Derek has been looking for his daughter Amber desperately since she vanished a week ago.
Derek has hope that he may be able to locate his daughter when he unexpectedly meets a homeless person who is carrying Amber’s backpack. The police are unable to identify any leads.
With a troubled heart, Derek was making his way to the police station on foot. Amber, his daughter, had run away from home a week prior, and no one had seen her since.
Despite conducting a search, the police were unable to locate any leads. It seemed as though she had just disappeared.
Throughout the week, Derek had been unable to find any tranquility. His anxiety for his daughter consumed every waking moment and prevented him from falling asleep.
The cops had made an effort to soothe him by informing him that youngsters frequently experienced this. They predicted that she will probably return on her own. But Derek had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right.
He had always been close to Amber. After his ex-wife abandoned them when Amber was only two years old, Derek had raised her by himself.
After all these years, she had picked out another man and had never once contacted to see how her daughter was doing. Derek couldn’t bear the notion of losing Amber because she was everything to him.
Derek stepped inside the police station, feeling the chilly air on his face. He walked over to where the cop handling Amber’s case was.
As Derek got closer, the officer looked up and smiled sympathetically. Derek attempted to look composed as he gave the officer a strong handshake.
“Officer, any news?” With concern in his voice, Derek enquired.
The officer gave a gentle shake of his head. “Derek, we’ll let you know as soon as we find out anything.”
Derek gave a heavy sigh. “A week has passed and nothing at all.”
“I know it’s difficult for you. In an attempt to be consoling,” the officer answered, “That’s why the police are doing everything possible to find Amber.”
Derek expressed his internal anxiety with his eyes as he continued, “I worry about her.”
“When a child disappears, we all worry,” the police officer remarked. “Staying at home is the best course of action right now in case she comes back.”
Derek slowly nodded. Silently, he murmured, “Okay, thanks,” and turned to exit the police station.
To get his thoughts straight, he chose to drive home a longer distance. He attempted to make sense of it all as he traveled, but his thoughts kept coming back to Amber. Abruptly, he noticed a destitute woman with a recognizable bag.
A beat skipped by Derek’s heart. When he looked more closely, he saw what it was. That was Amber’s bag! Derek walked over to the woman, trying not to freak out.
“Where did you obtain this backpack, excuse me? His voice trembling a little,” he asked.
With a firm grip on the bag, the woman angrily said, “None of your damn business.”
“Please, I don’t mean to bother you, but my daughter’s backpack is missing.” Derek begged, “Please tell me where you got it. I would be very grateful.”
After giving him a wary look, the woman said, “I found it at the bus station; some teenage girl left it behind.”
Derek had a flash of optimism. He inquired excitedly, “Do you know where she was headed?”
“Do I work as a detective?” The woman shot back, obviously irritated.
Derek understood that additional information would not be provided for free. “Okay, could you just give it to me? He took out his wallet and took out a $100 bill, saying, “I’ll pay you.”
The sight of the money caused the woman’s eyes to expand. She snatched the cash out of Derek’s hand and gave him the backpack. She quickly left, most likely to make sure Derek didn’t decide to alter his mind and return the money.
Derek took a seat on the closest bench and, hands shaking, unlocked the rucksack. He discovered little else inside—only a folded piece of paper and a water bottle.
As he opened the paper in the hopes of finding a clue, his heart raced. The words “Hostess Family” were placed beneath the address.
Derek took out his phone and typed in the address quickly. When he learned it was in a different city—the same one where Amber and her friend had wanted to attend a concert—his eyes grew wide. Fearing it would be dangerous, he had forbidden her from going.
He felt a surge of remorse pass over him. Had his rejection caused her to flee? Derek realized he needed to move quickly. He was eager for the police to follow their own schedule.
He made the decision to head there right now and solve everything on his own. Returning quickly to his car, he clutched the backpack.
Derek came home, but he didn’t even open the door. He immediately headed to his car and took a ride to the address he had discovered in the rucksack. He made the decision to give Amber’s friend Claire a call while he was still driving to find out if they had attended the event.
He needed to know the truth, even if Claire had told him at first that they had decided not to travel. With his hands firmly clutching the steering wheel, he called her phone. It took Claire a few rings to pick up.
“Did you tell me that you and Amber didn’t attend the concert, Claire? Did you lie to me?” Trying not to panic, Derek asked.
How come? No. Why would you believe that? Claire seemed perplexed by her voice.
“When I discovered Amber’s backpack, it included an address. It’s in the city where the planned concert was to happen. Are you aware that Amber could be in danger? Telling the truth is essential,” Derek firmly stated.
Claire let out a deep sigh. My parents forbade me from going to the concert, but Amber insisted she would go. I was asked to promise her that I wouldn’t tell anyone.
“Are you aware of how stupid it was of you? Derek continued, getting more irate, “The cops are searching for Amber.
Claire said, her voice shaking, “I wanted to say something when she didn’t come back for three days, but then I got scared that I would get in trouble for keeping quiet for so long.”
