Soon

"Are you sad?" I ask. Her lip quivers, her head nods. "Why?" I ask. Her hands splay out, her shoulders shrug. She crawls into my lap. She nestles her head into my shoulder, and before i can do it she pats my back to comfort me. It's such an adult gesture made with such small hands. "Don't go," she says, her warm words pour into my neck. "I'll be back soon," I say as I gently pry her out of my lap. My 12 hour shift has sneaked nearer to 13. "When is soon?" she asks as I plop her down onto the floor. "Soon," I say again because I don't know the answer. The elevator doors close between us. My day is ending and hers has just begun.