Addison’s life revolves around her demanding job as a neurologist, leaving little time for romance. When her cheerful coworker Nathan sets her up on a blind date with a seemingly perfect guy named Jake, she finally feels a spark of hope. However, after Addison shares her three-year dating rule, her date abruptly leaves. What went wrong?
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I always thought my life would stay the same.
Day in and day out, the hospital consumed all my time.
A smiling young doctor | Source: Midjourney
My name is Addison, and I work as a neurologist. My days are filled with patients, charts, and endless rounds.
It’s a fulfilling job, but it leaves little room for anything else, especially dating.
A busy young woman | Source: Midjourney
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One day, while grabbing a quick coffee in the break room, my coworker Nathan walked in with a bright smile on his face.
Nathan is always in a good mood, no matter how stressful the day gets.
A smiling doctor | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, Addison,” Nathan said, leaning against the counter. “How do you feel about blind dates?”
I laughed, almost spilling my coffee. “Blind dates? Nathan, you know my schedule. I barely have time to eat, let alone date.”
Two professionals laughing and chatting | Source: Midjourney
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Nathan chuckled. “I know, but hear me out. My friend Jake is a great guy. He’s kind, funny, and I think you two would hit it off. What do you say?”
I paused, considering it. I hadn’t been on a date in ages, and the idea of meeting someone new was intriguing. Plus, Nathan seemed genuinely excited about it.
A couple enjoying drinks | Source: Pexels
“Okay, then,” I said, smiling. “You’ve convinced me. When’s this magical date happening?”
Nathan’s face lit up. “Really?? How about next Tuesday night? It’s the only evening that works for both of you!”
A doctor with his arms crossed | Source: Midjourney
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Next Tuesday. I mentally checked my calendar. It was one of the rare nights I didn’t have a late shift or any other commitments.
“Next Tuesday works for me,” I said. “Let’s do it.”
A female doctor talking to a male doctor | Source: Midjourney
Nathan grinned. “Great! I’ll set it up and text you the details. You won’t regret this, Addison,” he said with a wink.
“We’ll see that,” I laughed and finished my coffee quickly.
A smiling doctor | Source: Midjourney
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As I walked back to my office, I felt both excited and nervous. It had been so long since I had gone on a date.
My life had become a routine of work and more work, with little time for anything else. But maybe this was what I needed — a chance to step out of my comfort zone.
A doctor lost in her work | Source: Midjourney
The rest of the day flew by in a blur of patient consultations and medical charts. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about the upcoming date. Maybe, just maybe, this blind date with Jake would be the start of something new.
On Tuesday night, I arrived at the quaint restaurant Nathan had suggested.
Inside a restaurant | Source: Freepik
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It was cozy, with dim lighting and a warm ambiance that immediately put me at ease. As I walked in, I spotted a man sitting at a table near the window.
He looked up, smiled, and waved me over.
This must be Jake, I thought to myself.
A smiling man at a table | Source: Midjourney
“Addison?” he asked as I approached the table.
“Yes, and you must be Jake,” I replied with a smile.
A couple on a date | Source: Freepik
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We shook hands, and I took a seat. Almost immediately, the waitress came over to take our drink orders.
“I’ll have a glass of red wine, please,” I said.
“I’ll have the same,” Jake added.
Two people enjoying wine | Source: Freepik
As the waitress left, we started chatting. Jake was easy to talk to, and I felt my initial nervousness melt away.
“So, Nathan tells me you’re a neurologist,” he said, looking genuinely interested. “That must be a challenging job.”
A couple lost in each other’s eyes | Source: Freepik
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“It is,” I nodded. “But I love it. What about you? What do you do?”
“I’m a graphic designer,” Jake replied. “I work freelance, so my schedule is pretty flexible. It’s a lot of fun, especially when I get to work on creative projects.”
A person working on their laptop | Source: Pexels
Our drinks arrived, and we ordered appetizers — stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta. As we nibbled on the delicious food, we continued to talk about our lives, hobbies, and interests.
“I love hiking and photography,” Jake said, taking a sip of his wine. “There’s something about being in nature that’s so refreshing.”
A male photographer | Source: Pexels
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“I’ve always wanted to get into photography,” I said. “But I never seem to find the time. Maybe you could give me some tips?”
“I’d love to,” Jake said with a smile. “It’s all about finding the right light and angle.”
A woman with a camera | Source: Pexels
As the evening went on, I found myself more and more charmed by Jake. He was kind, funny, and easy to talk to.
We laughed a lot, and it felt like I had known him for much longer than just one evening.
