Nadine's breath came in short, panicked gasps as she rushed out of the shopping mall. She held Liam tightly to her chest, his little arms wrapped around her neck. She could feel his heart beating rapidly against hers, matching her own fear.
As she hurried through the crowds, people stared at her with curious expressions. But Nadine didn't notice. She was too focused on getting to the car as quickly as possible.
Liam's soft voice broke through her thoughts, trembling with confusion. "Mommy, why are we running?" he asked.
Nadine tried to calm down, taking a deep breath before answering. "We're just... uh... trying to beat the traffic, sweetie," she said, forcing a weak smile.
But Liam's eyes looked uncertain, and he tightened his grip on her neck. "But Mommy, we're almost running," he po
