“Take me away from them,” the boy begs

Lewis Baker, a devoted bachelor, poured his energy into his work, often going above and beyond, as a means to distract himself from the personal upheavals he had endured.

Only a year prior, Lewis wasn’t alone. He had shared his life with his lovely wife Brittany. However, their bliss was not to last, as their married life met an untimely end with a divorce.

The schism that drove them apart was Lewis’ deep-seated desire to start a family, a desire opposing Brittany’s life vision; she had no inclination towards motherhood, finding no joy in the idea of raising children.

Confronted with irreconcilable differences, Lewis parted ways with Brittany, resolved in his decision. In the wake of their split, he aspired to meet someone who shared his dream of nurturing a family…

On an ordinary day, Lewis’s routine commute was interrupted by heart-wrenching sobs emanating from a nearby alleyway. Although running late, he felt compelled to investigate.

As he traced the sorrowful sounds, he encountered a young boy, distraught, with his head buried in his hands. Moved by the boy’s plight, Lewis stepped closer, eager to offer assistance.

The child looked up, his eyes ruby from weeping, and stood abruptly. “Who are you?” he stammered, staring at Lewis.

“Easy there,” Lewis consoled. “I mean no harm. What brings a child like you out here all alone?”

“If it’s within your power, please rescue me from them!” the boy exclaimed with eyes brimming with hope.

Perplexed by the boy’s plea, Lewis contemplated who the child might be referencing. Deciding to soothe the child before probing further, he witnessed the boy suddenly cry out in panic.

“They’re here!” the boy screamed, looking past Lewis as if spotting an imminent threat, before darting away swiftly.

Twisting around, Lewis saw no sign of danger but was consumed with concern for the boy’s erratic behavior, prompting him to give chase.

“Wait up!” he called out. “I want to help!”

Nevertheless, the boy continued his sprint until he reached a church and disappeared inside. Lewis followed, but the boy seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Exiting the church, Lewis discovered the boy, now hidden behind the building, weeping uncontrollably.

“It’s okay,” he reassured as he drew near. “I’m here for you. Are you hurt?”

The boy peered up and clung to Lewis, pleading, “Stay with me, please! I had to flee, but I don’t want to be alone. Will you take me along?” he wept.

Feeling an inexplicable bond, Lewis embraced the boy, promising to help.

“Of course, I’m here to help you. But first, you have to tell me what’s going on,” he advised.

Gathering the last of his composure, the child introduced himself.

“I’m Henry. I’m eight. Both my mom and dad passed away a while back, so I’ve been alone,” he explained through sniffles.

“There must be someone looking after you, though?” Lewis inquired, puzzled. “Neighbors or relatives?”

The boy simply shook his head.

“Nobody… I was in an orphanage before some bad people came for me,” he confessed.

“Really?” Lewis exclaimed, disbelief clear in his eyes. “Were you actually taken against your will?”

A small nod was the boy’s only response.

“I just roamed near the home for orphans, alone as usual. No companions to interact with, always on my own. And that’s when an unseen figure crept up behind me, pressing something vile-smelling against my nose. I lost consciousness. When I finally came to, their faces — ragged and filthy — convinced me they were indigents. I wasn’t wrong…”

“Good Lord!” Lewis experienced a surge of incredulity. “Henry, tell me they didn’t harm you?” he questioned, concern etched in his tone.

At that moment, Henry’s eyes started to brim with tears.

“They were cruel, so very cruel. They denied me food and coerced me into panhandling. They hovered over me as I begged; there was no chance to break free. Yet this morning, I managed my escape… When you came to my rescue, I caught sight of them in the distance. They are searching for me!”

“That’s horrendous,” Lewis uttered, a heavy weight settling in his chest. “But Henry, why not return to the orphanage? It’s surely a safer haven than the streets.”

“It rests in an area unfamiliar to me,” he said with a hint of melancholy. “Navigating there alone is beyond me. Overwhelmed by fear and solitude, I broke down. You appearing was a stroke of fortune! Please stay with me.”

“I’ll stay right by you, that’s a promise,” Lewis reassured the boy, offering some comfort. “By the way, I’m Lewis. Let’s share your story with the authorities so they can deal with these wrongdoers, sound good? Afterward, we’ll make our way to your home at the orphanage,” he said as he extended his hand to Henry, who clung to it with a sense of security.

As they arrived at the station, the police revealed that they had been concerned about Henry’s whereabouts, initially thinking he had fled the orphanage himself. But hearing what he had endured stirred their compassion.

They resolved to see him safely back to the orphanage and expressed their gratitude to Lewis for his intervention.

