There was one boy who AWOLED from the facility (Absence with out Leave) and while he was running several guys tried to get him. They eventually asked me if I could try to get him, because we were fairly tight, and I caught up to him. As I got close it was hard to keep in stride because he was bigger then me...he saw me and then jay walked across the street. I didn't want to jay walk, so I stopped and watched him. When he saw that I had not caught up with him, he looked at me out of the corner of his eye and then slowly turned around and leaned on a metal pole at the corner and looked at the ground. I watched completely in shock as this big seventeen year old kid who was "running away" waited for me. Time seemed to stand still as the green traffic light flickered and cars raced by. I could see him watching me through the cars, starring at me even though his head was still pointed towards the ground. He's waiting me for me...i kept thinking to myself...why is this kid that is running away waiting for me to catch up?
The traffic light turned yellow as cars started to slow down. Then red. I started to walk and as I put my head up and slowly and calmly moved towards him there was a burning sensation in my eyes. My head throbbed as I held back tears and moved closer towards him. He continued to wait standing there and then he looked up at me. His eyes were blood shot, his light black skin glowed in the dusky light, but there was a smile in his sadness. He put his hood back up and in his all black clothing he seemed to disappear into the city. Like a thousand other kids that sleep on the streets at night. We started to walk together in stride, not saying a word. He kept pace with me not going so fast that I would loose him. I looked at him and thought what can I do? What can I say to this kid to get him to come back? So I asked him...
"If you were me, and you were in my situation, what would you do?" The question seemed to shock him and linger, and he stayed silent and still for awhile, and then he said. "Let me make my own choice." I thought about it for a moment and bit my tongue while thousands of rebuttals popped into my head. Then I finally said..."What can I do to help?" And, as clearly and simply as I ever have heard in my life he said..."Walk with me." So I did, and we did. No one wants to be alone. No one who is running really ever wants to be alone. We all have to make our own choices, and sometimes it is hard, but in the end sometimes the best thing you can do, the most compassionate thing you can do is walk with them for a bit on their journey...
I wish him a peaceful ride.
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