When your heart stops...

Today in Costco I lost my daughter. Ashley. Age 3.
Yes, I did.
Sign me up for "Worst Mother in the World".
I was looking through something to find a size. Probably had my head down for about 20 seconds. When I looked up, I had only 2 kids instead of 3.
I looked around.
I called her name.
Nothing.
Panic sets in.
I run to the front and ask them to watch for a little girl in a purple dress.
They call out to all employees to find the little girl in the purple dress.
I run around some more.
We find her.
Playing in the toy playhouse.
Happy.
The whole episode lasted about 5 minutes tops.
Longest 5 minutes of my life.
After getting cinched in the shopping cart and being subjected to her baby brother's incessant pulling of her hair, we talked. And talked.
Did she get it?
We have talked before. We have had consequences before for not staying "with mommy".
Did she get it?
Probably not.
To her, everyone in the world is nice. Sweet. Kind and awesome.
Especially the Costco employees.
So we need to keep talking.
Too bad this world isn't as sweet as a child imagines it.