After Megan’s parents kick her out at eighteen, she turns her back on her family. But one day, she drives back to her childhood home, only to discover that the house is in her name and her parents have been missing. Years later, she drives by again, only this time, she sees the old house decorated for the holidays. Are her parents back?
It’s been twenty years since I last spoke to my parents. Twenty years since they kicked me out for getting pregnant.
I was 18, young and terrified, but stubborn enough to stand my ground. I still remember my dad’s voice, the anger almost chilling me to my bones.
An upset girl sitting on her bed | Source: Midjourney
“If you leave with him, Megan, don’t bother coming back!” he yelled. “I don’t want to see you again! You’re a mess, and instead of choosing to be better, you’re choosing self-destruction.”
I left anyway.
That same night, my mom stood quietly at the door, her arms wrapped around herself, watching me go. She didn’t say anything; she just let me walk out into the cold.
A shouting man | Source: Midjourney
“That’s it? You’re not going to say anything? Mom, really?” I said.
She opened her mouth for a second. Instead of saying anything, she just went inside and closed the door.
They never forgave me.
But here I am, twenty years later. I’m thirty-eight, with three beautiful kids and a man who’s been by my side through it all. Evan and I were high school sweethearts, and when I got pregnant, I really thought that he was going to leave me.
An upset woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
“Why would I leave you?” he asked, holding the pregnancy test. “We’re in this together, Megan.”
“But what about your football scholarship to college? You’d give that up?” I asked.
“Of course, I would,” he said. “Let’s do this, Meg. You, me, and the baby!”
Just like that, I decided to tell my parents, which is how my father threw me out.
A teenage couple sitting on a bench | Source: Midjourney
Despite everything, we built a life. A really good life. And let me tell you, I don’t regret a single thing. Evan works hard, and our kids, Ella, Maya, and Ben, are everything I ever dreamed of.
If you had told my 18-year-old self that I’d still be with him two decades later, I would have laughed through my tears.
But here we are.
Happy.
Three children sitting together | Source: Midjourney
The last time I visited my parents’ house was five years ago. They had gone missing on a hiking trip in the mountains. It was supposed to be a short getaway, apparently.
Just a weekend.
But they never came back.
“I’m sorry, Megan,” our neighbor, Mr. Smith, said when I went over to ask about my parents. “You really didn’t hear about it? The incident?”
An older man standing in his doorway | Source: Midjourney
“What incident? What are you talking about?” I asked, an uneasy feeling taking over me.
“They went hiking, Megan. You know, the usual long weekend trips that they make? They left the keys here for me to feed the dog. But at the end of the weekend, they didn’t return.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
A couple hiking | Source: Midjourney
“When they didn’t come back, I reported it to the police, and a search party was sent out. The officers said that all they found were their abandoned backpacks on a cliff,” he sighed.
“No… bodies?” I asked, my voice threatening to break.
As strained as our relationship was, I always expected my parents to be here, at home. For them to always be within those four walls for when I needed them.
I always counted on them to be there for the day I decided to bring my children to meet them.
An upset woman standing on a porch | Source: Midjourney
And now?… they were gone.
“No, sweetheart,” Mr. Smith said. “No bodies, no footprints, nothing. They were just gone. They vanished without a trace.”
After that, it was all about getting the house signed over to me. I didn’t want to do anything with it, I just wanted to keep it there. I went to the police station and the detective signed off on the case as a cold case.
“Move on, Megan,” he said. “We’ve had no leads in years.”
The issue was proving that I was their daughter, luckily there was a clause in my father’s will, stating that everything would be mine if he and my mother passed.
For five years after, the house sat empty. I never had the courage to sell it, though. Something about letting it go felt wrong.
An empty house | Source: Midjourney
So, it just stood there, gathering dust and neglect, frozen in time like a ghost of the past I wasn’t ready to confront.
Until tonight.
It was Christmas Eve. And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I found myself driving toward the old place instead of getting the extra butter that Evan and I needed for the turkey the next day.
The house was abandoned and had been for the past five years. As I drove, I imagined exactly how it would look after all these years. I imagined the cracked front windows and the streaks of graffiti across the walls like battle scars.
An abandoned house with an overgrown garden | Source: Midjourney
I imagined the weeds swallowing the flower beds that my mother used to love, and the wooden porch, which was most likely splintered and sagging under the years of neglect.
When I pulled into the driveway, my chest tightened at the sight of the house.
It was decorated.
Not just randomly decorated, but beautifully decorated. The old garlands of twinkling lights my dad used to string along the eaves were glowing softly against the evening sky.
Christmas decorations on an old house | Source: Midjourney
There was a faded wreath with little bells, which hung crookedly on the front door. There were the familiar plastic candy canes lining the path to the house.
I even recognized the same wooden reindeer we used to set up every December. They were all old and chipped but still standing proudly on the lawn.
My heart raced as I stepped out of the car. How could this be?
Wooden reindeer on a lawn | Source: Midjourney
Who would have done something like this? No one lived there. No one had for years.
