The sun had already begun to set, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink, but little Lala was not enjoying the view. She sat by the window, her small hands pressed against the glass, her eyes scanning the street outside. Usually by this time, Mom would have already been home, her warm smile filling the house with comfort. But today, the clock ticked louder than usual, and Lala couldn’t help but feel her chest tighten with worry.
“Where could Mom be?” she whispered to herself, hugging her stuffed bunny close. The house felt too quiet, and every creak made her ears perk up, hoping it was the sound of the front door opening. She thought about all the times Mom had promised to be careful, reminding her that no matter what, she would always come back. But the longer the minutes stretched, the harder it was for Lala to stay calm.
She paced the living room, glancing at the clock over and over again. Her imagination started to run wild. What if something happened? What if Mom forgot about her? The thought made tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
Finally, she gathered her courage and decided to sit by the door, waiting with her bunny in her lap. She whispered, “Please come home soon, Mom…” as if her words could magically make her appear.
Then, just as the sky turned dark, the sound of keys jingled at the door. Lala’s heart leapt, and before the knob even turned, she was already on her feet. The door swung open, and there was Mom, tired but smiling.
“Lala! I’m so sorry I’m late,” Mom said, setting down her bag and kneeling to hug her little girl. Lala’s eyes filled with relief as she buried her face in her mother’s arms.
“I was so worried, Mom,” she whispered.
Mom kissed her forehead gently. “I’ll always come back to you, sweetheart. Always.”
And in that moment, Lala felt the world was safe again.
