left behind

Last week, I took the kids to the pool along with their Aunt Yaya. When it was time to leave, I packed Caia into the stroller and headed out to get the car while Yaya stayed with the boys. Whoever designed the pool placed the gate rather far away from the parking lot so I normally bring the car around instead of trying to wrangle all three kids.
After I had put Caia into the car, I walked around back to fold up the stroller and looked up to see Jem running across the parking lot, tears streaming down his face. My first instinct was to scold him for running in the parking lot. But instead I asked him what he was doing? He responded, "Everyone left me."
While I was taking Caia to the car, Libby (Aunt Yaya) was helping Truett use the restroom. I had heard Truett ask her for help before I walked out and assumed that Jem had as well since he had been standing right there. But he had walked over to the foosball table, turned around and suddenly realized that no one was with him. I felt terrible.
I scooped him up and hugged him to me telling him that I would never, ever leave him behind. I said that he must have been really scared and he looked at me and said, "I was so sad Mommy." And I will admit that I felt terrible but also thankful. He was perfectly fine and I had been given a reminder that my boy does love me or that maybe he just doesn't want to be left by himself at the pool. I'll go with the first one.

photo by: 5inthemornin  http://www.flickr.com/photos/5inthemornin/6860582061/