
When an average hard-working man came across a woman begging with her child, he didn’t imagine their paths crossing for a reason. After she asked him for money, he gave everything he had, ensuring her safe return home. But what happened afterward left him shocked!
On a chilly November evening, Greg, a rugged construction worker with flecks of gray in his beard, left his site and headed toward the train station. Little did he know that one interaction at the station was about to change his life forever.

Greg at the train station | Source: Midjourney
At 40, the exhausted man had weathered enough in life to recognize hardship when he saw it, yet he rarely extended himself beyond polite sympathy. He had a wife, Diana, a 15-year-old daughter, Jamie, and a 12-year-old son, Alex, waiting for him at home, and each day he worked hard to save for their future.
That day, however, something unusual caught his eye.
As he moved through the station’s bustling crowd, a woman holding a baby stood by the exit, her figure partially shadowed in the cold evening light. She looked out of place, well-dressed yet worn and out of season, as if she hadn’t planned to spend her day there.

Lilly and Matthew standing at the train station | Source: Midjourney
Her hands trembled as she clutched the baby close. Greg paused and observed her, debating whether he should stop. When the weary-looking woman finally met his gaze, her face lit up with a brief glimmer of hope.
“Excuse me, sir?” Her voice was shaky, carrying a kind of desperation that was hard to ignore. “Could you PLEASE lend me some money for a ticket? I have money at home; I just need to get there.”

Lilly begging while standing with Matthew at the train station | Source: Midjourney
Greg didn’t respond immediately. The weight of his paycheck, freshly cashed and tucked safely in his coat pocket, felt heavier than usual. He’d seen people down on their luck in the city before, and too often he’d steeled himself against their requests.
Yet there was something genuine and different in her tone and in the way she held the neatly bundled child, who looked no older than three. With a sigh, Greg decided to do something he rarely did: he stepped forward.

Greg talking to someone | Source: Midjourney
“Alright. Let’s start by getting you two something to eat,” he said, surprised at his own words. Her face flooded with relief, and she nodded. Against his better judgment, Greg decided to help.
They made their way to a small café nearby.
“Order whatever you’d like,” Greg offered. “Don’t worry about it.”
The woman gave him a grateful look. “Thank you, really. My name’s Lily, and this is my son, Matthew.”
Greg smiled. “Nice to meet you both. I’m Greg.” He signaled to the waiter, placing orders for himself, Lily, and her son, even though he wasn’t particularly hungry.

A waitress standing to the side after taking Greg’s food order | Source: Midjourney
Lily and Matthew dug into their meals with a hunger that belied their outward appearance. But Lily wasn’t stuffing her mouth; she ate in an elegant, yet hungry, manner, revealing how she hadn’t had anything to eat for a while.
While they ate, Greg tried to strike up a conversation. “So, where are you headed?”
Lily hesitated, glancing at her son, who was happily finishing the whipped cream and fruit from a bowl.
“Home, hopefully. It’s been…a difficult time.” She struggled with her words, her gaze dropping to her hands.

Lily and Greg talking | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t have my phone or wallet. I didn’t mean to end up here, stranded. My plan fell apart, and suddenly, I had nothing.”
Greg nodded. “Sounds rough. Are you sure you’ll be alright once you get home?”
She looked up, her eyes wet with gratitude. “Yes. Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Without thinking twice, in a moment of generosity, Greg pulled out the envelope containing his paycheck. Something told him this woman needed it more than he did at that moment.

Greg holding out an envelope | Source: Midjourney
“Here,” he said, pressing the envelope that had his home address and his entire check into her hands. “Take this; it’s part of the money I’ve been saving up for my children’s education, but I can see that you and Matthew need it more right now. Get home safely, and don’t worry about paying it back.”
Lily’s eyes widened as she realized the magnitude of his gift. “I…I can’t accept this. You don’t even know me.”
As if he was having an out-of-body experience, Greg watched as he waved off her concerns.
“Just get home safe. It’s the right thing to do.”

Greg talking to someone | Source: Midjourney
Before he could change his mind, Lily hugged him and whispered a heartfelt “Thank you,” with tears brimming in her eyes. She got up and hurried off with her son, disappearing into the city night crowd before he could even respond.
Greg returned home to Diana’s raised eyebrows and Jamie’s curiosity as she and Alex gathered around the dinner table. As he explained what happened, his wife’s face shifted from confusion to shock to worry.

