Lost And Found Novels & Stories

“I’d be happy to help, Mr. Gallardo. I live to serve, after all.” I guide him to the front of the taxi depot and show him the small storage room right next to the customer service desk. Our lost and found room is piled high with all sorts of knickknacks—a wide assortment of jackets, a whole bin of lost sunglasses, a rat’s nest of tangled headphones, and a lifetime’s supply of umbrellas. It’s honestly a fire hazard. I make a mental note to have one of the office workers donate everything to a local charity.

He pecked my lips before continuing, "Yeah, I'm happy that I lost you the first time because if I hadn't lost you then I wouldn't have known your worth but I'm I found you again because I needed you and I will always need you." I wanted to feel touched by his words but at the same time, I felt angry at it. "So I'm just some kind of a lost but found girl to you?" I spat, glaring at him. He tickled me and I started laughing. "Nope, because I found you after you left home before another guy found you and made you his during my absence." He explained and I understood what he meant. I cupped his face and squished his cheeks together. "I love you so much, baby. You stood by me. You fought for us."

“I’d be happy to help, Mr. Gallardo. I live to serve, after all.” I guide him to the front of the taxi depot and show him the small storage room right next to the customer service desk. Our lost and found room is piled high with all sorts of knickknacks—a wide assortment of jackets, a whole bin of lost sunglasses, a rat’s nest of tangled headphones, and a lifetime’s supply of umbrellas. It’s honestly a fire hazard. I make a mental note to have one of the office workers donate everything to a local charity.

Just as she was about to call out, an elderly man with silver hair and a brown sweater walked out from one of the rooms. He looked surprised to see her. “Good evening, miss,” he said kindly. “My name is Mr. Elric. Can I help you with something?” Sylvania took a deep breath. “Yes… I hope so. I’m looking for my dog. He’s been missing for days. Someone texted me saying they saw a dog like mine near this place.” Mr. Elric’s face softened a little. “Then you may have come to the right place. This place is known for helping reunite lost pets with their owners. We do it for free, always.”

Sherman woke quickly and looked beside him; he could see his phone but found his car key missing. "What!" He shouted as he hurried to get his car. "Where are you running to without cleaning up the mess on your body?" Norah asked him. "Mother, who brought me back? Besides, where is my car?" Sherman asked; he was so confused, squeezing his fingers in anger. "I thought as much; you must have lost your car, he kept screaming". Norah, he replied harshly. "Please, Mother, who the hell brought me home?" Sherman panicking.

Where is that again? I'm already looking for my nightstand and even the drawers. Even under the bed, I searched but my necklace was not there. Where is that? Did I lose that yesterday? I thought it was also impossible because I remembered that I took it off last night before going to sleep. But, what if I dropped it at school and then I may find it at the lost and found section? What if someone sees that again? At the same time as I was looking, my phone suddenly rang. My heartbeat quickened and I quickly took a look. When I saw who had called I smiled and answered the call immediately.

Jared was gone. At first, I laughed — a nervous, hollow sound that vanished fast. Then the laughter died. The minutes stretched, my heart hammering harder with each passing one. Jared was nowhere. I went to the lost and found office to get his name announced over the speaker, but I still couldn’t find him. Which left me to my last resort. Ring ring. First ring. Ring ring. Second ring. Ring ring. He finally picked up on the third ring. “He was right here… I promise… he… he… was…”

Daniel was leaning against the hand of the couch, sitting with one hip up as he stared at me cluelessly, “How are you going to find it?” “Where did the cleaners throw them?” “They were put in a bag, thrown out, and taken by the garbage truck this morning already. How are you going to find it?” “WE ARE going to find it.” I moved toward the table with rushed steps, not ready to waste even a second any longer and grabbed my cellphone. Unlocking the screen, I threw it toward Daniel for him to catch, “Find out the contact number, call the garbage company, find out the location, call their men. We are going there to get the thing she lost.”

I wiped them against my jeans. The lid came away easily. Inside... Letters. Birthday cards. Old notebooks. A tiny stuffed rabbit missing one button eye. A soft breath escaped me. I remembered crying when I lost it. My mother had spent hours looking. She never found it. I smiled despite myself. Then the smile faded. Beneath it all sat a small envelope. No name. No writing. Just old cream-colored paper. I opened it carefully. A photograph slipped into my hand. Me. Maybe seven.

The bed was gone, the vanity was gone, the wardrobe was gone. Finally, he entered his bedroom. The huge bed was missing, the silk sheets were nowhere to be found, the expensive furniture was missing. The walk-in closet stood empty except for a single black suit that hung from a wire hanger. Leo doesn't say anything. He knew she'd taken it all. It wasn't the things that mattered; it was the message she thought she was sending. He sits on the edge of the bare mattress that remains, staring out the window. The lights of the city sparkle in the distance, a reminder that the world moves on, oblivious to the tempest soon to arrive.