After those few seconds that felt like a dream, I opened my mouth to say something. Then, all at once, something latched onto my legs, and a joyful shriek followed. The words stuck in my throat.
"Mommy!"
Mommy?
I blinked a few times. When I finally lowered my stunned gaze and saw the little thing glued to my legs, my brows knitted together. The kid lifted his head and yelled again, even more cheerfully.
"Mommy!"
I shifted my eyes from the child to Kerem.
I pulled my hand out of Kerem's. I bent down to peel the kid off my legs, gently prying his tiny arms loose. Then I crouched on my knees.
He was an adorable little boy, maybe three or four. Curly black hair, huge brown eyes, and chubby cheeks puffed up by his wide grin. I looked around. No frantic parent searching. No one calling his name. I focused on him again.
"What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Ali."
I smiled and stroked his cheek.
"Where's your mom, Ali?"
Instead of answering, he threw his arms around my neck and clung to me. The sudden movement sent a sharp sting through my neck, and I sucked in a broken breath. I placed a hand on his back. At the same time, Kerem stepped in front of me, dropped his weight onto one knee, and rested a hand on the child's shoulder.
"Hey, little guy?"
Ali pulled back without letting go of my neck and looked at Kerem. A frightened expression slipped onto his face.
"Who did you come here with?"
Ali didn't answer. He just hugged me again. Kerem sighed and shook his head.
"Alright. We should get help from security."
"Good idea."
I loosened Ali's arms from my neck and stood up. Then I held my hand out to him.
"Come on, Ali. We're going."
He grabbed my hand happily, and the three of us headed toward the elevator to go to the information desk at the entrance.
While Kerem explained the situation to the woman at the desk, I kept scanning the area. I still hoped to spot someone. But there wasn't a single person running around in panic. No one calling for their child.
Two security guards arrived. The female guard approached us, smiled, and crouched in front of Ali.
"Do you know your last name, Ali?"
When he didn't respond, she tried again.
"Can you tell me your mom's or dad's name?"
Ali didn't answer. He slipped behind my leg instead. The guard straightened and walked over to the other guard. They spoke quietly for a moment. Then the male guard stepped behind the desk and turned on the microphone.
While he made an announcement for Ali, Kerem came back to my side.
"Let's go. The staff will handle it from here. There's nothing we can do."
I nodded and crouched down again. Ali was holding my hand with a death grip. I smiled at him and tried to keep my voice as gentle as possible.
"We're leaving, Ali. Until your mom and dad come, these ladies will take care of you, okay?"
His happy face crumpled instantly. His eyes filled.
"Don't go."
"But we have to go, sweetheart. Look, these ladies are really nice. If you behave, I'm sure they'll even play with you."
I pointed to the smiling women at the desk and security. Ali ignored them. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he shook his head hard.
I looked at Kerem helplessly. He nodded like he agreed with Ali. I turned back to Ali and wiped his tears.
"Okay. We're not going. Don't cry, alright?"
He sniffled, then nodded with a small laugh. I stood up again and took his hand.
"Congrats," Kerem muttered. "You managed to get us into trouble again, Sunshine."
"How is this my fault, Hotshot?" I snapped. "Did I tell the kid to get lost and then come find me in a crowd?"
A hand tugged at my pants. I looked down.
"I'm tired."
I smiled, bent, and picked Ali up. But it definitely didn't do my injuries any favors. Kerem must have noticed the strain, because he reached out and called to Ali.
"Want to come to me, little guy?"
Ali shook his head and laid his head on my shoulder. Kerem dropped his arms. He looked around, then walked away from us in quick strides.
I stepped back and leaned my spine against the desk. Ali wasn't extremely heavy, but he wasn't light enough to carry for long either.
Kerem returned with two chairs. I sat down immediately on the one he set next to me. He sat on the other chair, and I stared at him anxiously.
"It's been a while, Kerem. No one's come. This doesn't feel normal."
"It's a little weird," he admitted. "It's probably been half an hour."
His gaze caught on my neck. He reached out and checked the bandage.
"Your wound bled. Does it hurt?"
Ali noticed his concern. He lifted his head from my shoulder, saw the bandage, and his eyes filled again.
"Mommy?"
The fear in his huge eyes made me feel awful. I smiled, squeezed his cheek, and shook my head without looking at Kerem.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Are you sure, Sunshine? Your na…"
"Sun… shine!"
Ali beamed as if he'd just heard the funniest thing in the world. He repeated it like it was a prize.
"Sun shine!"
We both turned to him.
"Did you like the name, little guy?" Kerem asked.
Ali nodded excitedly and patted the hair spilling over my shoulders from under my beanie.
"Sun shine… pretty."
I smiled at Ali. Kerem grinned too and ruffled the kid's hair. Ali giggled and covered his head with both hands.
"Smart kid," Kerem said. "You're definitely better than Demir when it comes to girls."
I rolled my eyes and elbowed him.
"Stop teaching nonsense to a knee-high kid, Hotshot."
With that crooked grin, Kerem pointed at Ali.
"A knee-high kid who understands me better than you do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
He sighed and shook his head.
"Never mind. I'm genuinely curious. Do you really look that much like his mom?"
"Apparently," I said, grimacing. "But I can't say I love being compared to a woman this irresponsible. What time is it?"
"Nine thirty."
The announcement repeated. We waited. This was the third time. As minutes ticked by, people started leaving the building.
"I hope someone comes for Ali soon," I muttered. "Before we left home, I need to talk to Aylin and make sure she won't strangle Demir."
"Don't you think you're exaggerating?"
"If you'd seen what Aylin can do when she's angry, you'd have objected before I did, Hotshot. If they were going anywhere else, maybe I wouldn't be this tense. But the fact that Aylin is going into a place full of all kinds of weapons with Demir… it gives me chills."
A picture flashed in my head, and my brows tightened. Kerem laughed at my expression. He pulled his phone out, glanced at a notification, and looked back at me.
"I know my friend too, Sunshine. Demir won't do anything that risks his job in a situation like this. So stop worrying."
When I yawned and nodded, he stood up.
"Don't leave security. I'll be right back."
I gestured at the child half-asleep in my lap.
"Do I look like I'm going anywhere from where you're standing?"
He grinned, clearly pleased with my helplessness, and walked off. I leaned back, wrapped my arms around Ali, and kept watching the area with a miserable look.
It was unsettling. A child this small shouldn't go this long without being searched for. Kids getting separated in crowded places wasn't unusual. But this silence felt wrong. His clothes suggested a well-off family. Still, money didn't automatically mean good parenting.
I didn't know how much time passed or how many announcements were made. Ali fell fully asleep in my lap.
"Ali!"
I was fighting to keep my own eyes open when a man's voice suddenly rang out in panic.