Derek sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of despair heavy on his chest. It had been a week since his daughter, Amber, had vanished without a trace. The vibrant laughter that usually filled their home had been replaced by an unbearable silence. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and every minute stretched into an eternity filled with fear and anxiety. The police were doing their best, but as each day passed without new leads, Derek felt hope slipping away.
At the police station, the officer had assured him, “As soon as we know something, we will inform you immediately.” But Derek couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. With each tick of the clock, his dread deepened. The posters with Amber’s smiling face hung on the walls of the station, and he wondered if they were just reminders of his helplessness.
That evening, as Derek drove home, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more desperate than the last. The streets felt darker than usual, and shadows loomed larger, each one a reminder of his daughter’s absence. Just when he thought he couldn’t bear the weight of his despair any longer, something caught his eye.
A homeless woman sat on the sidewalk, shivering in the chill of the evening, clutching a worn backpack that seemed eerily familiar. Derek’s heart raced as he pulled over. He approached her cautiously, the hope flickering within him like a candle in the wind. “Excuse me, where did you get that backpack?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The woman looked up, her eyes weary but sharp. “Found it at the bus station; some teenage girl left it behind,” she replied, her voice gravelly. Derek’s pulse quickened. He reached for the bag, his hands trembling as he unzipped it. Inside, he found a folded piece of paper. His heart leaped as he opened it to reveal an address labeled “Hostess Family.”
Without a second thought, he jumped back into his car and drove to the address, his mind racing with possibilities. Was it a clue? Had Amber been there? He clung to the hope that this could lead him to her.
Upon arrival, a woman answered the door, her expression puzzled. “I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of Amber,” she said, shaking her head. Derek felt his heart sink. The glimmer of hope dimmed, and he fought back tears of frustration. With a heavy heart, he decided to return home, each mile a reminder of his lost daughter.
As he drove, his eyes caught sight of a familiar figure through the window of a café. It was Miranda, his ex-wife, sitting alone at a table. A knot of suspicion twisted in his stomach. Could Amber have come to see her? Driven by desperation, Derek parked and approached her.
“Miranda,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Have you seen Amber? She’s missing!”
Initially, Miranda shook her head, her expression guarded. “I don’t know anything, Derek.” But as Derek rifled through his memories of Amber’s belongings, he pulled out her inhaler from his pocket. It was a small item, but it felt like a lifeline. “I found this in your bag,” he said, holding it up. “What does this mean?”
The moment hung in the air, thick with tension. Miranda’s facade crumbled. “Okay, okay,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “She came to see me. But I thought she’d just want to talk. I didn’t know she’d run away.”
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the café doorway. Amber! She had overheard their conversation. Panic washed over her face, and she turned to flee. “Amber!” Derek shouted, his heart racing as he chased after her.
He found her a few blocks away, sobbing on a bench, her small frame shaking with emotion. “Amber!” he called out, desperation in his voice. She looked up, her tear-streaked face breaking his heart. Derek sat beside her, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on them both. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to worry you,” she cried, her voice choked with remorse.
Derek wrapped his arms around her tightly, relief flooding through him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You just wanted to meet your mom, didn’t you? But you scared me. I thought I’d lost you.”
Amber nodded, wiping her tears. “I just wanted to know her, Dad. I didn’t think…”
“I know, honey. But you’re grounded for two weeks,” he added, trying to lighten the mood with a playful tone.
A small smile broke through her tears, and Derek felt the tension in his heart ease. “Okay,” she said, sniffling but grateful to be back in his embrace.
As they sat there on that bench, the world around them faded into the background. In that moment, Derek realized that while the journey had been fraught with fear and uncertainty, they had found their way back to each other. They were a family, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, love would always guide them home.
You Won’t Believe What Happened When This Woman with Facial Tattoos Went to TJ Maxx!
Sometimes, when you apply for a job and don’t get it, you might wonder why. Was it your skills, how you presented yourself, or something else?
Ash Putnam, who is 23 years old and covered in tattoos, recently shared her frustration on TikTok after being turned down for a job at TJ Maxx.
Her video became really popular, with over seven million views and tens of thousands of comments. Many people agreed with her about how hard it can be for young people to find entry-level jobs.
Putnam explained on TikTok that she applied for a job at TJ Maxx and later got an email saying she didn’t get the job. She felt disappointed that they didn’t even call her personally, just sent an automatic email.
Not satisfied with the response, she went to the store and asked the employees why she didn’t get hired.
“I went in today and asked, ‘Why didn’t I get hired?’ The employee said, ‘You don’t have enough experience. There were other candidates with more experience.’”
Putnam also asked if her tattoos were the reason she didn’t get the job. Many places don’t like employees with visible tattoos. The employee said that wasn’t the reason, but Putnam wasn’t sure she believed that.
“Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I won’t be a good worker. I don’t understand that at all,” she said. “Some of the smartest people I know have tattoos and piercings.”
Her story sparked a lot of discussion about job hunting and how people are judged based on their appearance.
Even though the woman from California, who also works for Uber Eats, didn’t get a clear reason from TJ Maxx, many people on TikTok think they know why she was turned down.
One person said, “I’m a tattoo artist, it’s probably because of the tattoos.”
Another person, who works in human resources, commented, “No company would want someone with visible tattoos dealing with customers, like TJ Maxx.”
A former TJ Maxx employee added, “I used to work there, and they hire almost anyone off the street. It’s definitely because of the tattoos and piercings.”
Someone else suggested, “It might not be that you have tattoos, but maybe where the tattoos are located.”
These comments show that many think her tattoos could be the reason TJ Maxx didn’t hire her.
“I really think it’s because of my tattoos, as many comments say my tattoos are scary and demonic to some people,” she shared with the Daily Star.
She added, “TJ Maxx didn’t tell me this directly, but many comments on my TikTok are really mean. People say I should work at a circus or Halloween store.”
Even if her tattoos are why TJ Maxx didn’t hire her, she thinks companies should change how they hire people.
“If they think tattoos decide how good you are at a job, they need to think again. Tattoos, piercings, and colored hair aren’t unprofessional. They show creativity and being different. It’s 2024, people need to stop disliking tattoos.”
Do you think tattoos should decide if you get a job? Tell us on Facebook what you think.
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