Diana looking shocked while sitting at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
“You gave away our savings? Greg, we needed that money for the kids,” she said, her voice tight with anxiety.
He rubbed his temples. “I know it sounds crazy, but it just felt right. She seemed…genuine.”
Diana sighed, clearly not convinced, but she let it go, the tension lingering between them through dinner. That night, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he’d made a terrible mistake as he pondered his children’s futures.
But he wasn’t aware that his connection to Lily wasn’t over yet.

Greg worried and lying awake | Source: Midjourney
The next day, life resumed its regular rhythm. Greg went to work, keeping his head down as he poured all his energy into the job. By the time he arrived home, exhaustion weighed on him. Just as he and Diana sat down to a quiet lunch, a commotion outside drew their attention.
His wife peeked through the window, her mouth dropping open.
“Greg, you might want to see this.”
He joined her at the window, his jaw dropping as he took in the sight of a gleaming, huge white limousine parked in front of their modest house.

A white limousine parked outside Greg’s house | Source: Midjourney
The door opened, and a man in a sharp black suit stepped out, his demeanor calm but professional. They watched as he walked to their door and knocked. Greg opened the door cautiously, uncertain of what to expect.
“Uh, can I help you?”
The man offered a polite smile. “Hello, sir. Are you Greg?”
Greg nodded, still confused.
“I’m here on behalf of Ms. Lily. I believe you helped her yesterday at the train station.”

A man in a suit holding a briefcase | Source: Midjourney
A mixture of relief and confusion washed over Greg’s face.
“Lily? She’s…she’s okay?”
The man nodded.
“Yes, she’s more than alright, thanks to your kindness. She is actually a notable figure in this town, a celebrity of sorts, though she’s recently fallen on hard times.”
“Wait,” Diana interrupted, joining Greg at the door. “She’s a celebrity? But why was she stranded? And you know she took our money right?”

Diana upset | Source: Midjourney
The man paused, choosing his words carefully.
“Lily was once a successful businesswoman, and she built her career from the ground up. But, a series of unfortunate events, legal issues, a lost inheritance, and a string of failed investments, left her nearly penniless.”
He continued, “She was traveling incognito, hoping to find a fresh start by signing a new business deal with an associate, but things went wrong during their meeting.”

A man explaining Lily’s circumstances | Source: Midjourney
“The unscrupulous business associate tried to twist her arm in the deal, and they ended up having a fallout. Ms. Lily left abruptly in anger, leaving behind her handbag with all her important cards, phone, and possessions,” the man from the limousine explained.
“She hasn’t been herself for the past few years and must’ve walked for a while with Matthew before realizing that she didn’t know where she was. By that point, it was already too late; she found herself stranded without a cent. She wandered the streets for days looking for help.”

Lily stranded with Matthew | Source: Midjourney
Greg exchanged a stunned look with Diana, not sure whether to believe what they’d heard or not.
“I had no idea. She looked…just like anyone else down on their luck.”
“That’s precisely it,” the man continued. “She didn’t want to be recognized or treated differently. But your generosity struck a chord with her.”
The man reached into his briefcase and pulled out an envelope, handing it to Greg.

A man holding an envelope | Source: Midjourney
“Ms. Lily has set up a scholarship fund for your children. Your children’s education is fully funded, and there’s a little extra to help you in other ways as well.”
Greg’s hands trembled as he took the envelope, peering at the contents inside. Diana let out a gasp, covering her mouth, as she looked over his shoulder. Their years of worry and careful budgeting seemed to evaporate in an instant, replaced by a quiet sense of relief.
“Why…why would she do this?” Greg asked, still trying to wrap his head around the surreal turn of events.

Greg shocked while holding an envelope | Source: Midjourney
The man smiled, his voice gentle.
“Because sometimes, a small act of kindness is worth more than all the wealth in the world. She wanted you to know that your compassion saved her life, and now she hopes to change yours.”
Greg’s throat felt tight as he struggled to respond. “I just…I didn’t expect anything in return. I just wanted to help.”
The man extended his hand in a parting gesture.
“That’s exactly why she wanted to give back. Sometimes the universe has a way of rewarding those who give selflessly.”

