Rosa and the officer stayed, knowing they couldn’t leave the children alone. Rosa offered to stay while the officer attempted to locate their mother, who worked at a nearby diner.
The mother was eventually found—tearful and frantic after realizing she had left her phone at home. Hearing her voice lifted Mateo’s spirits. Upon arrival, social services chose to help, not intervene. The mother received information on food banks and support programs. That night underscored how fragile stability can be for many families, and how quickly children adapt to fill gaps left by poverty.
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