After returning home from a month-long vacation, a woman wakes up the next morning to discover a stranger sleeping on her couch

Megan was thirty-four, never married, had no kids, and worked a demanding job as a producer. She was tired of hearing questions about her personal life from her mother, but deep down, she knew her mother was right—it was time to change something. Little did she know, the change would find her first.

It was a late evening, and Megan was driving home after a long, exhausting month of what was supposed to be a vacation.

Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she chatted on the phone with her mother, Dina. The road ahead was quiet, with only the faint glow of the car’s headlights cutting through the darkness.

Despite the peace outside, Megan felt anything but relaxed.

“Megan, I don’t understand how you can go on vacation and still work the entire time!” her mother’s voice echoed through the car’s speaker. The concern in Dina’s tone was unmistakable.

“You’re always on your phone, always busy. You’re 34 years old, dear. When are you going to start focusing on yourself, on your personal life?”

Megan rolled her eyes, though she knew her mother couldn’t see her. A hint of frustration crept into her voice.

“Mom, I didn’t have much choice. Things never go as planned at work, and as a producer, my attention is needed constantly. You know that.”

Dina, persistent as always, wasn’t ready to let the conversation drop.

“But when will I get to see grandchildren? You’re too focused on your career, and I’m worried you’ll never settle down. Don’t you want a family someday?”

Megan sighed, gripping the wheel a little tighter as she tried to keep calm. She loved her mother, but this conversation was becoming all too familiar.

“Mom, I really can’t talk about this right now,” she said, faking a crackle in her voice. “The signal’s bad. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

Before Dina could continue, Megan quickly ended the call, feigning static noises to make it seem like the connection had failed.

She glanced down at the phone and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Pulling into her driveway, Megan parked the car and stared at her house for a moment.

She felt drained, both from the conversation with her mother and from the past few weeks.

What was supposed to be a restful vacation had turned into yet another working trip, with her phone constantly buzzing with problems at work.

For the entire month, she hadn’t been able to fully unplug. She didn’t even know what “rest” meant anymore.

After grabbing her bags from the trunk, Megan walked inside her dimly lit house, too tired to bother turning on all the lights.

She set her bags down by the door and paused for a moment. Something felt off. Glancing around, she noticed that one of the windows on the first floor was slightly open.

Puzzled, she tried to remember if she had left it like that before leaving for her trip. She shrugged it off, assuming she had simply forgotten to close it. It had been a busy month, after all.

Megan shut the window, turned off the last light on the first floor, and headed upstairs.

She barely had the energy to change into her pajamas. She kicked off her shoes, not even bothering to check if everything was in order.

Without thinking, she collapsed into her bed, letting her head sink into the pillow.

The familiar comfort of her bed was a relief, and within moments, Megan was fast asleep, her mind already letting go of the chaos of the day.

Little did she know that tomorrow would bring an unexpected surprise—one she never could have anticipated.

The next morning, Megan was jolted awake by the buzzing of her phone. Half-asleep, she groaned as she answered it, recognizing the overly enthusiastic voice of her assistant, Lisa.

Lisa’s high-pitched chatter filled her ears, rattling off a long list of meetings and tasks for the day at a speed that made Megan’s head spin.

“Lisa, please… slow down,” Megan mumbled, trying to focus as she stumbled out of bed. She held the phone between her ear and shoulder while getting dressed, lazily brushing her teeth, and starting her coffee machine.

The warmth of the coffee was barely hitting her system when something made her stop mid-sip—loud snoring coming from the living room.

Her body tensed as her brain struggled to process what she was hearing. Who is in my house?

“Lisa, I’ll have to call you back,” she said abruptly, hanging up the phone before Lisa could respond. Heart racing, Megan cautiously walked toward the living room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Peeking inside, she couldn’t believe her eyes. A man—fully dressed with boots still on—was sprawled across her couch, snoring loudly.

Dirty footprints trailed from the window she had closed the night before to where the man now lay. Megan’s mind raced with questions. Who is this guy? How did he get in?

Her eyes narrowed, and without thinking twice, she darted to the kitchen, grabbing the nearest weapon she could find: a broom.

She marched back to the living room and jabbed the man with the handle.

He stirred, groggy and confused, blinking as he rubbed his eyes.

