The air smelled like strawberries and cookies.
The room was warm and still, the way it got under his blankie back home when Mommy tucked him in. Not too hot. Not cold. Just... okay.
That's how Leo knew he was in his happy place. He sat cross-legged on the soft, fuzzy rug that hadn't been there before. His chubby fingers gripped a red race car, and he pushed it in slow circles around an invisible track, complete with sound effects. "Vroom... vrooooom!"
All around him, tall shelves stretched up and up and up; he didn't remember those being here either. They were filled with most of the things that were on the floor before.
And then—
A bad man.
Leo sniffled. His truck slipped from his hand. His face scrunched up and he wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve.
He didn't like thinking about the man. The mean one who hurt Mommy. The one with the scary eyes
His tummy felt twisty.
Not like when he ate too many marshmallows. Not like when he was sleepy.
