Derek had been searching frantically for his daughter, Amber, who had gone missing a week ago. The police investigation had turned up no leads, leaving him trapped in a cycle of fear and despair. But an unexpected encounter with a homeless woman holding Amber’s backpack gave him a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, he could find her.
As Derek walked to the police station, his heart weighed heavy with worry. Amber had disappeared a week ago, and despite the police’s efforts, there had been no trace of her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Derek had barely slept since the night she disappeared. His mind never stopped racing with the worst possible scenarios, and even though the police tried to reassure him, saying she would probably return on her own, he knew deep down that something was wrong.
Amber was his world. He had raised her alone ever since his ex-wife, Miranda, left them when Amber was just two years old. They had always been close, and Derek couldn’t imagine his life without her.
At the police station, the officer in charge of Amber’s case greeted Derek with a familiar look of sympathy. “We’ll let you know the moment we find anything,” the officer said, though Derek had heard those words before. It had been seven days, and still, no new leads.
Taking a different route home to clear his head, Derek’s thoughts were swirling when something caught his eye. A homeless woman was walking by with a backpack slung over her shoulder—a backpack that looked exactly like Amber’s. His pulse quickened as he approached her.
“Excuse me, where did you get that backpack?” Derek asked, his voice trembling.
The woman glanced at him, then at the bag. “Found it at the bus station. Some girl left it behind.”
Derek’s heart leaped. He took the backpack from her hands, and inside, he found Amber’s water bottle along with a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, Derek saw an address scribbled on it with the words “Hostess Family” written underneath. The address was in another city.
Without wasting a moment, Derek jumped into his car and sped off toward the address. When he arrived and knocked on the door, a woman answered. But after explaining the situation, she sadly shook her head. Amber had never shown up.
Deflated, Derek turned to leave, wondering where else to look. On his drive home, something unexpected happened—he saw Miranda, his ex-wife, sitting in a café. A suspicion struck him. Could Amber have come looking for her mother?
Derek walked inside and confronted her. At first, Miranda denied knowing anything. But then Derek noticed something peeking out of her bag—Amber’s inhaler. Miranda’s face paled, and she finally confessed. Amber had come to see her.
Just then, Amber herself appeared, having overheard the conversation. She bolted from the café in tears. Derek ran after her, eventually finding her sitting alone on a bench, crying.
“I’m so sorry, Dad,” Amber sobbed. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Derek pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I know you just wanted to see your mom. But next time, please talk to me first.”
Amber smiled through her tears, feeling safe in her father’s arms once more. “You’re still grounded for two weeks, though,” Derek added, trying to lighten the moment. They both laughed softly, knowing they were finally together again.