Alice my best friend

As I sat in the high chair, my face burning with embarrassment, I scanned the room for an escape route or a friendly face. That's when I saw her - Alice, my best friend since college, sitting at a table in the corner, sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with a group of diaper-clad adults. My eyes widened in shock as our gazes met, and for a moment, we just stared at each other in mutual embarrassment.

Alice's expression changed from surprise to concern as she took in my situation, and she quickly excused herself from the table and hurried over to me.

Alice's eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in the high chair, the diaper, and the tray of oatmeal in front of me. Her expression was a mixture of shock, amusement, and concern, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, the noise of the cafeteria fading into the background. "What are you doing here?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper, as she glanced around nervously to make sure no one was listening.

She slid into the seat next to me, her eyes locked on mine, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me at the sight of a familiar face in this bizarre and humiliating environment.

Alice's eyes were scanning mine, searching for answers to unspoken questions, as she leaned in closer to me. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and I had to strain to hear her over the din of the cafeteria. "I've been searching for my mom everywhere," she said, her words spilling out in a rush. "She's been missing for weeks, and I got a tip that she might be...here." She glanced around the room, her gaze darting from one diaper-clad adult to another, before refocusing on me. "I know it sounds crazy, but I had to come see for myself."