“Who are you?” Megan demanded, doing her best to keep her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest.

The man, still half-asleep, sat up slowly. “Uh… I’m George,” he muttered, his words slurring together. “How did I get here?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing!” Megan snapped, frustration mixing with confusion. “Why are you on my couch?”

George blinked, clearly disoriented, as he looked around. “I don’t remember much… I was out with some friends, and then… nothing. I guess I drank too much.”

Megan sniffed the air and immediately recognized the stale scent of alcohol. It didn’t take long to piece together what had happened—George had been blackout drunk and somehow ended up in her house.

Her anger started to fade, replaced with a mix of disbelief and reluctant sympathy.

“Well, you’re lucky I didn’t call the police,” she said, setting down the broom. “Take these.”

She handed him a bottle of aspirin and watched as he gratefully swallowed a couple of pills.

“I need to leave for work, but this time make sure you use the door when you go. Not the window.”

George, still looking sheepish, nodded. “Thank you… and I’m really sorry.”

Megan sighed. “Just… don’t make a habit of it.” With that, she grabbed her things and headed out the door, leaving George to process his own mess.

That evening, Megan drove home after a long, exhausting day at work. Her eyes felt heavy, her body sore from sitting in meetings and staring at screens for hours. Her stomach growled in protest, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything substantial all day.

There hadn’t been a single free moment to stop for groceries, and she sighed at the thought of coming home to an empty fridge.

As Megan walked into the house, she froze. The familiar smell of her dim living room was replaced by something unexpected—the soft glow of candles flickered around the room, casting a warm, inviting light.

The dining table, which she had left bare that morning, was now set with plates, silverware, and an array of delicious-smelling dishes.

At the center of it all stood George, looking slightly awkward and sheepish but also determined. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he saw her expression.

“What is this?” Megan asked, her voice a mixture of shock and confusion.

George shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“I… I felt really bad about what happened this morning,” he explained, his voice soft. “So I cleaned up the mess I made, and I wanted to cook you dinner. You know, to make it up to you.”

Megan blinked, still processing the scene before her. She had expected to come home, collapse onto the couch, and figure out how to deal with her hunger.

Instead, she found this—a stranger who had passed out on her couch that morning, now standing in her living room with an entire meal prepared.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she said, still a bit in disbelief.

“I know,” George replied, “but I wanted to. It’s the least I could do after… well, everything.” He offered a small, apologetic smile.

George began to gather his things, ready to leave and give her space, but Megan stopped him.

“Wait,” she said softly, not wanting him to rush off just yet.”

You’ve already gone through all this trouble to make such a nice dinner. Stay and have it with me. I can’t eat all of this by myself, anyway.”

George hesitated, his uncertainty clear.

“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Megan smiled warmly, her exhaustion from the day fading just a little. “Yes, I’m sure. Besides, it would be nice to have some company.”

They both sat down at the table, and as the scent of the warm food filled the air, Megan couldn’t help but feel a surprising sense of calm.

The hectic day seemed to slip away, replaced by an evening of unexpected comfort.

They sat down at the table, the soft glow of the candles creating a peaceful atmosphere. As they began to eat, the earlier tension seemed to melt away with each bite.

George, now more comfortable, started telling Megan about his wild night out with friends. He laughed as he explained how too much fun and a little too much to drink had led him to her couch, of all places.

“I honestly didn’t even realize I wasn’t home until I woke up this morning,” George chuckled, shaking his head.

“And when I saw you standing there with a broom, I thought I was in serious trouble.”

Megan couldn’t help but laugh along, her earlier frustration fading with each word.

The stress she had carried home after a long day at work seemed to vanish, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a meal and a conversation with someone who made her laugh. It felt like a break from the routine, like a breath of fresh air.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Megan felt completely relaxed. George was easy to talk to, and the conversation flowed naturally. They joked, swapped stories, and enjoyed the food he had so thoughtfully prepared.

My Dad Who Left 20 Years Ago Called from His Deathbed for a Final Wish — What He Asked Broke My Heart

My Dad Who Left 20 Years Ago Called from His Deathbed for a Final Wish — What He Asked Broke My Heart

When my estranged father, who left 20 years ago, called from his deathbed, I was torn between anger and curiosity. His final wish was something I never expected, and what he revealed about his disappearance shattered everything I thought I knew.

