her.

I carried her inside and gently set her down on the small couch in my living room. Then, I turned to grab my luggage from the doorway.

"Mama, where are you going?"

"Sweetheart, let me just take my luggage inside," I said, pointing toward the bags.

Surprisingly, she quieted down and simply watched me. I let out a relieved sigh before stepping back outside, grabbing my luggage, and shutting the door behind me.