A little girl wakes up on the cold wet floorboards of a harbor.
The sun is on its way setting, the cold winds from the sea sending shivers up her arms. She’s only wearing a sundress.
It’s going to be dark soon.
But…where is she?
And where is Mama?
She stands up looks all around her. There isn’t anyone around. She’s never been here before. She doesn’t remember visiting a harbor. She doesn’t remember how she got here.
What did she even do yesterday?
What does she do now?
She starts to feel scared, her stomach dropping to the soles of her feet and her throat swelling with the familiar feeling of inevitable tears.
But she stops and takes a deep breath when she finally remembers something that her Mama always told her whenever she got lost.
“Always remember these three things if you ever get lost, honey: Remember who you are, call out for mommy as loud as you can if you can’t see me, and stay where you are. Mommy promises to always find you.”
The first is to remember who you are.
She remembers her name. Of course she does! It’s Harley. Harley Huang.
Next is to call out for Mama.
Shout.