I open my eyes. My head hurts. It’s dark and cold. I can hardly move. Where am I? I want my mommy. I cry. I cry and cry. Great big fat tears roll down my face. My body heaves with each sob until I have no more tears left to shed, just dry heaving sobs. I cry myself to sleep. I dream that my mommy is here. She has me on her lap all cuddled up. I bury my face into her warm bosom and inhale her familiar scent. “Mmmm, mommy I love you.”

“I love you too honey!”

My stomach growls. “Mommy I’m so hungry!”

“I know sweetheart, I know.”

She hugs me tighter and kisses the top of my head.

“Try to go back to sleep for a while, mommy is here!”

I wake up and my whole body aches. There is not enough room to stretch out my arms or legs. I start to panic and shake uncontrollably. It is so cold. Where is my mommy? I start to cry again and call out her name. “Mommy, mommy where are you?”

Suddenly she appears. “Where were you?”

“I was here all the time my darling!”

“Please don’t leave me mommy, I’m so cold and tired!”

“I know, I never will! Hush my sweet child; go back to sleep it won’t be long now!”

I drift back into a fitful sleep.

When I finally awake, it’s so bright. I see mommy staring down at me smiling. “It’s time my Angel!”

I hold mommy’s hand and we walk into the light together. I feel warm, I no longer feel hungry, I am safe!

***

It’s dark in the woods. The man turns up the lantern.

“That’s better!” he growls.

He shiftily looks around to make sure he is alone. Satisfied, he pushes a small box into a hole. It lands with a thud on top ofa bigger box; he then begins to refill the hole.

Candy Croc © 2018 Staffordshire