“You may leave, sir. We will take it from here,” one officer instructed him at the scene. Nevertheless, Lewis felt compelled to accompany Henry back to his place of refuge.

“I’d be grateful if I may accompany him. He’s clearly still in a state of fear, and I’d rather not leave him by himself at this moment,” he explained to the officer, glancing towards Henry who was seated nearby with another officer.

Although the officers had provided him with a meal, Henry declined it, his appetite seemingly having vanished.

Touched by Henry’s dire predicament and Lewis’ empathetic response, the police sanctioned the continuation of Lewis’ presence. They even encouraged Henry to assist a forensic artist in rendering images of the individuals he suspected of abducting him.

Though filled with trepidation, Henry found solace and bravery with Lewis by his side, and he complied with the officers’ requests.

Upon reaching the orphanage to drop off Henry, the boy turned to Lewis and earnestly inquired:

“Whenever you find the time, could you come see me? Lewis, your kindness has meant the world to me. Thank you for everything!”

“I’ll surely visit, Henry,” Lewis responded, a warm smile on his face. “Remember, you’re never in this alone, alright?”

“Thank you so much,” the boy uttered softly before disappearing into the orphanage.

That evening at home, Lewis remained haunted by the memory of Henry’s visage. Devoted to his work, Lewis surprised himself with his willingness to pause his professional pursuits for the sake of the young boy.

Ignored were the persistent rings from his superior on his mobile device, as Lewis’ thoughts were solely fixated on young Henry’s well-being.

At dawn the following morning, Lewis embarked from his abode unusually early with the intent to meet Henry before setting off to work. Upon seeing Lewis, Henry could barely contain his excitement.
“You honored your word, Lewis! My gratitude is boundless!” Henry exclaimed.

“It was a commitment not to be broken, Henry,” said Lewis, his face brightening with a smile as he presented Henry with a gift of confectionaries and a new pair of footwear, having taken note of the dilapidated condition of Henry’s existing shoes.

The sheer delight on Henry’s countenance as Lewis fitted the new shoes was deeply meaningful to Lewis. He was astounded that, for once, his preoccupation wasn’t with his professional duties, but with this newfound connection.

Regular became Lewis’ visits to Henry, making it a point to see him before his workday began, and establishing a weekend ritual of spending time with the young lad – an activity Lewis treasured profoundly.

In time, Lewis acknowledged the depth of his attachment to Henry and his reluctance to part from him, leading him to the decision of officially adopting him. He inquired if Henry would like to have him as a father.

“Would you embrace the notion of dwelling with me, Henry?” Lewis queried. “I’m eager to become your dad, but only if you’re comfortable having me in that role,” he proposed.

With a joyful affirmation, the young lad clasped Lewis in a hug.

“It would delight me to call you ‘dad’, Lewis—oops, DAD!” he chuckled. “My sincerest thanks for all you’ve done! I cherish you, Dad!”

Overcome with emotion, Lewis returned Henry’s embrace. He had harbored aspirations of fatherhood, and at last, they had come to fruition. Though the adoption journey was a prolonged affair, ultimately, Henry became Lewis’ lawful son.

All through this period, authorities continued their manhunt for the miscreants who had ensnared Henry. Eventually, Lewis was summoned via telephone to assist further with their identification. At the station, Henry positively identified his captors.

“Ensure these culprits face the law’s full severity,” Lewis implored the officer, his tone resolute. “I yearn for them to face justice for their transgressions,” he added before making his departure.

Departing the station, a collective sigh of relief was exhaled as the duo no longer faced the shadow of Henry’s ordeal. Together, they basked in contentment and camaraderie.

As cohabitants, Lewis found a newfound harmony in life away from his taxing career, and Henry basked in the affection and company that had been amiss in his life. Their weekends were filled with jovial moments, either indulging in cinematic adventures or attending baseball fixtures. Additionally, Henry’s academic journey continued under Lewis’ supportive watch, attending a fresh educational institution.

Crossing paths at Henry’s school, Lewis encountered a woman whose life intertwined with theirs. She, the aunt of Henry’s classmate Emily, was a familiar face as the custodian who retrieved her niece daily in the stead of her preoccupied parents.

Lewis and she began to intertwine their lives, their affections quietly blossoming. When the liaison matured into a profound love, they chose to unify their lives formally in matrimony. Upon learning he would gain a mother in this loving union, young Henry’s elation knew no bounds.

Postnuptial bliss arrived promptly for Lewis and Emily as they embarked on their marital journey with the addition of twins after a year. Lewis, nurtured contentedness with a family that he had always longed for, found completeness as the patriarch of a joyous and close-knit family.