A man smiling while walking out | Source: Midjourney
As the limousine pulled away, Diana wrapped her arms around Greg, their hearts full of gratitude and amazement. His act of kindness had blossomed into a future brighter than they’d ever imagined.
Greg turned to his wife, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I guess you really never know how much good a little kindness can do.”
Diana nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.
“And sometimes, it finds its way back to you tenfold.”

Greg and Diana looking happy | 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.
My Dad Left Me When I Was 13 — Ten Years Later, I Saw Him on the Side of the Road Hitchhiking with a Little Girl

The man Mom and I loved to the core tore our hearts apart and abandoned us when I was 13. Ten years later, I pulled over for a hitchhiker, only to see my dad with a little girl by his side. The scars never faded. Will this new encounter heal them or deepen the wound?
The day my dad left, the world lost its color. I remember standing in our driveway, watching his car disappear around the corner. The rubber of his tires on the asphalt made a sound I’ll never forget, like hope being slowly crushed…

Silhouette of a sad girl | Source: Midjourney
“Dad!” I screamed, running after him. “Dad, come back!”
But he didn’t. He just… left. No explanation, no goodbye. Just gone.
I turned to look at my mom, Crystal. She stood in the doorway, her face brimming with shock and disbelief. “Mom?” I whispered, my voice small and scared.
She blinked, seeming to remember I was there. “Oh, Ellie, come here, baby.”

Distressed mother hugging her daughter | Source: Midjourney
I ran into her arms, burying my face in her shirt. It smelled like home, like safety. But even as she held me, I could feel her shaking.
“Why did he go, Mom?” I had asked, my words muffled against her. “Why did Dad leave us?”
She stroked my hair, her touch gentle but unsteady. “I don’t know, sweetie. I just don’t know.”

An upset girl with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney
As we stood there, clinging to each other, I made a silent promise to be strong for her. I had to be.
“We’ll be okay, Mom,” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. “We’ve got each other.”
She squeezed me tighter, and I felt a tear drop onto my head. “Yes, we do, Ellie. We always will.”

A desperate young girl crying | Source: Pixabay
Ten years passed in a blur of struggle and slow healing. Mom and I became a team, facing the world together. We had our rough patches. Times when the absence of my dad felt like a physical ache.
But we made it through. We had each other. It was enough. And then, in an instant, everything changed.
I was driving home from work on a busy highway one evening, the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash
The radio played softly, some pop song about lost love that I barely registered. My mind was on dinner plans and the pile of laundry waiting for me at home.
That’s when I saw them.
A man and a little girl, standing on the side of the highway, thumbs out. Something about the man’s posture, the way he stood protectively next to the girl, made my heart skip a beat. I slowed down, squinting through the windshield.
No. It couldn’t be.

A man standing with a little girl on the roadside | Source: Midjourney
I pulled over, my hands shaking as I put the car in park.
In the rearview mirror, I watched them approach. The little girl skipped along, holding the man’s hand and chattering away. AND THE MAN…?
My blood ran cold. It was HIM… my DAD.

A shocked young woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney
He looked older, of course. His hair was grayer, his face more lined and exhausted. But there was no mistaking those eyes, the same eyes I saw every time I looked in the mirror.
I got out of the car on unsteady legs, my mouth dry. “Need a ride?” I called out, my voice sounding strange to my own ears.

A startled young woman | Source: Midjourney
He turned, a grateful smile starting to form on his face. Then he saw me, and the smile vanished, replaced by shock and something that looked a lot like shame.
“Ellie?” he gasped, his eyes wide.
The little girl looked between us, confusion clear on her face. “Do you know her, Bill?” she asked.
Bill. Not Dad. Just… Bill. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I know her.”

A smiling girl looking up | Source: Pexels
The car ride was tense, filled with an awkward silence that seemed to suck all the air out of the vehicle.
I gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I focused on the road ahead to avoid looking at the man in my passenger seat, the man who was supposed to be my father.
The man who had so easily abandoned his family. The man who had so heartlessly moved on, breaking our hearts while building a sand castle of his own.
The little girl hummed quietly in the backseat, oblivious to the emotional storm brewing in the front.