A cozy couple | Source: Freepik
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As we moved on to our main course, Jake looked at me with a smile. “So, Addison, how about we ask each other some more personal questions to break the ice further?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” I said. “What do you want to know?”
Food | Source: Unsplash
Jake leaned in slightly. “How about your one-to-five-year plan? What are your goals?”
I took a moment to think. “Well, I hope to advance in my career as a neurologist,” I began.
A woman staring at her man | Source: Freepik
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“Maybe get promoted to a senior position. I also want to decorate my apartment; it feels too plain right now,” I continued. “I’ve been thinking about getting a pet, maybe a cat or a small dog. And I’d love to travel more, see new places, and experience different cultures. Oh, and I want to expand my bookshelf with my favorite novels. I love reading!”
Pile of books and cup on top | Source: Unsplash
“That sounds wonderful. You have a lot of exciting plans!” he grinned.
“What about you?” I asked, curious to hear about his future plans.
“I want to grow my freelance business,” Jake said. “Maybe open my own studio one day. I also love traveling, so I’d like to visit more countries. And, believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about getting a pet too. A dog, probably.”
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A dog | Source: Unsplash
We laughed at the coincidence, and it felt nice to find common ground!
“So, how do you feel about marriage and family?” Jake further asked as he sipped his wine.
And this is where it all went horribly wrong.
A family | Source: Unsplash
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“Honestly, I’d love to find a partner to share my life with,” I told him, “someone who understands and supports me. But marriage isn’t a necessity for me. If it happens, great, but if not, that’s okay too. As for children, I don’t see myself having any. For now. I’m happy with my career and personal goals.”
Jake leaned forward, looking serious. “What if you found the perfect guy? How long before you’d marry him?”
Two people smiling at each other and standing close | Source: Freepik
“Three years,” I said. “I believe in building a strong foundation. Six months to really get to know someone, a year of serious dating, and a year and a half of living together before considering engagement or marriage.”
Jake’s face changed, his friendly expression replaced by a frown. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Three years? That’s a long time. What if someone wants a quicker timeline?”
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An upset man | Source: Midjourney
I felt a knot forming in my stomach. “Well, uh, I think it’s important to take time to build a strong relationship. I’m pretty confident about my three-year-plan.”
Jake’s frown deepened, and he abruptly called the waitress. “Check, please,” he said curtly. She looked confused but quickly brought the bill.
A waitress | Source: Pexels
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“Jake, what’s wrong?” I asked as he stood up, but he didn’t bother to answer. He paid and walked out of the restaurant without a glance back.
I sat there, stunned and hurt. What just happened?
Later, at home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the evening.
A woman staring at her reflection | Source: Pexels
How could Jake just leave like that?
Deciding I needed answers, I messaged him.
I sent a selfie we took together and wrote, “Hey Jake, why did you leave so suddenly? I thought we were having a great time.”
A woman using her phone | Source: Unsplash
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A few minutes later, his reply came: “Don’t contact me again. You’re indecisive and not serious about what you want.”
Then, he blocked me.
I stared at my phone in disbelief. Was I really that off base?
The next day at work, I noticed Nathan giving me strange glances. Gathering my courage, I decided to confront him.
A man holding a phone in his hands | Source: Unsplash
“Nathan, what did Jake tell you? You know why he left, don’t you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Nathan looked uncomfortable and shifted on his feet. “You messed it up, Addy,” he said. “Jake… told me you were wasting his time. He wanted something serious. He was looking for marriage, and you… you weren’t the best person for him. Sorry, I gotta go.”
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A sad doc | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t believe it.
During my lunch break, I called my best friend, Sophie.
“Hey, Addison. How did the date go?” was the first thing she asked.
A cheerful woman on video call | Source: Pexels
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I sighed, feeling the weight of the evening pressing on me. “It started great, but then it ended terribly. Jake left abruptly after I talked about my three-year plan, and then he blocked me when I asked him why.”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “He did what? That’s ridiculous! What exactly happened?”
A sad young doctor | Source: Midjourney
I recounted every detail, my voice trembling slightly as I relived the evening. When I finished, Sophie shook her head. “Addison, being honest about your expectations is important. If he couldn’t handle that, it’s his loss.”
“I can’t stop wondering if my three-year rule is really that strange, Sophie,” I admitted, my voice breaking a bit.
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An anxious doctor | Source: Midjourney
“Not at all,” Sophie said firmly. “Everyone has their own timeline and needs. What matters is that you stay true to yourself. If he couldn’t appreciate that, he wasn’t the right guy for you.”
