I could see the land. Hope someone will see me and help. It's been three days since I was on sea and my food and water were finished yesterday. After getting near the shore, I abandoned the barrel and started swimming to the shore.

The place I arrived was unused. There were no docks or ships and the surroundings were empty except for the sand. I chose a direction and started walking towards it in search of civilization.

At noon I arrived at a town. It was a town you would find in a wild west movie with people wearing cowboy outfits. After arriving at town I asked the people around for police or soldiers, any kind of government authority. I have to find help as it's only so much you can do as a kid.

Getting the directions to the police station I went there. It was a two storey high building, with yellowish-brown coloured walls and dark brown rooftops. At the entrance, there were swinging doors, bisected in the middle.Upon entering, I was greeted with a guard sitting on his desk near the door. He noticed me and asked, ”How can I help you?”

“The ship I was travelling in was attacked by pirates. I managed to escape and was washed up ashore. And my mommy is nowhere. What should I do?”. I said, tears forming in my eyes. I was sad after being separated from my mother and the whole situation was tough. I don’t know what happened to mom and if we will ever meet again. The situation hit me and tears started dripping down my eyes. My only family member in this world was ripped away from me.

“Hey kid! Calm down! Don’t cry!” Upon seeing me cry the guard panicked. Tears started dripping even faster from my eyes and I started crying harder. The situation hit me all of a sudden. No matter how much memory of a twenty year old man I had in my head, I was still a child.

The guard quickly ushered me inside and started calming me down. After asking about the situation from me, he gave me something to eat and went down to process my problem. After half an hour later, I was told that they will be working on finding my mom as soon as possible. Till then they will arrange a place for me to stay.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I was taken to an orphanage, where they told my situation to the matron and she took me in. Her name was Avelyn Lipa. Children in the orphanage called her Mother Avelyn. She was about 50 years old, with wrinkles starting to form on her face. She wore a blue-green gown and was about 5ft 5inch tall. She was a kind lady and took time to console me. After providing me with daily necessities, new clothes and showing me to my dorm, she left me alone. It was near evening when I arrived and after taking a bath, it was time for dinner. I ate food with a depressed mood, and went to sleep.

I would have been too tired yesterday as I didn’t wake up until someone shook me hard and yelled near my ear.

“Wake up quickly! It's time to eat breakfast, if you are late, you won’t get food”

Wtf. I thought. I opened my eyes and saw a child about 12 -13 years old in front of me. He had red hair, brown eyes and was about 4 and a half feet tall.

“Good! You woke up. Common hurry up. Breakfast starts at 9 am. You have 15 mins to get ready. Don’t be late. I don’t want to be scolded.”

Nodding my head to express that I understood the situation I got out of the bed and moved to the bathroom to freshen up. When I arrived at the mess, I was called upon by Mother Avelyn.

“Children. This is your new friend Pan Dey. He is new, so help him.” After introducing me and asking me how I was adjusting, she left me on my own devices. While eating my breakfast, I started planning what to do from now on. Although I hoped that mom would find me here, the chances of this happening are slim. She may be captured by the pirates and in a bad situation. Somehow escaping the pirates and then being able to find me is almost impossible for common people. Unless I am extremely lucky. So I am on my own from now on.

Depending on authorities to solve the problem is also not good. There are many children like me who are lost daily. Providing me a place to live is already very good. Not to mention what I know of this world there are so many problems here, that mine can almost be ignored. So all I have is me. I have to find mom myself.