I felt so sorry for him—a seven-year-old youngster. I gave him a glass of water and a seat as I led him inside. I saw the fatigue in his eyes and the grime on his face as he drank. “Tommy, where do you live? Are you aware of your address? I made a gentle inquiry. He gave a headshake. “I was with my uncle, but he said he was no longer able to look after me. I’m abandoned on the street by him.

It turned out to be worse than I had thought. Though I had a million questions, my top concern was making sure Tommy was safe. I refrained from contacting the police so as not to frighten him any further. I comforted Tommy, “We’ll figure this out.” “Let’s feed and clean you up first.”

Tommy appeared more at ease after having a nice supper and taking a bath. He could even muster a half smile. My social services acquaintance took my call and promised to come over and help. I politely enquired further while I waited. Tommy shared some information about his life before hitting the streets, including the name of his mother, Lisa, and a painful story of abuse and desertion.

My friend came up and started talking to Tommy in a kind way. She reappeared after what seemed like hours, her eyes full of resolution. “Tommy needs to be taken to a safe place tonight, Laura,” she remarked. “I’ll set him up in foster care temporarily and start looking for his family.” However, we have to manage this carefully.

I nodded with a sense of both relief and regret. Tommy had become part of my heart, but it was time for him to go. I kept in touch with my pal over the next few days and got updates. They found Lisa, his mother, who had been looking for him for a long time. Now that she’d overcome her own struggles, she was prepared to welcome him home.

It was an emotional reunion day. With tears running down my cheeks, I watched as mother and son embraced. Lisa expressed her gratitude to me and we agreed to keep in touch by exchanging contact details. After several months, Lisa kept me informed on their development. Lisa was rebuilding their life together, and Tommy was doing well.