Her words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. But it didn’t ease all my worries. Was I wrong to be upfront about my expectations? Should I have kept it to myself? All I know is that being honest about what I want is important, even if it means losing a date like Jake.
A doctor focused on her work | Source: Midjourney
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What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one: Julia is excited to surprise her husband on his birthday, but everything changes when she hears an unexpected voice. Hiding in the living room, her heart pounds as her husband’s laughter mingles with another woman’s. What will Julia uncover?
A couple | Source: Unsplash
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Man Finds a Baby Boy Wrapped in Blankets in a Basket and Adopts Him—17 Years Later, a Stranger Returns for the Boy
A grieving, lonely fisherman found hope and a reason to live when he discovered a baby boy abandoned on his doorstep. He adopted the boy and raised him with boundless love and pride. But 17 years later, a wealthy stranger arrived, threatening to tear their world apart and take the boy away.
The weathered fishing boat rocked gently against the dock as Lucas secured the last knot. At 54, his calloused hands moved with practiced ease, even as arthritis crept into his joints.
The small house on the village outskirts waited for him, just as it had every evening since Maria passed. No children’s laughter, no warm embrace — just the quiet company of his thoughts and the photos of the woman he’d loved too much to replace.
A man tying a boat | Source: Midjourney
“Evening, Lucas!” Old Tom called from his porch. “Good catch today?”
“Just enough,” Lucas answered, lifting his basket. “The fish aren’t as lonely as we are, eh?”
“You ought to get yourself a dog at least,” Tom suggested, not for the first time. “That cottage needs some life in it.”
Lucas smiled politely but said nothing. Maria had loved dogs. That was reason enough not to get one.
A sad man standing outside his cottage | Source: Midjourney
The flames danced in the fireplace as he settled into his chair, another solitary evening stretching before him. The day’s routine played through his mind: watering the tomatoes at dawn, feeding the chickens, and walking the empty streets to his boat.
He glanced at Maria’s photo on the mantel. “Should’ve listened when you wanted children,” he murmured. “Always said we had time. Now look at me, talking to your picture like you might answer back.”
Suddenly, a sound cut through his thoughts, faint but distinct. It was like a whimper or a cry carried on the winter wind. Lucas lowered his coffee cup and listened. There it was again, more insistent this time.
A man sitting by the fireplace | Source: Midjourney
His joints protested as he rose and shuffled to the door. The porch boards creaked beneath his feet as he peered into the darkness. Another cry, clearer now.
“Hello?” he called, but only silence answered.
His heart nearly stopped when he saw it — a woven basket on his doorstep, blankets stirring inside. As he knelt beside it, tiny fingers reached up, grasping at the cold night air.
“Dear God,” he whispered, gathering the bundle into his arms. A baby boy, no more than a few months old, stared up at him with big, curious eyes.
A baby wrapped in blankets in a basket | Source: Midjourney
“Where did you come from, little one?” Lucas scanned the empty street, but whoever had left this precious cargo was long gone, leaving just a note in the basket:
“Don’t look for me. Please take care of him. And love him like your own. Thanks & Goodbye.”
The baby whimpered, and Lucas felt something stir in his chest. It was an emotion he thought had died with Maria.
“Shh, it’s alright,” he soothed, cradling the child close. “Let’s get you warm. Maria,” he whispered to the night sky, “I think you might’ve had a hand in this. You always said miracles come when we least expect them.”
A man holding a baby | Source: Unsplash
Inside, Lucas wrapped the baby in one of Maria’s old quilts, its faded flowers still soft after all these years. The infant’s cries settled into gentle coos as Lucas warmed some milk on the stove, remembering how old Tom’s daughter used to feed her babies.
“You need a name, little one,” he murmured, testing the milk’s temperature on his wrist. The baby’s tiny fingers wrapped around his weathered thumb, holding on with surprising strength. “You’ve got a good grip there. Like a fisherman.”
The baby gurgled, his eyes fixed on Lucas’s face with what seemed like curiosity. A tear rolled down Lucas’s cheek as he remembered Maria’s words from years ago:“A child’s love is the purest thing in this world.”
A baby covered in a cozy white blanket | Source: Unsplash
“Matias,” he said softly, the name coming to him like a whisper from the past. It was Maria’s father’s name, a good strong name for a boy. “What do you think about that, little one? Would you like to be Matias?”
The baby cooed, a smile breaking across his tiny face. Lucas felt his heart melt completely.
“Then it’s decided. You’ll be my son, Matias. I may not have much, but everything I have is yours. We’ll figure this out together.”
