A mother from Elbasan lived for days amidst anxiety, fear and hope for her 13-year-old son, who had left home and lost contact with his family. The family members turned to the Police, while the mother began to search for him wherever there might be a trace of her son. Unconfirmed information led her to Durrës, where she hoped she could find him.
But the 13-year-old's story was not a one-time escape. According to the mother, he has left home several times and in some cases has been found after a few days. This time, the long lack of contact made the fear even greater. The mother says that the night he left, the boy was in the apartment. The family members were asleep, while he secretly left the house. Today, the minor has been found, but his return to his family does not end this story.
Rather, it raises a much larger question: what is driving a 13-year-old to repeatedly leave home? Family members have also raised concerns about the company he may be involved with and about behavior that is not appropriate for his age. These are issues that now require attention, not only from the family, but from all adults who have a role in a child's life.
On the show "With an Open Heart" by author and moderator Evis Ahmeti, Emiljano, the person who helped find the minor, revealed the first words the 13-year-old said to him.
Excerpts from the studio interview:
Emiljano: I was in the hospital emergency room, they called me, Emiljano needs you.
"I did this because I saw my mother suffering from the economy. I want to go to school but I can't because no one helps me. Besides the boy, there is another child, Aldo Blushi, who had been missing for 15 days and we found him," he said.
13-year-old: I saw my brother in Astir, he was fine, he told me to go home. He lived with a fat boy. I used to beg all day, they gave me money. People treat me well when I beg. During a day I would earn 50-60 thousand old, I used to eat with that. I also smoke cigarettes and I started when I was 9 years old.
Emiljano: Both the 13-year-old and his brother are hashish users
13-year-old: My brother buys it. I haven't had a drink since my brother wasn't home. I slept on benches in the street.