“Forget about it now. Are you aware of Amber’s location? “ Derek inquired in the hopes of learning anything helpful.
“No, she’s not responding to me either. Claire lamented, “I haven’t heard from her since she departed.
“Okay, Claire, thank you,” Derek murmured with a growing sigh. After hanging up, he turned his attention to the road ahead.
Amber would have returned by now if she had attended the concert. However, she remained absent, indicating that she had suffered an injury. As Derek drove, his heart raced, and the hours seemed to fly by.
At last, he managed to get to the address from the rucksack. He exited the vehicle, walked up to the door, and pounded hard. A short while later, a kind woman with a warm, inviting grin opened the door.
“I apologize for troubling you, but is Amber here?” With optimism in his voice, Derek inquired.
“Amber?” The woman said, “I don’t know anyone by that name,” with a bewildered expression.
Derek clarified, “A teenage girl was supposed to come to you a week ago to stay.”
“Yes, exactly. However, she never showed up,” the woman remarked, understandingly nodding.
“You haven’t had any sight of her?” Derek inquired as his heart sank.
Shaking her head, the woman replied, “No, sorry.”
“It’s fine, thank you,” Derek answered, attempting to mask his dismay.
With a nod, the woman shut the door softly. For a brief while, Derek stood, feeling disoriented. Desperation overcame him as he made his way back to his car. The final hint to locate his daughter was gone.
Derek sat in the car for some time before eventually starting the engine and heading home. His mind was racing with frustration and anxiety.
He never expected to see his ex-wife, Amber’s mother, again, but as he was passing through the town, there she was, seated in a café.
A beat skipped through Derek’s heart. Had Amber chosen to visit her mother rather than attend the concert? He had to find out, even if it was unlikely. After parking the car, Derek inhaled deeply and tried to calm himself. He walked over to Miranda, who looked up as he got closer.
“Derek?” “I’m surprised to see you here,” Miranda exclaimed, opening her eyes wide.
“Has Amber visited you recently?” Without making any small conversation, Derek asked.
How come? No. Why would she do that? With a cautious glance about her, Miranda said.
A week ago, she ran away from her house. “She hasn’t been in contact or left any trace since then,” Derek said, his voice tense with concern.
That is very bad. Miranda apologized, her tone seeming flat.
An inhaler was in Miranda’s luggage, and just as Derek was about to walk out, he felt a wave of rage.
It bore a striking resemblance to Amber’s. Derek reached for it mindlessly. He was able to take it despite Miranda’s attempts to stop him.
How did you obtain this? Derek questioned while gesturing to the inhaler.
With a pale face, Miranda stumbled, “Uh…Derek, I can explain.”
“Where did you get the inhaler for my daughter?” Derek exploded with rage and roared.
“Because she is present!” Okay. Miranda said, “No need to yell at me,” in a pointed tone.
“Why did you remain silent?” Derek demanded, his angry voice quivering.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t be in favor of it,” Miranda shot back. “Don’t worry, as soon as my mother signed the will, I was going to send her back home.” She promised to sign it as soon as I became a parent. Since Amber is my only child and I don’t intend to have any more, I needed her specifically for this. Amber’s mother will sign the will, and then she can return home. I’m over being the mom.
“Mom??” a sobbing voice from behind them asked. Amber was standing there with tears running down her face when Derek and Miranda turned to look at her. She was well informed.
Swiftly extending her hand to her daughter, Miranda murmured, “Amber, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Amber was not listening, though. Derek, who was still holding the inhaler, dashed after her as she took off. He started chasing her out of panic that she might vanish once more.
He came upon Amber sobbing while perched on a bench and holding her face in her hands. The image gave Derek a pounding heart. He walked slowly over to her, sat down next to her, and gave her a gentle hug.
“I’m so sorry, Amber,” he said.
Amber sobbed as she said, “I should have understood everything when she said I needed to find a ‘Hostess Family’ to live with.”
“However, you left them behind,” Derek remarked, delicately removing her hair off her face.
Amber said, “No, then she said I would live with them to meet my grandmother.”
“Heartless witch.” Why didn’t you give me a call? Derek said, his voice full of worry, “I was so worried.”
Amber looked down and said, “I didn’t want you to take me away from Mom, but now I understand what a mistake that was.”
It’s alright. In an attempt to console her, Derek remarked, “You just wanted to meet your mom.”
“I apologize, Dad. It wasn’t my intention to worry you.” Amber remarked, her eyes welling up with tears once more. “Now I realize you’re the best dad in the world,” she continued.
Derek gave her a tight hug and smiled, “It’s not hard when you have the best daughter in the world.”
Embracing Derek tightly, Amber felt secure in his embrace. After helping her up, Derek and she started to walk towards the car.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Derek remarked, “But you’re grounded for two weeks.”
Amber grinned slightly and said, “Fair enough,” feeling a little better.