A man holding a baby | Source: Midjourney
That night, Lucas made a makeshift crib from an old wooden crate, lining it with soft blankets. He placed it next to his bed, unable to bear the thought of the child being alone in another room.
As moonlight filtered through the window, he watched Matias’s chest steadily rise and fall.
“I promise you,” he whispered, reaching down to touch the baby’s velvet cheek, “I’ll be the father you deserve.”
The baby slept peacefully, one tiny hand still curled around Lucas’s finger, as if already knowing he was home.
A baby holding a man’s finger | Source: Pexels
Seventeen years passed like leaves on the wind.
The garden grew fuller, nourished by the sound of Matias’s laughter. Every morning, Lucas would wake to find Matias already in the garden, talking to the chickens as he fed them.
“Morning, Dad!” Matias would call out. “Rosa laid two eggs today. She’s your favorite, isn’t she?”
“Just like you’re my favorite son,” Lucas would reply with a wink.
“I’m your only son,” Matias would laugh, the sound warming Lucas’s heart more than any summer sun.
A cheerful teenage boy laughing | Source: Midjourney
One morning, as they worked together in the garden, Matias looked up suddenly. “Dad? Remember when you told me about finding me?”
Lucas’s hands stilled on the tomato vines. “Of course.”
“Were you… were you ever sorry? That someone left me here?”
Lucas pulled his son close, soil-covered hands and all. “Matias, you weren’t left here. You were given to me. The greatest gift I’ve ever received.”
“Even greater than when Mom said yes to marrying you?” Matias asked, his voice muffled against Lucas’s shirt.
“She would have loved you to the moon and back,” Lucas said, his voice rough with emotion. “Sometimes I see her in the way you tend to these plants. She had that same gentle touch.”
A cheerful older man smiling | Source: Midjourney
Each morning, Lucas watched his son devour breakfast before school, marveling at how the abandoned baby had grown into this bright, energetic young man. Matias’s eyes — so mysterious that first night — now sparkled with intelligence and mischief.
“Dad!” he called, bursting through the door after school. “Coach says I might make team captain next season!”
Lucas looked up from his fishing nets, pride warming his weathered face. “That’s my boy. Your mother would have—” He caught himself, as he sometimes did, speaking of Maria as if she were Matias’s birth mother.
A delighted teenage boy at the doorway | Source: Midjourney
“Tell me about her again?” Matias asked softly. “About how she used to garden? How she’d sing while cooking?”
“Another time, son. These nets won’t mend themselves.”
“You always say that,” Matias teased, grabbing an apple from the bowl. “One day you’ll run out of nets to mend, and then you’ll have to tell me everything.”
“Everything, eh?” Lucas chuckled. “Like how you used to think the chickens laid different colored eggs because they ate rainbow seeds?”
Suddenly, the screech of tires outside cut through their comfortable chatter. Through the window, Lucas watched a sleek red Mercedes pull up. It looked completely out of place in their humble neighborhood, like a peacock in a chicken coop.
A red car outside a cottage | Source: Midjourney
A tall man in an expensive suit emerged from the car, his shoes too shiny for their dusty street. He approached with purpose, each step measured and confident.
The knock, when it came, seemed to echo through the house.
“Can I help you?” Lucas asked, opening the door just wide enough.
“Mr. Lucas?” The man’s voice was cultured and careful. “I’m Elijah. We need to talk about the boy. I’m here to take him.”
A rich, suited man at a doorway | Source: Midjourney
The words hit Lucas like a gut punch. He had always lived in constant fear of their peaceful life being shattered. But he never imagined it would happen so quickly.
“Who on earth are you? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his fingers tightening on the doorframe until his knuckles went white.
“I think you do.” Elijah’s eyes fixed on a point over Lucas’s shoulder. “Hello, Matias.”
“How do you know my name?” Matias stepped forward, despite Lucas’s protective arm.
“Because you’re my nephew and I’ve been looking for you for 17 years.” Elijah’s voice softened. “May I come in? This isn’t a conversation for doorways.”
A startled teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
Lucas felt his legs go weak, but he stepped aside. In the living room, Matias sat close to him on the worn sofa, their shoulders touching.
“You can’t just come in here,” Lucas said, his voice trembling. “You can’t just walk into our lives after 17 years and—”
“Dad,” Matias touched his arm gently. “Let’s hear him out.”
The story spilled out like water from a broken dam. Elijah spoke of his sister — Matias’s mother — of her struggles, her disappearance, and her deathbed confession just weeks ago.
A shocked senior man | Source: Midjourney
“She was young and scared,” Elijah explained, his perfectly manicured hands clasped in his lap. “Our father wouldn’t have understood. She ran away with you after her boyfriend, your dad, dumped her, hoping you could have a better life than she could provide at that time.”
