As we waited, I couldn’t help but scan the parking lot once more, half-expecting to see someone emerge from the shadows, claiming the child as their own. But the lot remained still, the evening breeze rustling only leaves and litter.

The police arrived, their presence reassuring amidst the surreal circumstances. They took our statements, examined the footage, and spoke to the boy with seasoned patience. Yet, even they seemed at a loss, the case slipping through their fingers like sand.