After adopting Helena, we headed to the market to buy things for her. Papa stayed in the cart with our animals, while Mama took my brothers and me shopping. We picked up food and a bed. 

"Let's see what else..." Mama muttered, looking around. 

"Let's get her some toys to play with!" Callan exclaimed.

"Wait, let's get her a comb!" I headed for a stall across the way. 

There were.a number of wooden combs laid out. I pick out a small one, with green leaves painted on the top. "Let's get this one!" I hold it up, and turn around, to reveal my family was nowhere in sight. Ah crap. They must not have heard me over the noise of the crowd. Callan wanted to buy toys for Helena, right? So I should be able to find them if I head towards a toy stand. But which one? I ask the comb seller if he knows of any pet toy stands, but she does not. Double crap. Ok, deep breath. I might not know where Mama and my brothers are, but I know where Papa is. I'm pretty sure we're a straight shot from the cart. I head back the way I thought we came, but I don't recognize anything.

Triple crap. I was definitely lost. My heart twists and my stomach knots. My palms start to sweat and I feel like I might be ill. No, no it's okay. I'm okay.  I'll just stay right here and my family will find me soon. Just stay still and stay calm. I went and sat down on a nearby bench. I'll just sit here and everything will be fine. Just gotta breathe. I'm fine. I won't cry. I've barely cried since I got the hang of talking. But as I sit on that bench, I can feel hot tears start to prick my eyes. I swallow and blink several times. But it's of no use. I'm soon crying like the toddler I am. Several adults rush over to see what is wrong. A man with black curls crouches down in front of me. 

"Are you alright, darling?" He asks gently. 

'Are you lost?" Asks a young woman to my left. 

I nod, and manage to blubber out that I can't find my family. The adults are quick to spring into action. The man with the curls sits down next to me and rubs my back. The young woman goes to get me a cup of water. She also gives me a handkerchief to dry my tears. Others set out to look for my family. Just as I have calmed down, a very tall man rushes over with my mom and brothers in tow. Upon seeing them, I began crying again. I throw myself into my mom's arms, and cling tightly to her blouse. Mama hugs me tight. My brother's rush over and squished us all into a group hug. Mama strokes my hair and mummers soothing words.

"It's OK, Pie! We got you!" Callan chirps.

Deren rubs my back. "You're safe. We love you." 

"Don't cry! Come on, let's go get pastries! That will make everything better." Marden declares. 

"I wanna go home!" I whine. 

My mom smiles and scoops me up. We head back to papa, who was lounging in the cart. Mom explains what happened, and I get a great big hug from papa. He holds me in his lap as we head for home. I spend the rest of the day switching between mama and papa's laps, and they indulge my clinging. My brothers bring me toys and treats. Deren promises to always watch me when we go out. Papa makes my favorite dinner- a seafood stew and a vegetable stir fry. When bedtime comes, I ask to sleep on my parents bed. They tuck me in and I drift off to sleep between their arms.