Derek had not found peace all week. He couldn’t sleep, and every waking moment was filled with fear for his daughter. The police had tried to reassure him, suggesting she would likely come back on her own, but Derek felt deep in his heart that something was wrong.
He and Amber had always been very close. Derek had raised her alone after his ex-wife left them when Amber was just two years old. Amber was all Derek had, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
At the police station, the officer handling Amber’s case offered a sympathetic smile but no new information. “Derek, as soon as we know something, we will inform you immediately,” the officer said. Derek sighed deeply. It had been a week, and there were still no leads.
Taking a longer route home to clear his head, Derek’s thoughts kept circling back to Amber. Suddenly, he saw a homeless woman carrying a familiar bag. It was Amber’s backpack! Derek approached her, his voice shaking as he asked where she got it. “Found it at the bus station; some teenage girl left it behind,” she replied.
With renewed hope, Derek retrieved the backpack, finding a water bottle and a folded piece of paper inside. It was an address with “Hostess Family” written under it. Realizing it was in another city, Derek drove there immediately.
Arriving at the address, Derek knocked on the door and was greeted by a woman who confirmed Amber had never arrived. Feeling lost, Derek decided to return home. As he drove, he saw his ex-wife, Miranda, in a café. Derek approached her, suspecting Amber might have come to see her.
Miranda initially denied knowing anything, but when Derek found Amber’s inhaler in her bag, she confessed. Amber overheard everything, ran out, and Derek chased her. He found her crying on a bench, and they reconciled.
“I’m so sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to worry you,” Amber said. Derek hugged her tightly. “It’s okay. You just wanted to meet your mom. But you’re grounded for two weeks,” he added, trying to lighten the mood. Amber smiled, feeling safe and loved again.