The Broken Phone: Alan’s Unexpected Mission to Save a Desperate Little Girl.

It was a typical morning for Alan, a 30-year-old man. Like every day, he left his house to go to the bakery and buy fresh bread rolls for his mother, whom he had been caring for over the years due to her health issues.

Alan was a responsible man — a programmer who spent most of his time working in front of a computer, yet always made time for his mother. That morning, as he walked down the sidewalk near his home, something caught his eye.

Lying next to the curb, half-buried in trash, was a broken mobile phone. It looked like it had been run over by a car. It didn’t seem valuable, but Alan, being a tech enthusiast, couldn’t resist taking a closer look.

He thought he might be able to fix it later or at least explore what was inside. He carefully picked it up and put it in his pocket without giving it much thought.

After picking up the bread and returning home, Alan sat down to breakfast while his mother rested on the couch. He pulled out the broken phone and examined it more closely. After a few seconds, he decided it was the perfect time to investigate a bit.

He removed the SIM card and inserted it into his own phone. Curious to see if it still worked, he powered up the device. A single notification appeared on the screen: “Recent Call: Daughter.”

Without overthinking it, Alan dialed the only number saved in the phone’s memory — “Daughter.”

The voice he heard on the other end left him frozen.

— “Mom?” said a little girl’s voice, full of hope. “Is that you?”

Alan paused, stunned. He didn’t know what to say or do.
— “I’m not your mom,” he replied softly, confused. “Who is this?”

The voice on the line faltered with disappointment but quickly asked,
— “Where’s Mommy?”

Alan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Why was this child alone and so desperate?
— “I don’t know. I found this broken phone, inserted the SIM, and called the number. Who are you?”

The little girl, now clearly more distressed, answered:
— “My mom went to the store yesterday… and never came back.”

Alan felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. How could such a young child be left completely alone?
— “What’s your name? Where’s your dad? Or your grandmother?” he asked, his voice now gentler.

The next response hit even harder.
— “My name is Julie. I don’t have a dad or a grandmother. I only have my mom.”

Julie’s words landed heavy on his heart. Alan was overwhelmed, but also driven by an urgent need to help.

— “Julie, do you know where you live?”

— “On Independencia Street, building 7, apartment 18.”

Alan’s heart raced. The address sounded familiar, though he couldn’t recall why.
— “Are you okay? Is anyone with you?” he asked, anxiety in his voice.

Her response was the worst thing he could have imagined:
— “I’m alone. My legs don’t work, so I can’t go anywhere.”

Alan went silent for a moment, stunned.
— “What do you mean your legs don’t work? How do you get around?”

— “I use a wheelchair, but there’s no one here to help me,” Julie said, her voice trembling with sadness.

Alan’s protective instincts kicked in.
— “Julie, I need you to listen to me carefully. I’m coming to get you, okay?”

He grabbed his keys and rushed out the door. Driving through the city had never felt so urgent. He had no idea what he would find, but he knew one thing — he couldn’t leave that child alone. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.

When he arrived at the building Julie had mentioned, he quickly climbed the stairs. Every step felt like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. When he reached apartment 18, he knocked, praying she was safe.

The door opened slowly, and there she was — a small, thin girl with a pale, tired face, sitting in a wheelchair. Her eyes were wide and filled with sadness, like someone who had waited far too long for help. Alan felt a lump rise in his throat at the sight of her.

— “Are you going to find my mom?” Julie asked in a soft voice, a tear sliding down her cheek.

Alan looked into her eyes, filled with empathy.
— “I’m going to try, Julie. Don’t worry — you’re not alone anymore,” he said, his voice steady, though inside he was trembling with emotion.

As he stepped into the apartment, Alan found a nearly empty room, messy, and lifeless. The sadness hanging in the air was almost tangible. Julie was truly alone.

It was worse than he had imagined. Something didn’t add up. A growing sense of unease crept through him.

— “We’ll figure this out together,” Alan said, gently brushing a hand over her hair. — “I promise we’ll find your mom.”

Julie looked up at him with a mix of fear and hope. Alan knew he couldn’t waste another second. This little girl needed him — and something told him the search he had just begun would reveal things he never expected.

What started as simple curiosity over a broken phone was turning into a mission that would change his life forever.

Without saying another word, Alan took Julie’s hand and helped her out of the apartment. Fate had brought him there, and now, with his heart full of resolve, he would do everything in his power to find her mother.

And as they walked down the hallway together, Alan couldn’t help but wonder: what dark secrets lay behind Julie’s life… and would he be able to uncover them in time?