Lara looked up from her laptop.
There sat a tiny boy in the middle of her office floor.
Looking directly at her.
For a moment she considered calling someone.
Returning him.
Maintaining professionalism.
Then he smiled.
Not politely.
Not socially.
The kind of smile only babies possess.
Pure trust.
Pure happiness.
He crawled closer.
Closer.
Then stopped near her chair and looked up.
Lara stared back.
Slowly,
almost unconsciously,
she lifted him into her arms.
He giggled immediately.
A loud happy baby laugh.
Then,
kiss.
Right on her cheek.
A wet baby kiss.
Lara froze.
Completely froze.
Something inside her shifted quietly.
Unexpectedly.
Powerfully.
Her eyes filled.
For reasons she couldn't explain.
The office outside had disappeared.
Deadlines disappeared.
Meetings disappeared.
Only this tiny human existed.
This tiny human who trusted her immediately.
Who loved her immediately.
Who had chosen her.
Without reason.
Without conditions.
Two tears escaped before she could stop them.