For most parents, nothing is more terrifying than losing sight of their child. That’s why there are so many rules—don’t go outside without asking, stay close in crowded places like stores or amusement parks, and never wander off. But kids are curious, and sometimes they get distracted by something more exciting than the rules.

That’s what happened one day in Ontario County, New York, when a 2-year-old girl wandered away from her home. Like many little ones, she was likely caught up in the moment, not realizing she was getting farther and farther from home. But once her adventure ended, panic likely set in. She didn’t know how to get back, and her parents were nowhere in sight.

Back home, her family was frantic. They called the police and began searching, desperately hoping she’d be found quickly and safely.

New York State Trooper Brian Hotchkiss was one of the officers who answered the call. When he arrived, he and other responders began by knocking on neighbors’ doors, hoping someone had seen the child or maybe she had simply wandered into a nearby yard. But as the hours passed and no one had any answers, worry deepened. Darkness and cold were coming, and time was running out.

Near the girl’s home, there was a wooded mountain with streams winding through the trees. Hotchkiss made a split-second decision—he’d climb it. From the top, maybe he could spot something the ground search couldn’t.

As he reached the summit and scanned the forest below, all he saw at first were the dull greens and browns of the trees. But then, something stood out: a small pink dot in the distance. He remembered the family saying the little girl was wearing a pink shirt.

He made his way toward it as fast as he could. And then, there she was—just two years old, sitting all alone in the woods.

Because Trooper Hotchkiss didn’t give up—and trusted his instincts—this story has a happy ending. A little girl was safely returned to her family, and a community breathed a sigh of relief.