As I walked around, I saw a little generator on the porch. It was hooked up to the lights, fueling them among the rest of the desolate house.
The decorations looked exactly the way my dad used to do them. The same lights, the same setup. A lump formed in my throat. It was like stepping back into my childhood, as if time had rewound itself.
A connected generator | Source: Midjourney
Even if it was just for one night.
I had to know who was behind this. I needed to know if it was real or if it was in my head.
The front door was slightly ajar. I hesitated for a moment, my pulse quick and uneven, before gently pushing it open.
Inside, the house smelled of dust and memories, but the living room…
The front door of an empty house | Source: Midjourney
The living room took my breath away.
A Christmas tree stood by the fireplace, just like the ones from my childhood. It was decorated with mismatched ornaments and too many strands of tinsel. The stockings were hung on the mantel, and beneath the tree were a few wrapped presents, tied with fraying ribbons.
And then I saw him.
A man hunched by a fireplace | Source: Midjourney
A figure sat in front of the fireplace, hunched slightly, silhouetted by the glow of the dying fire.
I couldn’t stop myself. The word slipped from my lips before I could think.
“Dad?” I called.
The figure stirred and turned slowly toward me, the firelight flickering across his face.
It wasn’t my dad.
It was a young man in his mid-thirties, I think. His dark hair was tousled, and his face was shadowed by exhaustion. He wore a threadbare coat, and his cheeks were pink from the cold.
But as soon as I saw him, I knew exactly who he was.
“Max?” I whispered.
A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
His eyes widened, and a small, embarrassed smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You remember me? Megan?”
Of course, I remembered him.
He used to be the little boy who lived next door, the one with the messy hair and a toothy grin. But then, he couldn’t have been older than me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
A smiling young boy | Source: Midjourney
Max glanced around the room.
“I’ve been staying here. Just for the winters, Megan,” he admitted. “It’s the second year now.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“I don’t really have anywhere else to go,” he said, holding his head.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
It took me a minute to process what he was saying.
“Max, are you homeless?” I asked.
He gave a small nod.
“Yeah,” he said. “My adoptive parents, the Smiths? They kicked me out, actually. It was after you came around about ten years ago, and my dad told you about your parents. I’ve had some rotten luck, and I guess they just didn’t want to care for me anymore. It’s hard, you know? Finding work. I was between friends for a while… but even they got tired.”
A man sitting next to a fire | Source: Midjourney
My chest tightened at his words.
He glanced around the room, a smile playing on his lips.
“I remembered how your dad used to decorate the house. You guys had the nicest house in the neighborhood. When I was walking around for old time’s sake, I saw that the house was still empty. And I made myself at home… I found the decorations in the basement.”
A basement | Source: Midjourney
We were both quiet for a while.
“Why didn’t you get rid of the place?” he asked me.
“I don’t have any good answers,” I said. “I just wanted to keep it the way it was.”
Max nodded.
A man sitting next to a fire | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry if I shouldn’t be here,” Max said. “I just… had nowhere to go. No parents to turn to for the holidays, and honestly, I didn’t think anyone would mind.”
Something broke inside me at that moment. I had been through everything Max had just described.
“Come home with me,” I said. “Nobody should spend Christmas alone. And anyway, I have three kids who will need distracting from the pile of Christmas presents at home.”
A pile of presents under a Christmas tree | Source: Midjourney
Max’s eyes widened, and for a second, he looked like that same little boy from all those years ago, the one who had been desperate for someone to care.
Now, sitting in my living room, watching my kids get to know someone from my past, I realize what I need to do.
Evan and I have some savings. It could be enough to do the house up properly. Once it’s fixed, Max can live there. He can rent out a couple of rooms to boarders if he needs the extra income. It’s not much, but it’s a start, and I know it will give him a chance to get back on his feet.
I put my cup of hot chocolate down on the coffee table. I was getting excited.
House renovations in progress | Source: Midjourney
I don’t know if my parents would approve of the plan, but it doesn’t matter. That house doesn’t belong to their memory anymore. It’s time to give it a new purpose.
And who knows? Maybe the money we make from it will go toward Ella, Maya, or Ben’s college fund someday.
What would you have done?
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
If you’ve enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
I Dropped My Naughty Kids at My Parents’ Home — I Was Shocked When They Were Good as Gold When I Picked Them Up
When Cara and her husband get an invitation to an adult-only party, they welcome the break from being parents of three for a few hours. Thankfully, her parents are ready to save the day and babysit the kids. But when Cara and Jason go back to fetch the kids, they’re shocked with the change in their behavior.
“Are you sure that the kids will be okay?” my husband, Jason, asked me as I went through my closet trying to find something to wear.
A woman looking through her closet | Source: Midjourney
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “They will be absolutely fine with my parents.”
“It’s just that you know how they can be,” Jason said. “The kids, not your parents. They’re a handful.”
“They’ll be fine,” I repeated.
A close-up of a smiling man | Source: Midjourney
But my husband wasn’t wrong.
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.
