Lost Soul

     I was walking home from the store when I heard a noise from the lake. It sounded like someone was groaning out of pain. I walked towards the sounds slowly. The light from the moon and buildings from behind me lit up my path. As I walked closer towards it, I stepped on a leaf and it made a crunch. I cursed in my head and when I did I heard another voice yell out "Don't come closer." Whoever it was, they sounded in pain and scared. I could hear their voice shaking and what sounded like little cries. 

     "I'm not here to hurt you" I said softly so they could understand that I was there to help, but that's when I heard a loud thump and everything went silent. "Are you okay?" I ask but no response. I put down my bags and move down to the lower part of the lake. I found a boy laying there. He was all dirty, covered in mud. That's when I noticed that his arm was broken and hid head was bleeding. "Oh god" I cried to myself. I stayed down there with the child but called the police and told them everything. 

     It was almost sunrise when had woken up in the hospital. I didn't want to leave him so after I had talked to the police multiple times I sat in his room and waited for him to wake up. I ended up falling asleep and dreamt about having a child of my own. I was only eighteen so having a baby was something I wanted but didn't at the time. But I guess when a situation comes you have to work with what you got. I woke up with the boy staring at me. He was in a white hospital dress and I could see his facial features more now. His eyes were a dark brown and he had light tan skin. His hair was a dark brown almost black.

     He looks at me for a minute and starts crying. I jump up from my seat and run to his side, "Are you okay? Why are you crying?" The boy continues to cry snd I don't know what to do so I stand there with a shocked look on my face.

     After a while a nurse comes in and gets the boy settled down. "So what's your name?" I ask the boy while he's eating his breakfast. He swallows his smashed potatoes and takes a drink if his water, "I think..it's Daniel" his voice was quite and dry. It sounded like he was forcing himself to talk. "Okay Daniel, do you remember anything?" It was quite in the white hospital room, he looked down at his food and didn't say anything. "I'll take that as a no, you look like you've been through a lot" I glance at his broken arm in a white cast. 

     It was a while before either of us said anything "So I talked to the police, since I found you, you'll be staying with me until we know ehat to do with you. They also want me to try to trigger any memories" he still didn't say anything until the nurse came back in

     "Okay, so what's your name?" She asked with a gentle voice "Daniel" I said for him, he looked like he was about to cry again. "He's having a hard time speaking" I said looking at the nurse. "Well Daniel, the police are going to come in and talk to you later today, then you can go home with Ms.Simmons" I look at Daniel and smile. 

    The police came and talked to Daniel, they wouldn't let me in the room which was understandable. After they were done, the nurse came Daniel some extra clothes they had from the donations. When he cane walking out of the bathroom I almost laughed. He was so tiny that it was concerning. The black shirt that had a nike sign was like a dress on him. And the pants were so big he had to hold them up while walking.

    "When we get home you can change into something that fits you better, if I don't have anything there we go go shop for some." I guess I didn't mention to him it was a pretty small town by the lake. So I didn't really need a car I walked everywhere, but he barley had the strength to stand up so we had to take the bus home.

     When arrived at my house at seven in the morning we stood in front of the front door. My house is small, I wouldn't even call it a house. It had two rooms and one bathroom, the kitchen was as small as the biggest room. And through out the whole house the walls where white. Daniel was hesitant to walk in. I opened the door and went into the kitchen letting him take his time to come inside. I knew he wasn't going to run, he didn't have the energy to; and if he did, I don't think he would get far so I could catch up to him.

      While I waited for him to come inside I went into the smaller room and took the navy blue sheets off the bed and put them in the washer. I start to cook with the bag of groceries I got when I found Daniel. 'He needs to put on much weight as possible' I thought to myself. As I was cooking I heard the door shut, and footsteps walking slowly. I turned the oven off and walked to the living room.

      "Hey, how you feeling?" He looks up from his feet and softly spoke "Tired." I smiled at him "You can lay in my room for now until the sheets for the other room are clean." He looks confused, "What about you? Where will you be sleeping?" I turned to the small love couch made of rough material. "It look broken" he says bluntly, I chuckle at his statement "It's not broken just old, now I'll show you the room and you can rest until Im done cooking."

      I lead him to the medium-size room with the white walls, and he lays in the bed on the blanket, I was going to tell him he can pull the covers over him but he was asleep before I could. So I left him alone and went back to the kitchen and continued to cook. 

     About a twenty minutes later I finished dinner. I set the table and walked to the room. I found him sitting on the floor staring at the wall, "What are you looking at?" I asked walking towards him. "These lines on the wall, what are they from?" 

      "They are from my son" I said holding back tears as I sat down next to him. "I didn't see any son" I didn't realize that he still had trouble speaking, "My son died around your age." "My age? What is my age?" He asked curiously. "The doctor said you're around 16" I could see he was thinking hard, so I stood up "Anyways, Dinner is ready if you feel hungry. I'll keep it out in case you want to eat later".

     "Okay" He said simply. I walked back to the kitchen not feeling very hungry myself. So I went into the living room and sat on the couch. I sat there in silence for a while starring at my computer on my coffee table in front of me. As I began to open it Daniel came walking in. I watched him as he sat besides me. 

     We sat in silence and then he asked, "how old are you?" I looked down and smiled softly "thirty-four, I had him when I was eighteen" He continue to ask questions about me and my son. I answered them with truth but I went silent when he asked, "So how did he die" I starred at Daniel as a tear rolled down my face "He died in a car crash, I was driving..." I began crying more "I was arguing with him about going to a party when a freight truck hit his side of the car, He died instantly" He looked confused but sad, "what was his name?" I smiled at the question, "His name was Danny" 

      Me and Daniel talked all night, he ended up falling asleep after we eat. I watched him sleep, he seemed at peace. During the day he looked hurt, sad and confused. He tried to remember anything but I told him not to force it, that it would come to him naturally. Daniel eventually fell asleep around six in the morning.