“So she left me on a doorstep?” Matias’s voice cracked. “Like I was NOTHING?”
“She watched,” Elijah said softly. “She watched Lucas take you in. Watched from afar as you grew. She chose this house because she’d seen Lucas with his wife, before. She knew you’d be loved here. She told us everything when we found her, after 17 exhausting years.”
A man staring at someone | Source: Midjourney
“You have to understand,” Elijah continued, turning to Lucas, “he’s all we have left of her. And there’s so much waiting for him. The best schools, connections, opportunities. A life beyond…” he gestured at their modest surroundings.
“This life,” Lucas interrupted, his voice fierce, “has been filled with more love than any luxurious mansion could hold.”
“Dad, please,” Matias whispered, squeezing his hand.
A distressed older man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“He’s right though, isn’t he?” Lucas’s voice broke. “You deserve more than fish nets and vegetable gardens. More than an old man’s company.”
“He deserves a better life,” Elijah chimed in.
“I want to go,” Matias said softly after a long silence.
Lucas turned, stung. The words felt like Maria dying all over again.
“Son—”
An emotional teenage boy with his eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney
“Just to know them. To understand.” Matias’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “I’ll come back, Dad. I promise. I need to know where I came from to know where I’m going.”
“Of course you will.” Lucas forced the words past the lump in his throat. “This is your home. It always will be.”
The goodbye was quick, too quick for 17 years of love. Lucas helped pack a bag, his hands shaking as he folded Matias’s favorite blue sweater, the one he’d saved three months of fishing money to buy.
An emotional man holding a blue sweater | Source: Midjourney
“The garden,” Matias said suddenly, pausing at the door. “Don’t let it die while I’m gone. Mom’s roses especially.”
Lucas nodded, not trusting his voice.
“I’ll call every day,” Matias promised, hugging him fiercely. “Every single day. And I’ll be back before you know it.”
Lucas stood in the doorway, watching the red Mercedes disappear, taking his heart with it. The last thing he saw was Matias’s face turned backward, watching him through the rear window, pressing his hand against the glass.
A boy sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
Days blurred together. And the silence around Lucas grew heavier with each passing week.
Matias’s calls came regularly at first, full of wonder at his new world. Then, less frequently, shorter, until they felt like conversations with a stranger.
The vegetables ripened and died on the vine. Lucas couldn’t bear to pick them up without Matias’s help. Even the chickens seemed to miss him. Rosa wouldn’t lay eggs for days, and the others pecked listlessly at their feed.
“He’s not coming back, is he, girl?” Lucas murmured to Rosa one morning. “Can’t blame him. Who’d choose this hut over the castle they’re offering him?”
A sad older man hugging a chicken | Source: Midjourney
Every night, he’d sit in Matias’s room, looking at the soccer trophies, the school photos, and the little seashell collection they’d gathered together over the years.
“He’s living the life he deserves,” Lucas told Maria’s picture each night. “The life you’d have wanted for our own. But God, I miss him. Miss him like I miss you.”
The house felt bigger somehow. And emptier. The silence was no longer peaceful but oppressive. Lucas found himself talking to the chickens more, just to hear a voice — any voice — in the yard.
A teary-eyed older man sitting in a chair | Source: Midjourney
Then, one evening, a knock came at the door as Lucas sat staring at his untouched dinner. Different from that first time. Softer, uncertain.
He opened the door to find Matias standing there, shoulders slumped and eyes red.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Matias said simply. “The beds are too soft and the house is too big. Everything’s too much and not enough.”
“Son, what are you—”
A heartbroken boy holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“They’re nice, Dad. They’re my blood. But you’re…” Matias’s voice broke. “You’re my FATHER! The only one I’ve ever needed. The only one I’ll ever need. I can’t be without you.”
“The chickens have been clucking your name all day!” Lucas joked, wiping away a tear.
“Just the chickens?” Matias managed a watery smile.
Tears welled in Lucas’s eyes as he looked at his son, his heart overflowing with love and pride. “What about your uncle?”
An emotional older man crying | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m sure he’ll come for me again. But this time, I’m not leaving you… no matter what.”
Lucas pulled him close, feeling the tears soaking into his shirt. “Welcome home, son! Welcome home.”
As they walked into the house, Matias looked around, his face glowing with nostalgia and relief. He took Lucas’s hand, holding it tightly as if to make up for the weeks they’d been apart. They knew they were all each other needed.
Silhouette of a man with a teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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