She ran her fingertip over the inscription, as if afraid that touching it would erase it.

“You remind me of my mother,” he said quietly. “You have the same spot on your cheek.”

The woman glanced around nervously. A few meters away stood the caregiver – still staring at her phone, waiting in line for ice cream.

“What’s your name, honey?” she asked uncertainly.

– “Leo. But my mom called me Leon.”

The woman covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“What about your dad?” she asked, breathing heavily.

– “I don’t have a real dad. Only Thomas, my stepdad. I don’t like him. He yells a lot and won’t tell me where mom is. You’re a fairy… Can you tell me?”

The woman knelt down to look him straight in the eye. She studied every feature of his face as if she wanted to memorize it forever.

– “I’m not a real fairy, Leon… I’m a–”

– “Leo! What are you doing?!” – the caregiver’s voice made him flinch.

The woman instinctively pulled the scarf over her face.

The caregiver quickly moved toward them, irritated.

– “I told you not to talk to strangers! We’re going back!” – she grabbed his hand and pulled him.

“But she knows something about my mother!” the boy protested, trying to get away.

– “Enough of this nonsense!” she shouted. – “You know what happened the last time you talked about your mother!”

The fairy took a step forward.

“Please wait a moment,” she said calmly. “He just asked me a question. It’s normal for a child to look for an answer.”

The caregiver looked suspiciously—and suddenly paled. Her hand trembled as she pulled out the phone.

– “Thomas… we have a problem. I think it’s really her. Yes, I’m sure. In the park. Next to the circus tent.”

The woman understood immediately. Without hesitation, she grabbed Leo’s hand.

– “Come on, honey. We have to get out of here!”

Before the caregiver had time to react, they disappeared between the stalls and tents.

They pushed through the crowd, the woman holding his hand tightly. Leo, though confused, felt he could trust her.

“Who are you?” he asked, out of breath.

– “I’m Julia, Leon. Your mom.”

Leo stood there frozen in fear.

– “Mom? But… Thomas said you left.”

Julia knelt down and her eyes filled with tears – of pain and love.

– “I would never leave you. He forced me. He threatened to hurt you.”

– “Why didn’t anyone believe you?”

– “I went to court. But he presented false documents. He said I was mentally ill. Nobody listened to me.”

Leo looked at her silently, trying to understand.

– “I heard you were going to be here today. I changed, I just wanted to see you. I didn’t think we’d be able to talk…”

“Julia!” a man called out, approaching them. Tall, curly, with two others.

– “This is Alex, my partner. He’s helping us. Quick!”

They ran to the van at the park exit.

“The nanny called Thomas,” Julia said as she got in. “He’ll be here any minute.”

“We have all the documents,” said Alex, the lawyer. “Medical reports, statements, recordings of threats. We’re going straight to the police.”

Leo snuggled up to his mother. Confused, but calm. He finally felt safe.

“You never left me?” he asked quietly.

Julia hugged him tightly and kissed him on the forehead.

– “Never, honey. Remember the book about the elephant who was looking for his baby?”

Leo nodded. “Yeah… The one who went through the jungle to find them.”

– “I was looking for you like that. And I finally found you.”

The van started moving. Leo had his mom again. He wasn’t lost anymore.

There was still one word on his hand – “MOM” – and the universe responded.