I was getting ready for bed when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. The number was unfamiliar, so I let it go to voicemail. Not even a minute later, a text came through: “ALICE, THIS IS YOUR DAD. PLEASE CALL, I AM IN THE HOSPITAL.”

A woman in her bedroom at night, looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman in her bedroom at night, looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney

My heart stopped. Dad? After twenty years? I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the message. Part of me wanted to delete it and forget, but curiosity won. I called the number back.

“Hello?” The voice was weak, barely audible.

“Dad?”

“Alice, it’s me. I… I don’t have much time.”

“Why are you calling now?” My voice was harsher than I intended.

“I need to explain… to ask something of you. But please, don’t tell your mother.”

Doctors standing beside a hospital bed, looking concerned | Source: Pexels

Doctors standing beside a hospital bed, looking concerned | Source: Pexels

There it was, the same secrecy that defined my childhood. “What do you want?”

He took a shaky breath. “I left because your grandfather, Harold, paid me to disappear. He hated me, thought I was a failure. He found someone else for your mom, someone better.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Grandpa? He did that?”

“Yes. I was struggling back then. Addictions, bad decisions. Your grandfather saw a chance to get rid of me, and I took the money.”

A sick-looking man lying in bed | Source: Pexels

A sick-looking man lying in bed | Source: Pexels

“So you just left us for money?” Anger bubbled up.

“I know it sounds awful. But I invested that money, built a business. It was all for you, Alice. To secure your future.”

“Why didn’t you ever come back?”

“Part of the deal. I couldn’t approach you or your mom. But I was there, watching. I saw your graduation, your volleyball games. I was always there, just… from a distance.”

I felt like my world was tilting. “Why didn’t Mom ever tell me?”

An old man in a hospital bed talking on a cell phone | Source: Midjourney

An old man in a hospital bed talking on a cell phone | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t know. Maybe she didn’t want you to hate him. Or maybe she thought she was protecting you.”

“What do you want now?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“I need to see you, Alice. One last time before I go. I’m at St. Mary’s Hospital.”

I didn’t know what to say. Could I face him after everything?

“Please, Alice. It’s my dying wish.”

The exterior of a hospital building at night | Source: Midjourney

The exterior of a hospital building at night | Source: Midjourney

The line went silent, and I sat there, the phone still in my hand, my thoughts tumbling. Should I go? What would I even say to him? I needed to think, but there was no time. He was dying.

The next morning, I called in sick to work and sat in my kitchen, staring at my coffee. Should I tell Mom? But he’d asked me not to.

I called my best friend, Jen. “Hey, can we talk?”

“Of course. What’s up?”

A woman talking on a cell phone | Source: Pexels

A woman talking on a cell phone | Source: Pexels

“It’s… it’s my dad. He called last night.”

“Your dad? The one who left?”

“Yeah. He’s dying, and he wants to see me.”

“Wow. How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know. Angry, confused. He told me things, Jen. About my Grandpa.”

“Like what?”

“That my grandfather paid him to leave. He said he was there at my graduation, my games. But he couldn’t approach us.”

“That’s insane. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. He wants me to visit him, but I’m not sure I can.”

A woman in conversation on a cell phone | Source: Pexels

A woman in conversation on a cell phone | Source: Pexels

Jen was silent for a moment. “Maybe you should go. Get some answers. Closure.”

“I guess. But I don’t know if I’m ready to face him.”

“Take your time, but don’t take too long. If he’s dying…”

“I know. Thanks, Jen.”

After hanging up, I sat back, deep in thought. Jen was right. Maybe I did need closure. I couldn’t keep living with these unanswered questions. And if he really was dying… I had to see him.

A woman driving a car | Source: Pexels

A woman driving a car | Source: Pexels

I decided to go to the hospital. As I drove, memories of my childhood flashed through my mind. The good times before he left, the confusion and pain afterward. The way Mom never spoke about him, the unanswered questions that haunted me.

I walked into the hospital room, feeling the weight of years and unanswered questions pressing down on me. The beeping machines filled the stark room with an unsettling rhythm. My dad lay in the bed, looking more frail than I had ever imagined. His eyes lit up when he saw me, a weak smile forming on his lips.

