Lost

I didn't know who he was. I didn't even see where he came from. All I knew was that we were now talking on the patio chairs that were left outside of the small Italian cafe. I was traveling back to my apartment after having toured several of the art museums when he stepped out of nowhere and took me by my arm.

"Have you seen them?" he asked.

"Seen who?" was all I could think of with which to respond. His white hair was slightly disheveled, but not so much that he would stand out in a crowd. I thought that he might have been homeless, but I could tell from his clothes and general appearance that he was nothing of the sort.

"They have been here for ages," he continued. "I noticed them a few years ago, but after talking with them, I found out that they were here long before we were."

I started to wonder if this elderly gentleman was either drunk or just senile. His hand was still on my arm, which was making me feel extremely uncomfortable, even being used to the Italian culture. However, when he led me to the corner cafe and had me sit in the empty chair as he sat opposite me, I began to feel even more apprehensive. For some reason, I listened as the old man related his tale.

"I was visiting my grandchildren when I first came to realize that something was different. I have known my grandkids since they were born, obviously. At least, so I thought.

"This time, when I was with little Antonio, he said something that took me back.

"'Grandpapa,' he said. 'I love you.'

"'I love you too,' I replied. This was nothing new, mind you. He had said he loved me many times. But what he said next ... Well, I'll let you hear for yourself.

"'Do not fear. I am here, but no more seen. Free and fair, yet trapped and keen. New like wind and old like time. We live forever and not at all.'

"Now, I ask you, does that sound like something a young boy would say? I thought maybe he was telling me a new nursery rhyme he learned, but it made no sense. When I asked him what it meant, he looked at me like he did not know what I was talking about. I let it go.

"The next day Antonio was nowhere to be found. My daughter and her husband were frantic. They called the police and put up missing signs. Everyone in the neighborhood looked for him, but he was gone. Reports started going around about a kidnapper, and all the parents started watching after their kids. All the children went straight home after school and did not play far from their house.

"I could not sleep. I kept thinking back to what he had said to me. Did he know he would be leaving? Was it really a kidnapping or was there something else going on? Did he tell anyone else what he told me? I tossed and turned many nights, fearful that I knew something that could help, but not understanding what it was. I finally decided to go to the police and let them know what I knew. I thought that they might be able to make some sense of it.

"As I was walking to the station, a little girl came from what seemed like nowhere and grabbed my hand. I stopped and looked down. She didn't even look up at me, but stared straight ahead.

"'Hello,' I said. 'Who are you?'

"She would not respond. I looked around and saw no one. Just then, a couple came walking around the corner ahead and saw me with the child. The woman screamed and ran toward the girl calling her name. The man cried for help and the police. Soon, neighbors came pouring out of their houses to see what the commotion was. The woman scooped the child into her arms and started crying. Before I could react, the man was upon me and had me pinned to the ground. Finally I was able to find my voice and demanded to know what this was about.

"'The police will take care of you,' the man scowled. I began to sense that if there was not a crowd, that I would have been killed by him in that instant. I could feel his hot rage as he kept me trapped there until the police came.

"'What seems to be going on here?' asked the officer as he lifted the man off me. The other officer helped me up, but still had a firm grip on my arm.

"'We found this man with our daughter, the one who has been lost for over a year," the man said, barely able to keep in his emotions.

"I did not know what to say. I stammered in disbelief as the policeman cuffed me and put me into the car. I tried to protest and plea my innocence, but they did not want to hear.

"'We'll sort this out back at the station,' was all they said. Before I knew it, I was in a cell waiting the trial for a crime I did not commit."

To be continued ...