I attempted to close the distance, but the pedestrian paths were packed. The crowd made way for him, yet blocked my path.
Following him for two streets, an observation struck me: the homeless guy never stopped to beg the public for donations. He hadn’t bothered to bite into his food or sip his hot drink, either. He was walking with clear intent.
My inner intuition urged me to cease my frantic pursuit, and to simply shadow his movements instead.
So I chose that exact course of action.
I tracked him continuously until we reached the very outskirts of town.
He paused in front of a dilapidated, vacant property.
It was encircled by a messy yard overgrown with tall grass that blended effortlessly into the forest directly behind it.
It appeared as though no one had maintained the grounds for several decades.
The elderly guy tapped softly on the wooden frame.
I crept nearer. The wanderer glanced back briefly, but I hid behind a large trunk before his eyes caught mine.
I listened as the latch clicked open.
“You requested I inform you if anybody questioned me regarding this coat…” the senior muttered.
I glanced past the bark. Upon realizing exactly who was resting against the frame of that crumbling building, I felt utterly dizzy.
“Julian!” I rushed clumsily towards the entrance.
My boy raised his head. His gaze grew massive with terror.
A silhouette shifted directly behind Julian. He peeked past his neck, stared in my direction, and proceeded to execute the absolute last action I could have anticipated.
He bolted.
“Julian, stop!” I accelerated my pace, dashing right by the drifter and straight into the property.
A partition crashed shut. I hurried through the corridor and slid onto the cooking floor. I yanked the rear exit ajar perfectly in sync to witness Julian and a young lady sprinting deep into the timberland.
I sprinted behind the pair, yelling out for him, yet they were far too quick.
They completely evaded me.
I navigated directly to the closest precinct and relayed every single detail to the duty sergeant.
“What reason would he have to flee from his own mother?” he inquired.
“I have no clue,” I replied. “However, I require your assistance to locate him before he vanishes once more.”
“I will issue a broadcast immediately, miss.”
I found a chair. Whenever the entrance swung ajar, my entire frame tensed up. I continuously mentally replayed identical fears on repeat: Suppose he hopped on a transit line? Suppose he slipped away? Suppose I blew my singular opportunity?
Approaching the stroke of midnight, the uniformed man strolled in my direction.
“We secured the boy. He was spotted hanging by the transit hub. Cruisers are transporting him here right now.”
A massive surge of comfort washed down my spine. “What about the female accompanying him?”
The policeman wagged his chin. “We caught him entirely by himself.”
The staff escorted Julian inside a compact questioning space. I remained oblivious to my own weeping until tears dampened my cheeks.
“You are breathing. Can you grasp the absolute panic I experienced? Plus, the moment I actually tracked you down… For what reason did you sprint away?”
He aimed his gaze firmly at the desk. “I wasn’t escaping from you.”
“Then why—”
