I felt sad for him—a seven-year-old child. As I took him inside, I offered him a bottle of water and a seat. As he drank, I could see the exhaustion in his eyes and the filth on his face. “Where do you live, Tommy?” Are you aware of your address? I politely asked a question. He gave a headshake. “I was with my uncle, but he stated he was no longer able to care for me. He abandoned me on the street.

It turned out to be worse than I had expected. I had a million questions, but my main concern was Tommy’s safety. I refrained from calling the cops so as not to scare him any further. I reassured Tommy, “We’ll figure this out.” “Let’s feed and clean you up first.”

Tommy seemed more relaxed after eating a delicious dinner and taking a bath. He could even manage a half-smile. My social services friend returned my call and promised to come over and assist. I respectfully inquired further while waiting. Tommy revealed some details about his past before hitting the streets, including his mother’s name, Lisa, and a heartbreaking narrative of abuse and abandonment.

My friend approached Tommy and began a friendly conversation. She emerged after what seemed like hours, her eyes filled with determination. “Laura, we need to take Tommy to a safe place tonight.” “I’ll set him up in foster care temporarily and start looking for his family.” However, we must approach this with caution.

I nodded, relieved and regretful. Tommy fell into my heart, but he had to leave. Over the next few days, I kept in touch with my friend and received updates. They discovered Lisa, his mother, who had been searching for him for a long time. Now that she had overcome her challenges, she was ready to welcome him home.

It was an emotional reunion day. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I witnessed a mother and son hug. Lisa conveyed her thanks to me, and we agreed to remain in touch by exchanging contact information. After a few months, Lisa kept me updated on their progress. Lisa and Tommy were rebuilding their lives together, and they were doing well.

Lisa called me one lovely day and invited me to Tommy’s birthday party. Tommy greeted me with exuberant pleasure as soon as I arrived. Lisa hugged me and thanked me again. There was a lot of rejoicing and laughing that day. As I watched Tommy play with his friends, I felt a profound feeling of satisfaction and peace. What began as a chance meeting for Tommy, Lisa, and me turned out to be a life-changing encounter.