It was a crisp morning when I stepped out of my house, the autumn air cool against my face. My mother, Helen, had already started breakfast, and like every morning, I was on my way to the bakery to pick up fresh rolls for her. Little did I know that this was going to be a very eventful day for both of us.

It was my mother's and my little tradition to have breakfast together—something that made our small world feel stable. You're probably wondering why a 30-year-old successful man would live with his mother.

See, I never knew my father. He'd abandoned my mother when she told him about her pregnancy. So my mother was as lonely as I was, and to prevent that, we decided to live together.

What about my romantic life, you ask? Well, I'm not exactly a social butterfly—never have been. My lack of conventional good looks also means that dating has always been a struggle, and I'd long given up trying. Instead, I poured myself into my programming work, spending my days coding and my nights tinkering with gadgets.

That morning, as I strolled down the sidewalk, my sneaker scuffed against something hard. I looked down and saw it—a phone, its screen shattered like a spiderweb, lying in the grass just off the curb.

With my curiosity piqued, I picked it up. The casing was dented, the back partially peeled off, as if it had been run over by a car. It wasn't a model worth much—an older keypad phone, the kind you only saw in hands that couldn't afford better.

I turned it over in my hand, seeing an interesting challenge. "Maybe I can fix it," I murmured.

Slipping it into my pocket, I continued to the bakery, but the phone was on my mind the entire time. It wasn't just the damage—it was the way it was just lying there, abandoned, as if someone had discarded it in a hurry.

By the time I arrived back home, I had forgotten about the broken phone tucked into my pocket. My mom and I had the delicious breakfast she prepared before we set about our Saturday. Remembering the broken phone, I pulled out my own and removed its SIM card.

If the old phone was dead, maybe the SIM card inside still worked, I thought. I carefully slid it into my backup phone and powered it on. A list of contacts appeared. Most were hospitals, schools, and emergency services. Only one number was marked as a favorite—"Daughter."

Something tightened in my chest. Who had lost this phone? And why did it seem like the only person they truly cared about was this "Daughter"? On impulse, I dialed the number. It rang once. Then twice.

A small, excited voice eventually answered. "Mom?!"

My breath caught. "I—no, I'm not your mom. I'm sorry for calling," I quickly replied, ready to drop the call, but the next thing the little girl said made me pause.

"Where is she?" Her voice wavered slightly.

"Um, I'm sorry, but I don't know," I admitted. "I found a broken phone and used its SIM card. Who are you?" I asked curiously, sensing that something was wrong.

The girl hesitated. "Julie. My mom went to the store yesterday and didn't come back," she revealed, her voice cracking with emotion.

A cold feeling spread through me. "Julie, where's your dad, grandma, or anyone I can speak to?"

"I don't have a dad," she said softly. "Or a grandma. Just Mom."

I swallowed. "Do you know where you live?"

"Independence Street. Building seven, apartment 18."

My hands gripped the phone tighter. "Okay, Julie, are you okay? Are you alone right now?"

"Yes, I'm okay and alone," she whispered. "But my legs don't work. I can't leave."

I stood abruptly. "Your legs—what do you mean?"

"I have a wheelchair," she said simply. "But it's hard to move with no one around to help me. I'm scared."

I didn't hesitate as my protective instincts kicked in. "Julie, listen carefully. My name is Alan, and I'm coming to get you. I'll be there soon, okay?"

"Okay," she replied weakly before I dropped the phone.