An old man sitting up in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

An old man sitting up in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“Alice,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“Hi, Dad.” I stood at the foot of the bed, not sure what to say. Anger and confusion swirled inside me, but seeing him like this, so vulnerable, made it hard to voice them.

“You came,” he said, relief evident in his eyes.

“I had to. I needed to understand why.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry for everything.” He reached out a trembling hand, and I took it, feeling the cold, fragile skin.

A young woman close to an old man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

A young woman close to an old man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“Why did you do it, Dad? Why did you take Grandpa’s money and leave us?”

He sighed, a deep, rattling sound. “I thought it was the best way to secure a future for you and your mother. I was a mess, Alice. Addicted, broke. Your grandfather offered me a way out, a chance to give you a better life, even if it meant I couldn’t be part of it.”

“Do you know how much that hurt us? How much it hurt me?” Tears welled up in my eyes. “You missed everything, Dad. My graduation, my volleyball games, my entire life.”

A woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

A woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

“I was there, Alice. Watching from afar. It broke my heart not to be with you, but I thought I was doing the right thing.” He paused, struggling for breath. “I tried to make it right. I invested the money, built something that I hoped would help you.”

“Why didn’t you come back when you were better?”

“I couldn’t. Part of the deal was that I had to stay away. But I wrote to you, Alice. Letters, every year. They’re in a safety deposit box. Here.” He handed me a small key. “After I’m gone, open it. You’ll find proof of everything, and the letters.”

A small key in the palm of a hand | Source: Pexels

A small key in the palm of a hand | Source: Pexels

I took the key, my fingers trembling. “Why now, Dad? Why tell me all this now?”

“Because I’m dying, and I can’t leave this world without you knowing the truth. I love you, Alice. I’ve always loved you.”

Tears streamed down my face as I gripped his hand. “I needed you, Dad. I needed my father.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. But I hope you’ll understand why I did what I did when you read those letters.”

An apparently comatose figure in a hospital bed | Source: Pexels

An apparently comatose figure in a hospital bed | Source: Pexels

We sat in silence, holding hands, the machines’ beeping the only sound in the room. After a while, his breathing became more labored. He squeezed my hand one last time, and then he was gone.

I left the hospital feeling a mix of emotions. Relief, anger, sadness, and a strange sense of closure. The next day, I went to the bank and used the key to open the safety deposit box. Inside, I found stacks of financial documents and a bundle of letters, each one addressed to me, dated over the years.

A corridor of safety deposit boxes | Source: Midjourney

A corridor of safety deposit boxes | Source: Midjourney

I took the letters home and spent hours reading them. Each one was filled with his regrets, his love, his hopes for my future. He wrote about the business he built, how he watched over me, how proud he was of my achievements.

By the time I finished the last letter, my anger had softened into a deep, aching sadness.

With the financial documents, it was clear that my father had indeed worked hard to secure my future. The money he left behind was substantial, enough to change my life. But it wasn’t just about the money. It was about understanding his choices, his sacrifices, and his love.

A woman takes up a hand-written letter | Source: Pexels

A woman takes up a hand-written letter | Source: Pexels

I knew I had to talk to my mom. I needed to know her side of the story. When I confronted her, she looked at me with sad eyes.

“I knew about the offer,” she admitted. “I didn’t stop it because I thought it was best for you too. I thought you deserved a better life than what your father could give you at that time.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“I wanted to protect you from the truth, to let you remember him without bitterness. Maybe I was wrong, but I did what I thought was best.”

An elderly woman looking down thoughtfully | Source: Pexels

An elderly woman looking down thoughtfully | Source: Pexels

Her confession was another piece of the puzzle, helping me to understand the complex web of decisions that shaped my life.

In the end, I decided to use the money to start a scholarship fund in my father’s name. It felt like the right way to honor his memory and his efforts. It was a way to help others, just as he had tried to help me.

As I launched the scholarship, I felt a sense of peace. The past was complicated and painful, but it had brought me to where I was. And now, with the truth out in the open, I could move forward, honoring both my father’s love and my mother’s sacrifices.

A woman making calculations with a pen in hand | Source: Pexels

A woman making calculations with a pen in hand | Source: Pexels

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