Richard also shared his own story about the regret that had tormented him for years for not spending enough time with his mother. He realized Malik had brought his mother a spark of life and hope. Helping Malik for Richard was not just repaying the boy's brave act, but also a way to atone to his mother and find meaning in his own life. Malik's pure kindness awakened the deep goodness within Richard, making him want to do something more meaningful than just making money and advancing his career. Eve, with her clear mind returned, was also a bridge between them.
She listened to Malik tell her about his dreams, about his longing to know who he was. One evening, as the cold still seeped in through the window, Richard looked at Malik, his eyes understanding. Malik, I know you've always wanted to learn about your origins, about your parents. I can't promise anything because this is extremely difficult, but I want to help you search. I have connections.
I can contact social welfare organizations, the police, missing persons groups. Even if the chances are slim, we'll try. Malik couldn't believe his ears. He was so used to being abandoned. Now a stranger wanted to help him find his family and even gave him a home.
Hot tears streamed down his face. At first he still harbored a little doubt because promises often vanished like smoke in his life, but Richard's warm, sincere hand clasp dispelled all worries, giving Malik faith in a brighter future. He nodded, choked up. I I want to, sir. I really want to find them.
And so a new journey began, a hunt for the pieces of the past. Richard, with his connections and resources, began searching for information about Malik's parents. It was a difficult, almost hopeless task, like looking for a needle in a haystack in a big city like London. Old, outdated record systems, constantly changing regulations, and Malik having no last name made everything even more complicated. Richard contacted private detectives, social organizations that help homeless children, especially the shelters where Malik might have lived.
He sifted through old sparse records and went to old neighborhoods in Cudin, meeting people who might know something about the boy's past. Malik often went with Richard, trying to piece together fragmented memories. One afternoon, Richard saw Malik struggling with an old bicycle. He walked over saying nothing, just kneeling to check the tire. " Let me show you how to patch a tire, " he said. "
His tone is natural, as if it were obvious. " Malik watched Richard attentively. His small hands clumsily following the instructions. In that moment, Malik felt he was not only learning a skill, but also learning about patience and kindness. Eve often told Malik stories about her childhood, about her passion for music.
Once she opened the lid of the old piano, "Would you like to hear a song? " She played a gentle melody, and Malik, for the first time in his life, was immersed in the warm musical space. He sat quietly beside her, feeling each note seep into his soul, and found his heart strangely at peace. One morning, seeing Eve cough a lot, Malik quietly made her a hot cup of tea with honey, just as Richard had done for her the night before. He placed the cup of tea on the bedside table, his eyes full of concern.
Eve smiled, her eyes filled with happiness, and took his hand. Thank you, Malik. You're so thoughtful. Richard not only supported Malik materially but also cared about his emotions. He enrolled Malik in a good school, helping him integrate.
On his first day of school, Malik was shy, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces. However, with Richard and Eve's patience and love, along with the openness of teachers and friends, the boy gradually overcame his barriers. He especially loved reading because each book seemed to open up a new world, helping him escape painful memories. However, every evening Malik would often sit quietly, his eyes distant, thinking about his parents. Richard and Eve understood that.
They didn't push him, just stayed by his side to encourage him. However, the journey lasted many months, even years, with many moments that seemed hopeless. Some days Richard returned with a heavy heart announcing that all leads had hit a dead end. Then one day terrible news arrived. Richard received an official notification from a large social organization.
We found a record of a child named Malik who was abandoned around that time. But the information does not match the boy's description. Unfortunately, it seems that all of Malik's original records were lost or destroyed due to a system error or were not fully documented from the beginning. That news was like a cold knife stabbing directly into Malik's young heart. He completely collapsed.
He felt once again abandoned by the world, not only by his parents, but also by his past. The boy wailed in sobs, his choked cries tearing at his heart, hot tears streaming down his face, soaking his pillow. He curled up in a corner of the room, incessantly whispering self-reproaching questions. Why? Why me?
Am I that bad? Richard said nothing, just quietly sat down next to Malik, wrapping his arm around the boy. For the first time, Malik felt the warmth of an adult man, a solid protection. Eve also sat down on the other side, stroking his messy hair. Not a single piece of advice, not a single empty word of comfort, only their presence, tight hugs, and silent tears, as if to say, "We are here with you, no matter what happens. "
In that moment, darkness seemed to swallow every hope, every light in Malik's life. But Richard refused to give up. He knew deep down that there was still a glimmer of hope. Although the news from the large social organization was hopeless, he clung to a small clue from a private detective he had hired earlier, an obscure old charity that helped struggling women which few people remembered. That night, Richard couldn't sleep.
He rummaged through piles of old documents. The detective scribbled notes. He stumbled upon a small, almost faded line mentioning Brighton Women's Welfare Organization, Old Branch. It was a small organization almost unknown that had been operating for a long time and might have merged or changed its name so even professional detectives had overlooked it. A faint but determined spark lit up in his mind.