Spark Into a Flame

Pippa

My child was missing.

My child was missing.

No other thought could fit in my brain. I felt a panic like I'd never felt before. The thought that your child was somewhere without you, possibly in danger, was the worst feeling a parent could have.

Her room had gone quiet after a good fifteen minutes of screaming. We assumed she had just finally calmed down. When I went in to check on her and talk, her room was empty. I looked under her bed and in her closet. Nothing.

I screamed to Lin. We turned the apartment upside down looking for her, calling her name. I realized the window was open. Lin climbed out the fire escape and looked for her up and down and on the roof. Still nowhere.

I found my shoes as Lin called up Joey. Maybe she'd gone with them and we didn't realize it. She hadn't seen her either. After we'd gotten outside, Lin and I went in separate directions. I crossed a busy street and shuddered at the thought of Alex crossing it by herself. We'd taught her to look both ways but it was still New York City.

New York City. She was a needle in a haystack. Hopefully she hadn't gotten far. I saw Elliott and Joey rushing towards us with Jack. I told them to split up and keep looking.

I turned another corner and saw a police officer crouched down in the street. Whoever he was talking to was out of sight, behind a building. My heart pounded and I rushed up, then heard the sound of my little girl crying.

"Alex?!" I shouted, and they both looked up at me.

"Mommy!" she looked at me with relief, her face wet. I rushed to her, crouching down as she ran to me. I let out a sob of relief as I held her to me tight. Tighter than I'd ever held onto anybody. I just cried and cried.

"Ma'am, is this your daughter?" The police officer now stood next to us. I stood up, taking her into my arms.

"Yes, sir," I said, trying to calm myself. I held out my hand and shook it. "She ran off. Thank you for sitting with her."

"You're very welcome," he said, tipping his hat. "Have a good day now."

"You too,"I whispered as I held onto Alex tightly. Her legs were wrapped around me and her arms closed around my neck. "Let's call Daddy and get you home."

I pulled out my phone and called Lin to tell him the good news. He was absolutely relieved. As I walked home I realized Alex had gotten a good half mile from home. We took the elevator and I sat Alex down on the couch. Lin was already home and the kids were on their way back.

I crouched down in front of Alex and Lin sat next to her. "Sweetheart, why did you run away?" I asked her.

"I wanted to go to Gramma and Grampa's," she said, tucking her hands underneath her legs.

"Because you were mad about missing soccer?" I asked. "You crawled out the window?"

She nodded, twisting her lips to the side.

"Alexandra, that was very dangerous," I told her firmly, giving her a serious look. "The fire escape is for emergencies only. You went all the way down by yourself and then started walking around New York City. Alex, you could have been hit by a car or snatched up by a stranger."

My tone was very firm. Now that the relief was over, I was upset with my daughter. She'd put us through hell. Alex started tearing up and Lin pulled her into his lap. She buried her face in his shirt. I sighed and moved to sit next to Lin. He held her as she cried softly.

"Were you scared?" he gently asked our daughter after she'd cried for a while.

"Uh-huh," she said tearfully. "I forgot where I was."