Selena lay flat on her belly in the middle of the floor, her tiny legs stretched wide behind her in a frog-like pose. Her little hands pressed into the ground, her face damp with tears and dust. She had cried for a long time already, calling again and again for her mom to come pick her up. Each call grew weaker than the last. Still, no warm arms came.
At first her cries were loud and angry. She kicked the floor and lifted her head, searching every corner of the room with desperate eyes. “Mom… Mom…” her small voice cracked with need. She reached up again with trembling hands, hoping this time she would be lifted. But the room stayed quiet. No footsteps came toward her.
Slowly, the anger melted into sorrow. Her cries softened into broken whimpers. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she struggled to breathe through the sadness. Selena lowered her head onto the floor, still calling softly between sobs. Her body was tired. Her heart was tired even more.
Minutes passed like heavy hours. Her eyelids grew heavy with exhaustion, but she fought sleep, afraid that if she slept, she might miss the moment her mom finally came. Each breath grew slower. Each cry faded into a soft, shaky sound. Her tiny fingers loosened their tight grip on the floor.
At last, sleep claimed her.
Selena remained in her frog-like pose, cheeks pressed to the ground, tear tracks still shining on her face. Even in sleep, her body twitched once, as if she were still reaching for someone who wasn’t there yet.
From the doorway, mom finally appeared and froze at the sight.
Selena was asleep on the cold floor.
Without a word, mom rushed forward, lifted her gently, and pressed her close. Selena sighed deeply in her sleep, her body instantly relaxing in familiar warmth.
Even after all the crying, she had only wanted one thing.
To be held.
