Two weeks later and Syed was quite happy working in the kitchen. He still kept himself to himself but he certainly had sorted out the kitchen well and the meals were a lot more adventurous than before!!
A tall man in casual clothes sauntered into the homeless day centre. He stood out as he looked well-groomed and obviously wasn't homeless.
"Can I help you" asked Brenda
"I'm looking for someone" replied Christian. When Brenda looked at him, she could see a sadness in his eyes and was used to seeing this in peoples' faces when they came looking for people. She inwardly sighed. It was always heartbreaking to have to say if they haven't seen them. Christian held out a photo to Brenda. It was of Syed looking much healthier and happier but she knew straightaway it was him.
"Have you seen him?" asked Christian urgently.
"I'm not sure" Brenda hesitated, "I think he has been here a few times recently"
Christian looked really pleased. "Oh I do hope so, if he comes here again could you call this number?" and he passed her his phone number.
Brenda hoped she had done the right thing but she felt she needed to talk to Syed first about Christian's visit but in a coded way so as not to scare him off.
"Syed what would you do if anyone came looking for you?" she asked.
"No-one would" he replied "I don't exist as far as my family are concerned"
"What about Christian?"
Syed looked baffled "Well he wouldn't come looking for me as he's with someone else"
"But what if he did, would you want to see him or speak with him?"
Syed thought about it "Yes I would but it won't happen".
That evening Brenda picked up the phone.