"Liam," Alina called, her voice softening as she carefully lifted him and placed him in her large, swivel office chair. The boy looked tiny against the dark leather, his feet dangling nowhere near the floor. "Stay right here. I'll be back in a minute, okay? Don't touch the keyboard."
Liam gave her a serious, focused nod, gripping the armrests of the chair as if he were the captain of a ship. Satisfied that he wouldn't wander off, Alina turned and hurried across the floor, disappearing through the heavy swinging doors that led to the restrooms.
The restroom was quiet, lit by a flickering fluorescent light that made the room feel colder than it was.
Alina stood before the mirror, taking a moment to just breathe. She looked at her reflection. Her black hair was pulled back into a messy bun that had seen better days, framing her v-shaped face.
Her dark eyes, usually sharp and observant, looked tired. She felt like she was living three different lives at once.
