Today, as usual, Emily was waiting to pick up her son from school… She had taken time off in September just for this, so little Tommy could adjust to his new life as a first-grader. After all, it was his very first year—still so small and new to it all. Soon enough, he’d be able to walk home on his own, since the school was just around the corner—no busy roads to cross.
But Tommy wasn’t at school anymore.
“Girls, where’s Tommy? Have you seen him? He was right here a moment ago!” his teacher asked the class. The girls giggled.
“Tommy went to walk Lucy home from Year 2! He’s her boyfriend now!”
Emily’s heart skipped a beat. She rushed to get Lucy’s parents’ number. It took an hour to reach them, only to learn Lucy was already home. She said they’d taken the bus together and parted ways at her building’s entrance. What happened to Tommy after that, she didn’t know.
Emily waited… She couldn’t even leave the house—Tommy didn’t have a key. Why would he? She always met him. But as the sky darkened, a mother’s instinct screamed that waiting was no longer an option.
The police combed Lucy’s neighborhood, checked every bus on the route—no one had seen Tommy. The boy was missing! Emily paced the streets, unable to sit still, her nerves frayed by helplessness. But where could she even look?
Then, at five in the morning, she went downstairs… In flat number six lived a peculiar woman, not old but known to everyone as Mad Maggie. Once, after crossing paths in the hall, Maggie had eyed Emily sideways, shaken her head, and muttered,
“You shouldn’t leave the house today, lass.”
“What’s it to you?” Emily had snapped.
“Nothing to me—but your family’s in for misery!”
Emily had scoffed, but that very day, her purse was stolen—her card drained in minutes. No one was caught (or even looked for), and she’d had to take out a loan just to scrape by till payday.
Now, Emily pounded on Maggie’s door. When it opened, she shoved her phone—Tommy’s photo on the screen—into the drowsy woman’s hands.
“Tell me where Tommy is!”
“Gone missing, has he?” Maggie said, unsurprised.
“Yes! Where do I look?”
“Can’t you just ring him?”
“I don’t let him take a phone to school—it’s not allowed. And why would he need one? I always meet him!”
“Ohhh…” Maggie drawled. She took the phone, nodded for Emily to follow, then settled into an armchair, closed her eyes, and pressed her palms to the screen.
Emily watched, desperate. Finally, Maggie opened her eyes and fixed her with a stare.
“Your boy’s alive… Deep underground somewhere… But you won’t be able to help him while you’re alive.”
“Where is he? Tell me!” Emily clutched the wrinkled fabric of Maggie’s nightgown.
“How should I know? I’m not Google Maps—no built-in tracker. I only saw through Tommy’s eyes. That’s why I’m telling you—alive, you can’t save him. You’ll never find him!”
“What does that mean?”
“It means what I said. Choose—you or your son.”
“You witch!” Emily yanked her phone back and stormed out. Behind her, Maggie’s indifferent voice floated:
“One last bit of advice… Leave your front door unlocked.”
Emily returned home, trembling. What if Maggie was right? What if Tommy was trapped somewhere below ground? That day her purse was stolen, she truly shouldn’t have left the house…
And what did Maggie mean—she couldn’t help him alive? Emily thought for a moment… If Tommy were fine, he’d be home by now. He’d find his way back—someone would’ve helped a lost child.
No more doubts. Emily grabbed the medicine cabinet… Shaking, she poured water into a cup, then remembered Maggie’s warning and unlocked the front door.
Her soul tore free in an instant—as if it had been waiting. It soared upward, racing toward where it had been summoned for hours.
********
Tommy had been disappointed after walking Lucy home. He’d hoped the girl he liked would invite him in, but no matter—he’d try again tomorrow.
But now… where was the bus stop? Tommy couldn’t remember. Swinging his backpack, he wandered aimlessly, stumbling onto a construction site. Kicking stones, mesmerized by a crane, he tumbled into an open, forgotten sewer.
He landed hard, hitting his head, but managed to stand. Swallowing tears, he screamed for help—jumping, clawing at the walls. But the air was silent. No one heard.
An hour later, exhausted, he just stood there, staring up at the sky.
Night fell. Tommy shivered—September nights weren’t kind. Curled up, voiceless from fear, he waited… for his mum. She always came. She’d never leave him.
********
Emily found him in seconds. Maggie had been right—alive, she’d never have found him. But what good was that? A ghost couldn’t lift a child to safety.
Her spirit darted through the dawn, grabbing at strangers, tugging at sleeves. But they felt nothing—just an uneasy weight on their hearts.
Then she saw her—a bony, dirt-streaked stray cat, watching intently. Emily’s soul rushed to her, whispering desperate pleas into her ear.
The cat yowled and bolted toward a young couple nearby.
“Alex, this cat—she’s trying to tell us something!”
“I see her. Maybe her kittens are in trouble?”
They followed the cat to the sewer. She meowed once, then leapt down.
The girl peered in. “Alex, call an ambulance! I’ll ring the police—there’s a kid down there!”
********
Tommy flinched as the cat landed in his lap. He buried his face in her matted fur, sobbing with relief.
Above him, a man waved.
“Hey, lad! Hold on—we’ll get you out!”
He jumped down but couldn’t lift Tommy alone. Wrapping the boy in his jacket, they waited for help together.
Emily’s heart swelled—Tommy was safe! But her relief was short-lived. A force tugged her skyward, irresistible as a magnet. No matter—her son would live.
********
After Emily left, Mad Maggie rocked in her chair, eyeing the clock. Half an hour later, she whispered, “Time…” and dialed emergency services.
“Address is [redacted], poisoning… The door’s unlocked.”
********
Emily woke to frantic voices. A doctor scowled down at her.
“Another minute, and we wouldn’t have saved you! Good thing you left the door open! Now—psych evaluation for you! Have you no shame?”
Emily didn’t answer. Weak but determined, she refused treatment—she needed to get to the hospital. Tommy would be there.
Then—the call.
Yes, she was right. Tommy sat in a ward, clutching that scrawny cat. No one could pry her away—he’d fight for her. And with her, he came home to his frail but overjoyed mother.
********
“How did you hear me? How did you understand?” Emily asked the cat endlessly. A year later, she and Tommy still doted on their beloved Muffin, spoiling her with treats and soft beds.
And every holiday, Emily brought gifts to Mad Maggie, thanking her. One day, Maggie finally admitted:
“Truth is, you got lucky with that cat… I never thought anyone would hear you. I hoped you’d recognize the area and save Tommy if you made it back in time. Good thing you listened—left the door open. There was no other way.”
Muffin, now plump and content, only flicked her tail at Emily’s questions.
“How? I just did, that’s all!”
And so they learned—sometimes, the smallest creatures hold the greatest love, and the strangest paths lead us home.