I lost my son in the mall when he was 7. I was crying, and a blonde woman came to comfort me. Hours later, he was found.10 years later, I was telling the story to a friend and mentioned the sweet stranger who helped me.

My son suddenly turned pale. He looked at me and said, ’’Sweet? Mom, that’s not what happened. That woman was actually the one who took me. She and a man carried me to the parking lot and kept me in their car for a while. I remember them arguing.’’ He continued, ’’She came back to distract you, but it was her boyfriend who changed his mind and let me go.’’

I was completely shocked. My son had kept the truth hidden from me all these years, trying to protect me from more pain. In that moment, my entire understanding of that day—and that woman—was shattered.