the single mother's story (part two)

I was barely awake when my phone rang. The voice on the other line was trembling. "Maam, may picture po ba kayo ni Borek? Nawawala po kasi siya..." It was M, the mother I interviewed recently for a book project.

Her son Borek, diagnosed with Down syndrome, went missing. He left the house, went biking around the area and soon, he was nowhere to be found.

She was crying and crying. I didn't know what to say. "Yes, I have photos. I will ask the photographer, too. I will send them now," I answered. Was that the only thing I could do? Sigh.

I called Jes Aznar to break the sad news and to ask for the photos He was in Mindanao for a coverage. He was so shocked to hear the news.

We were just playing with Borek a few weekends ago. I barely finished my stories for that day. I was shocked, bothered and frustrated.

I thought of M's ordeal. You really can't protect your child from the world 24/7. Sometimes, bad things just happen.

Six hours later, I get a text message from M.

"God bless, nakita na po si Borek maam. Maraming salamat!"

And her story continues...