He also discovered that Emiliano had lost a family gem that night: a small ruby that had belonged to Patricia’s grandfather and that, over the years, had been placed in a pendant.
Economic value was never the important thing.
It was a piece that had passed from one generation to another.
Patricia thought for years that she would have lost herself on some street.
Until that morning.
Until he saw Mauricio.
“My son’s name is Emiliano,” he said in front of the crowd. He was eight years old when he got lost near a station.
Mauricio slowly raised his head.
The word hit him somewhere in the memory.
Emiliano.
I wasn't sure I heard that name overnight.
Maybe someone had pronounced it at dawn.
“Did you have a wound here?” Mauricio asked, pointing at his right knee.
Patricia let out a sob.
"Yes.
Was it wearing a dark blue sweatshirt?
"Yes.
The murmur around increased.
One man insisted:
“That doesn’t show anything.
Mauricio looked at him.
I wasn't angry.
He looked tired.
Very tired.
He took off his pendant.
Patricia stretched out her hands, but she didn't dare to take it.
“Ma’am,” said Mauricio, “I’ve been trying for years to find out who to give this back to.
“So... you found my son?”
Mauricio nodded.
“I was alone.
People stopped talking.
Patricia finally held the jewel.
His fingers were so shaking that he almost fell.
He turned the piece.
Then Mauricio remembered something.
"Wait."
He came a little closer.
On the back of the frame was a tiny slot covered with an old transparent, already almost yellowish tape.
I put that.
Patricia frowned.
Mauricio carefully lifted the tape.
Underneath there was a small paper folded several times.
Patricia opened it.
The ink was very worn.
But it could still be read.
“Finding with the child. He wasn't alone. Keep believing in tomorrow.”
A name appeared below.
Mauritius.
Patricia stopped trying to contain the cry.
For a few seconds he couldn't talk.
Then he raised his eyes.
Emiliano was talking about you.
Mauricio blinked.
“From me?”
“For years.
Patricia took a step towards him.
He said the man who helped him seemed sad.
Mauricio lowered his head.
The children see too much.
Patricia let out a laugh in tears.
“He said you didn’t let him be afraid.