Mark Zuckerberg Suffered a Serious Injury, and His Wife Never Left His Side
Zuckerberg has recently shared pictures of himself in a hospital bed, causing concern among fans and showing that he underwent quite a serious surgery. The Instagram post doesn’t provide details about the cause and timing of the surgery, but the billionaire did reveal that he had to give up something significant because of this medical procedure.
He really made jiu-jitsu a big part of his life, just like his business “stuff”.
Mark Zuckerberg’s unexpected foray into Brazilian jiu-jitsu has sparked widespread interest, shedding light on a facet of the tech magnate that extends beyond the digital realm. The co-founder of Facebook, set to reach the milestone of 40 years in May 2024, unveiled his newfound passion for martial arts that took root in August 2022.
Beyond the confines of Silicon Valley and the tech domain, Zuckerberg seems to have discovered an alternative arena where he can challenge himself and partake in a mode of self-expression that transcends the world of code.
The choice of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a martial art known for its emphasis on technique and leverage, reflects Zuckerberg’s inclination towards a discipline that demands not only physical prowess but also strategic thinking. It’s a departure from the stereotypical image of a tech titan, underscoring the multifaceted nature of individuals and their pursuits.
“To some degree, MMA is the perfect thing because if you stop paying attention for one second you’re going to end up on the bottom,” the CEO of Meta said.
He is also a champion.
In a surprising turn of events at his inaugural Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in Redwood City, California, Zuckerberg achieved remarkable success by clinching gold and silver medals. This unexpected triumph sent ripples through the martial arts community, garnering attention and admiration from a broader audience.
Zuckerberg took to social media, particularly Instagram, to share the exhilarating news with his vast following of 11.3 million. Accompanying the announcement were captivating photos capturing moments of victory, as he posed alongside his coaches and engaged in ground battles with formidable opponents.
In his Instagram post, Zuckerberg humbly captioned the achievement, stating, “Competed in my first jiu-jitsu tournament and won some medals,” accompanied by emojis depicting a gold and silver medal. He graciously acknowledged the crucial role of his three trainers, tagging them in the post and expressing gratitude for their guidance.
Mark even put an octagon in his garden, and his wife was not very happy about it.
Mark Zuckerberg has taken his martial arts training to the next level, and it seems like it’s causing a bit of a stir at home. The Facebook and Meta founder recently revealed on social media that he installed a fighting cage, a UFC octagon, in his backyard. His excitement was evident as he shared a screenshot of his conversation with his wife, Priscilla Chan, asking if she had seen the new addition and commenting on how awesome it looked.
However, Chan’s response was less enthusiastic. She mentioned that she had been working on the grass in the backyard for two years, indicating that the sudden appearance of a fighting cage wasn’t exactly part of her landscaping plans.
Not one to shy away from public opinion, Zuckerberg decided to let his followers have a say in the matter. He posted a poll, asking whether he should keep the cage or prioritize preserving the grass.
This unconventional backyard setup is not just a personal whim but seems to be connected to the ongoing banter between Zuckerberg and Tesla founder Elon Musk. The two tech titans have been playfully challenging each other to a cage match, with Musk even suggesting that their fight could be live-streamed on X, with all proceeds going to charity for veterans.
In the midst of this lighthearted exchange, Musk shared that he’s preparing for the showdown by lifting weights throughout the day, showcasing a commitment to the bout that goes beyond mere words.
As the anticipation for this unconventional clash between tech giants builds, it’s clear that for Zuckerberg and Musk, this fight is more than just a physical contest, combining competition with a charitable cause.
An unexpected injury resulted in him missing a crucial competition.
Zuckerberg has recently undergone surgery following an ACL injury that occurred during mixed martial arts (MMA) training. The co-founder of Facebook shared this information through an Instagram post, where he mentioned, “I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) sparring and just got out of surgery to replace it.”
In the post, Zuckerberg also disclosed that he had been training for a competitive MMA fight scheduled for early next year but acknowledged the delay caused by the injury. Despite this setback, he expressed optimism, stating, “Still looking forward to doing it after I recover.” The Instagram post included several photos taken at an undisclosed hospital, capturing moments before and after the surgery, with his wife Priscilla Chan offering support during the recovery process.
Priscilla Chan was there every step of the way, wiping Mark’s forehead and helping him with his slides after his recent surgery. It’s a touching testament to the unwavering support and care she brings to their marriage. Their connection goes beyond the challenges, resonating in their love for their children and their shared commitment, even to tasks as humble as being janitors.
Mark and Priscilla’s promise of an annual honeymoon is a simple yet powerful tradition that underscores their dedication to keeping their relationship strong amid the hustle of their busy lives.
This story isn’t just about Zuckerberg’s surgery or their unique honeymoon ritual. It’s a peek into the personal lives of influential figures, revealing universal themes of love, commitment, and the crucial role of being there for each other through thick and thin. It’s a reminder that even tech giants have personal moments that reflect the fundamental aspects of human connection.
Mark Zuckerberg is a true fighter in real life, just as he battled to win his wife’s heart and make her fall in love with him.
Preview photo credit zuck / Instagram
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