My worst fear happened tonight.

I’m a SAHM, constantly with my 3yr old autistic son he is practically my shadow. The separation anxiety he has is not controllable whatsoever, he will not stay with anyone but me! if we are in the car with my husband going to the grocery store, gas station, etc. and as soon as we park and i open my door he starts to scream for me to get him.. I always do, at home it does not matter what he’s being entertained with as soon as he hears our front door (it makes some sound when opened) he comes running and reaches for me. I cannot check the mail, or throw the trash without him.. it has never been a bother because I’m grateful to have the time and opportunity to do it being that my husband provides for us. It has mainly just been a fear of mines and tonight it finally has happened… I made a late dinner and afterward me and my husband was on the patio while my son was on his iPad, and he can visibly see me through the glass door. I’ve had decided to go to the gas station to get what was needed so it wasn’t a worry for tomorrow. I’ve snuck out while he was on his iPad and my husband remained on the patio.. we have code locks on the door and I absolutely locked it before leaving. I leave to the store and soon as i arrive I start to get a gut wrenching feeling for some reason. I call my husband the first call no answer, I’ve looked at our cameras in our home that was facing only the door and ceiling for some reason and i see our front door wide open…😣 I called again he finally answered and I’ve asked how was “my son’s name” I’ve told him to go and look for our son and asked why the front door was opened and he was just as surprised as i was. He briefly looked around the house and says he does not see him, I’ve panicked and yelled for him to go look outside. Mind you.. we live on A1A in Florida. For whoever doesn’t know that road it is one of the main roads down here that leads to the beach and the back of our home is the canal… surrounded by water 😭😭😭. During this time I’m speeding home passing red lights and cutting people off which i NEVER DO. I get home and did not even park I’ve stared looking outside for him, also he is non verbal it is not like he will respond back. After about 5 minutes I finally called 911 and within 2 minutes the block was filled with cops. I’ve jumped in the back canal of water thinking the worse.. and there was cops on every block with flashlights looking for him. My stomach has sinked, my throat was so tightened I can no longer scream for him.. about 25 minutes goes by at this point and i am in the driveway on the floor hysterically freaking out and praying to God that he is protecting my son, at this point a Sargent pulls up and comes to me asking to show and send a picture of my son, that just made me panic so much more. as I’m getting a picture out of my phone to show him, the first cop that had arrived came running to me saying they found him, i did not feel relived yet for i was asking is he okay repeatedly and i was given no response but now i understand it is because he didn’t know either. He tells me to get in the car with him and starts driving and we get there which was literally a MILE AWAY!!! he ended up at a condominium that had a water fountain and about a foot of water.. thank GOD there was security who had noticed him.. he went right into the water fountain playing in the water … 🫠 the security had called 911 and stood next to him till they and we arrived. He resisted getting out of the water and wouldn’t go to anyone but when he saw me he instantly came towards me… I’ve had never experienced such a traumatic thing in my entire life. my world ended for 30 minutes. Im so grateful that he’s okay this could have ended terribly… i thank God for watching over him as he walked a mile at night time on a Saturday 😩… the paramedics came and checked him out to be fine.. and it has been 7 hours and I am still crying and dying with a headache from the anxiety. Thank y’all for reading and letting me vent. I still don’t understand really how he got out and i am upset with my husband for not being more attentive. Just thankful my son is okay.