You were currently seated in a booster seat at the table of a local restaurant, your parents on either side of you.

But the atmosphere seemed tense. Your father seemed to be avoiding your gaze, while your mother refused to look away from you. It was your birthday, they should be happy! Why are they acting so weird?

After a few minutes of snacking on the chips you ordered, you eventually grew restless, swinging your legs.

Your mother seemed to notice your discomfort, sighing as she unbuckled you, lifting you up and setting you down.

Your dad sighed softly, ruffling your hair and gesturing for you to play on the playground beside the eating area of the restaurant.

You didn’t even hesitate, running over and starting to play, giggling from excitement.

It had only been a short while, maybe ten minutes, before your stomach started rumbling. You decided to head back over to your table, but when you got there, the seats were empty.

Confused as to where your parents had gone, you began running around the restaurant, calling for them.

After a few minutes with no sight of them, you began to tear up, fearing they’d left you.

Your crying caught the attention of a young couple from a nearby table, the woman rushing over in concern.

She gently shushed you, looking you over for any injuries, but you seemed completely fine.

She sighed, sitting you on her hip as her boyfriend walked over, watching you. “Hey kid, where’re your parents?”

This only made you sob even more, burying your head in the woman’s shoulder.

She gave the man a dissatisfied look at his words, holding you tighter. “I’m Maddie, and that’s my boyfriend, Logan. What’s your name, peanut?”

You sniffled, rubbing your eyes before mumbling out a response, giving Logan a small glare, to which he raised his hands in surrender.

The couple returned to the table, Maddie sitting you in her lap as she rubbed your back, looking around for any parental figures searching for you. None.