      I stayed up all day getting things done around the house. Especially Daniel's room, he needed his own room. I had no clue hoe long he would be staying, Im looking for missing children reports. Is it wrong that I don't find his parents, that he could stay with me forever. I would never want to replace Danny but..it hurts not having Someone around.

     Around seven in the after noon Daniel woke up, I wasn't surprised by that since he's had a long day yesterday. I was cooking dinner when he walked into the kitchen. "Hi, how'd you sleep?" I asked him as he rubbed his eyes. "That was the best in a while" He sat down at the table.

     "Yeah, well you did sleep all day. Your sleep schedule is going to messed up now" I set down two plates. "Sleep schedule?" He looked at me confused again. I forgot that he is still trying to remember how the world works. 

     "A sleep schedule like normally people sleep during the night but then others sleep during the day, it's weird" he nodded like he understood so I took that as a yes. 

     "What are we doing tomorrow?" He asked as I was putting dinner down on the table. "Um let's see.." I took a minute to think "Well we can go down the the local bakery, there's also fishing and swimming" 'Oh right he doesn't know how to fish or swim' "I don't really know what else you can do in a small town by the lake"

     "I saw that you had books in your room, is there a library here?" 'So he likes books?' "Yes, there is a library down the street. Would you like to go?" He nodded his head again. "Okay we can do that tomorrow with some other things" 

     We finished dinner and I decided to get some sleep, "You can do whatever, just try not too make a mess please." I went into my room and slowly fell asleep 

     The next morning Daniel was already wake when I got up, "Did you sleep any last night?" I asked tiredly. "Yeah a couple hours. I wasn't too tired" I handed him clothes to change into and showed him the shower. While he waa taking a shower I was getting dress and getting ready to head out. 

    When we were both ready we started our way to the bakery. When we got there I let Daniel try some pie. Since it was such a small town, everyone knew everyone and we all had our own perks and advantages but we helped each other out. 

    When Daniel was done at the bakery he wanted to go to the library next. With how excited he was I was hoping he would remember something. When we got at the library there were so many he wanted to look at. He loved it there, he laughed when he found funny books with pictures. He cried when he found sad books. The owner of the library let him take home his favorite ones. I knew he was happy about that.

     When we got home, he ran straight to what he knoe calls his room. He was excited to read the books. While he did that I sat in my room and went through missing person reports. I found a few people that looked like Daniel but I wasn't happy about it. 

     Daniel ran into my room and I shut the computer really fast. "Rose look at this" He wanted to show me a picture in a book. It was of an old city, "This city reminds me of something!" I was happy for him "Oh yeah? Do you live in a city?" He stops to think "Hm yeah I think, a big one too." I smiled brightly, "That's a start, good job kiddo" I rub his head and he walks back into his room. When he's walking I look at his casts 'he acts like it's not even there.'

    About an hour later I close my computer and walk into Daniel's room, "hey wanna go have lunch?" He looks up from his book that he was obviously very into. "Sure" he ask, "Can I bring my book?" I nod and put my shoes on in the living room.

     As we're walking down the road the family that run the farm stops us "Hey, when did you have a kid?" They ask and I chuckle. "This is the boy I found down by the lake, looks different doesn't he?" They nod "It looks like you bright him to life" I look at Daniel and remember what he looked like in the mud by the lake, I smile. "He does look more alive doesn't he.

     A month probably has gone by and I was able to make some calls. Daniel has started to remember who he is and where he lived, adding that to the missing reports I found. I think he'll be home with his real family soon, but how will I tell him the news without wanting him to stay.

     "Hey Daniel, I gotta tell you something" He looks up from his book. He looks so different, his dark brown hair has lighten up from the sun. His light tan skin has darken, his hair is shorter than before not even past his neck. And his dark brown eyes were the same.

     "I found your parents, they are so happy to know your okay and they want to meet up in the city on Friday" His face went bright and he jumped up and threw his hands up. His cast waa finally off. "Really? Your really found them? Oh thank you thank you!" He ran and hugged me. This sixteen year old had acted like a two year old in that moment, I felt Danny again. 

     "Of course kid, You should start getting your things ready friday is two days away. And You don't want to be a mess then." He shook his head and started putting everything in a backpack I got him a couple days ago. He was so excited.

    In those two days we did everything he wanted to do and when Friday finally came, he was ready. The city was a two hour drive so Daniel slept most of the way there.

    When we arrived in the city we met his parents at a restaurant. "Hello you must be Rose Simmons?" Said a man in a black suit. "Yes, it's nice to meet both of you" I said to the man and woman. "Where's Daniel?" The woman asked. I smiled "He's asleep in the truck, I borrowed it just to get him here. I wanted him to see your faces right when he woke up" 

     The couple smiled and walk to the truck and shook Daniel. "Daniel sweetie?" The woman said. Daniel opened his eyes and hugged her tightly "Mom Im so sorry I didn't-." I interrupted him "Kid, tell them later. Spend time with them now" He smiled and nodded.

     A few hours later after I explained everything that happened and Daniel caught up with his parents with everything. I walked to my car for the final goodbye. "Okay Daniel, be good for your parents and if you ever need a break or wanna visit just say so." He nodded and I got in the truck. "Rose..thank you. Danny would've been proud of you for sticking strong." I smiled and drove home.

    On my way home I did nothing but think and I had an idea. When I got home I opened my computer and told the story about how I welcomed a young stranger into my home and fell in love with him as a mother. Thank you Daniel for bringing the message that Danny wanted to tell me.