My husband had a job which took him abroad for months at a stretch. Our daughter was 5-years-old at this time, and she and I would be by ourselves.
Our days were generally lonely, so she began sleeping with me in bed at night. However, I noticed she'd started being too dependent on me, so I made it a point for her to sleep in her own room till her father returned.
My daughter sneaked into bed again one night, after she'd had a bad dream. I was harsh with her, and told her she'd need to be more brave and that she couldn't keep climbing into bed whenever she was scared.
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In order to make it up to her, I took her out for games on the night before my husband was supposed to arrive back home.
We went to the arcade, where I let her play while I kept watch on a bench nearby. By the looks of it, my daughter had made a friend, and she was showing the little boy how to throw the ball into the dunk.
I thought I'd interject so she didn't intrude on the boy's game, but then felt a hand on my arm. I looked round to see a woman next to me; she had a delicate smile on her face.
She seemed about 27-28, which was around my age, and motioned toward the children. I took it as her confirming the little boy was her son.
"Let them play. It's how they'll make friends," she said.
I hadn't been around someone my age in some time, and instantly took to this woman. She told me about herself, and began a hearty conversation. We talked for ten minutes before I suggested getting something to eat.
As I said it, I went back to look for my daughter – she wasn't there anymore. I ran my sight around the arcade – it was jampacked with children and adults – and couldn't place my daughter anywhere. Frantic, I turned to my new friend.
"Do you see them? They're not there anymore."
The woman didn't seem too concerned, and turned her head around once before shrugging back at me. I couldn't understand how little she'd care for the disappearance of her own son.
"My son?" She repeated, sounding confused, "that boy wasn't my son."
I stared her thunderstruck. She then told me she'd been at the arcade by herself and thought to keep me company.
I was too distraught to hear more of her story, and circled in panic for my child, asking every person around if they'd seen a little girl roaming by herself, but no one could recall.
When I returned to the bench, the woman had gone as well. I was at the point of hysteria for my daughter's disappearance when I spotted her by the door.
I scooped her up into my arms. According to her, she'd been with her new friend and had accompanied him outside once it was time for him to leave. When I asked about the woman, my daughter said she'd never seen anyone that fit the description.