A young woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Tell me that’s not my sister,” I said, breaking the silence.
My dad flinched as if I’d struck him with an axe. He stared straight ahead, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.
“Her name’s Sarah. She’s… she’s not your sister, Ellie. Not by blood.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. But that didn’t make it any easier for me.
“Then who is she?”

Portrait of a sad senior man | Source: Midjourney
Dad sighed, his shoulders slumping as though he was carrying the whole world’s burden.
“She’s the daughter of someone I’ve been with for a few years,” he admitted. “Her mom… she left us a few months back. I’ve been doing my best to take care of Sarah. Moved here last month.”
The irony of his situation wasn’t lost on me. I let out a bitter laugh.
“Wow. So you know what it feels like now? To be left behind? To be abandoned by someone you love? Ever heard of the infamous saying, ‘What goes around comes around?!’”

A sad man’s eyes | Source: Midjourney
Dad’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. “I’ve made mistakes, Ellie. A lot of them. But I’m trying to make up for it, even if it’s too late for you and your mom.”
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “Do you have any idea what you did to us? How hard it was for us? For me? Can you imagine how kids at school teased and bullied me? How Mom struggled alone to raise me and play both Dad and Mom for me?”
In the rearview mirror, I saw Sarah’s confused face. She didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of this. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

A woman sitting in a car turning to her side | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry,” Dad whispered. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but I am so, so sorry.”
“Sorry? You don’t stab a person in the heart and say sorry!”
“Ellie, please forgive me… I’m sorry. Really.”
I didn’t respond. What could I say? Sorry won’t erase ten years of absence, of wondering why I wasn’t enough to make him stay. Sorry won’t magically bring back the happiness that was once stolen from Mom and me.

A teary-eyed woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
As we neared the address he’d given me, Sarah spoke up from the backseat. “Are you Bill’s friend?”
I met her eyes in the mirror, seeing the curiosity there. For a moment, I considered telling her the truth. But looking at her hopeful face, I couldn’t bring myself to shatter her little world.
“Something like that,” I said softly, forcing a smile. “A forgotten friend.”
I pulled up to the curb, my hands shaking. The silence that had haunted me during the ride now felt suffocating.

A car outside a house | Source: Midjourney
My dad unbuckled his seatbelt, his movements slow and hesitant. He turned to face me, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with regret.
“Thank you for the ride, Ellie. I… I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I want you to know how sorry I am. For everything.”
I stared straight ahead, unable to look at him. My throat felt tight, choked with all the words I wanted to say but couldn’t.

A distressed senior man | Source: Midjourney
“Take care of her,” I finally whispered, nodding towards Sarah in the backseat. “Don’t screw this up like you did with us. It’s very easy to break someone’s heart and walk away. Don’t do that to her.”
He nodded, a tear slipping down his cheek. “I will. I promise.”
As he got out of the car, Sarah leaned forward. “Thank you for the ride, Miss Ellie,” she said brightly. “It was nice to meet you!”

A young girl smiling | Source: Pexels
I turned to her, managing a small smile. “It was nice to meet you too, Sarah. Take care of yourself, okay?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “I will! Bye!”
I watched as they walked away, Sarah’s small hand in my dad’s larger one. They looked like a normal father and daughter, heading home after a long day.
But I knew the complicated truth that lay beneath that simple illusion.

Silhouette of a man and a little girl approaching their house | Source: Midjourney
As they disappeared from view, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. For years, I had carried the pain of my father’s abandonment, letting it shape my life and my relationships.
But seeing him now, I realized something important: I didn’t need his approval or his love to be whole.
I started the car, wiping away a stray tear. The sun had set completely now, the sky a deep, velvety blue. As I drove away, a warm, comforting feeling seeped into my heart. I had my own life to live, and I wasn’t going to let the past define me anymore.

A concerned young woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
My phone buzzed with a text from my mom, “Everything okay, honey? You’re usually home by now.”
I smiled, feeling a rush of love for the woman who had been both mother and father to me. “On my way, Mom,” I typed back. “I love you.”
As I hit send, I realized that sometimes, the family you choose is more important than the one you’re born into. And I had chosen well. I don’t need a father to shield or shower me with affection. I have the most powerful force in my universe: MY MOTHER.

A woman driving a car at night | Source: Unsplash
Here’s another story: I plotted a delicious revenge my fiancé deserved for cheating on me with his ex in a spa resort.
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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