As I turned into one aisle, a little girl—no older than six or seven—suddenly climbed into my shopping cart. With her dark, curly hair and wide, anxious eyes, she was a startling sight. At first, I assumed she was simply confused or playing a game. She introduced herself as Lia and quietly confessed that she couldn’t find her mother.

Initially, I thought she’d wandered off and that her mom would soon come looking for her. I stayed in one spot, reassuring her while we waited. But as the minutes ticked by—five, ten, then twenty—it became clear that no one was searching for her. Lia remained by my side, and a growing sense of unease settled over me.

00:01

03:47

A Heart-Stopping Plea

As I debated calling for help, Lia clutched the side of the cart with trembling hands. Her voice, barely above a whisper, carried a weight that sent chills through me: