While working as a nanny, Lori uncovered something she never thought she’d see again—a pair of shoes that once belonged to her daughter, who vanished 22 years ago. The shoes, a painful reminder of the past, were now inexplicably in the home where she was caring for a little girl.Lori sat on the living room floor, her hands trembling as she pulled the lid off another dusty box. Old memories flooded her mind, filling the air with a heaviness she couldn’t shake.
Three-year-old Marissa, the sweet little girl Lori was caring for, stood nearby, her wide eyes filled with confusion. Marissa didn’t understand why Lori was crying so hard. Lori was clutching a tiny child’s shoe in her hands, tears streaming down her face. This shoe had belonged to her daughter, who disappeared 22 years ago. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it, but nothing added up. Just then, the front door creaked open, and Lori heard footsteps. Emily, Marissa’s mother, entered the room, her face filled with concern.”Lori, are you okay?” Emily asked, her voice trembling with concern.Lori didn’t look up. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Where did you get these shoes?”Emily’s heart raced. She glanced at the small shoe, then at Lori. “I… ,” she stammered, struggling to find the right words. 22 years ago…Lori sat on the floor, carefully folding clothes and placing them into a small suitcase. She glanced at the list beside her, checking off items as she packed.It was Olive’s first trip without her, and Lori’s heart felt heavy. Olive’s father, Chris, was taking her to Scotland. Lori wasn’t sure if she could trust him to handle everything. Scotland seemed so far away, and the thought of being apart from her little girl made her anxious. As she zipped up the suitcase, four-year-old Olive came bouncing into the room. “Mom, why can’t you come with us?
” Olive asked, looking up at Lori with wide eyes.Lori knelt beside her and smiled. “I’d love to, sweetie, but this is a special trip for you and your dad.” Olive frowned. “What will I do without you?””You’ll have fun with your grandparents,” Lori said, brushing a curly strand away from Olive’s face. “You’ll see where your dad grew up and learn about Scotland. It’s a part of who you are.” Olive’s eyes filled with worry. “But I’ll miss you.”Lori’s heart ached as she pulled Olive into a hug. “I’ll miss you too, sweetheart. But it’s only five days, and we’ll be together again before you know it.” Olive pulled back a little, her face thoughtful. “Is five days a lot or a little?” “It’s a little,” Lori said, stroking her daughter’s cheek. “The time will fly by.”Olive nodded slowly. “Okay, but promise we’ll see each other soon. Promise you’ll miss me.” Lori smiled and kissed the top of Olive’s head. “I promise, baby. I’ll miss you so much.” She held Olive close, not wanting to let go. A few hours later, Chris arrived to pick up Olive. Lori knelt down, gently slipping Olive’s little shoes onto her feet. She had embroidered tiny flowers on them herself, making them special. “Be good for your dad, okay?” Lori said softly, hugging Olive tightly. Olive nodded and smiled, but Lori could still feel a tug in her heart as they left for the airport.Later, her phone buzzed. It was Chris, calling to let her know they had arrived safely. He sent a picture of Olive smiling at the airport. Lori smiled, feeling a small sense of relief, but deep down, a knot of worry still remained. Something didn’t feel right. Chris and Olive had been in Scotland for four days. They were supposed to return the next day. For the first three days, Chris had been good about sending Lori photos of Olive. Each picture showed Olive smiling, exploring new places, and it gave Lori some peace.But on the fourth day, nothing came. No messages. No pictures. Lori’s worry grew with each passing hour. She tried calling Chris, but her calls went straight to voicemail. She texted him, hoping for a quick response. Nothing. Her heart began to race. She called Chris’s parents, but there was no answer from them either. That’s when she knew something was wrong. Her hands trembled as she dialed again, but still no answer. Lori spent the entire day by the phone, her mind racing with horrible thoughts.Finally, in the evening, her phone rang. She saw Chris’s name on the screen. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and answered.”Chris, is everything okay? I was starting to worry,” Lori said, her voice tense.There was a pause. “Lori, are you sitting down?” Chris asked quietly. Lori frowned. “What? Why would I need to sit down?” she replied, her heart starting to race. “Just answer the question, Lori. Are you sitting down?” Chris repeated, his tone firm.Lori’s voice shook. “Yes, I’m on the couch. What’s going on?” “Alright. Listen carefully. Don’t panic,” Chris said. Lori’s breath caught in her throat. “What? Why would I panic? Chris, what’s happening?” “Olive is missing,” Chris finally said.Lori felt her world spin. “What? What do you mean, missing? How could she be missing?” she nearly screamed. “We were walking in the city this morning. I lost sight of her for a second. She was just gone. But I’ve already gone to the police, Lori. They’re looking for her,” Chris explained. Lori’s hands shook. “She’s been missing since this morning? And you’re only telling me now? You lost our daughter!” she yelled, tears streaming down her face.”I’m sorry, Lori. I didn’t know what to do,” Chris said, his voice weak. “I’m taking the next flight. I won’t stop until I find her,” Lori said, and without waiting for his response, she hung up the phone, her mind spinning. Lori flew to Scotland the very next day, determined to find Olive. She couldn’t rest, couldn’t think of anything else. She spent years in Scotland, pouring all her time and energy into the search. She walked the streets, put up posters, and talked to anyone who might have seen Olive.But it was as if Olive had vanished into thin air. No one knew anything. The police helped at first, but as time passed, they stopped looking. Lori refused to give up, continuing the search on her own. But with each year, her hope faded a little more.Then, a few years later, the police contacted her. They had found a body in the river and said it most likely belonged to Olive, but it was hard to identify. Lori’s world fell apart in that moment. It was as if her heart had shattered.She knew then that she had lost her daughter forever. With no hope left, Lori returned home, broken and defeated.Present Day… Lori, trying to control her tears, looked at Emily, who stood silent, not knowing what to say. After a long moment, Emily finally spoke. “These are the shoes my family found me in,” Emily said softly. “I was very young then, and I don’t remember much. I just know that I got lost somehow. I remember arriving in a strange city by bus, where my family found me. They adopted me later.”Lori could hardly breathe. “That’s… impossible,” she whispered, disbelief filling her voice.Emily hesitated before continuing. “I didn’t know where I came from, or my parents’ full names. My adoptive parents tried to find them, but no one came forward. After a while, they gave up,” she explained. “When I was six, we moved here, and I’ve been here ever since.” Lori wiped her face, her hands shaking. “Is Emily your real name?” she asked quietly. Emily looked confused. “No. I had a different name when they found me. But they changed it when I was adopted,” she replied.Lori’s heart ached. “Your name was Olive, wasn’t it?” Lori asked, staring at her. Emily’s eyes widened in shock. “How… how do you know that name?” Lori’s voice shook as she raised the little shoes. “These were my daughter’s shoes. She was wearing them when she disappeared in Scotland.” Emily stared at her, tears forming in her eyes. “I lived there before we moved here.”Lori’s voice cracked as she said, “I can’t believe you’ve been so close all this time. I never should have stopped looking.” Emily’s voice broke. “So… you’re my mother?”Lori nodded, her tears falling again. “Yes.” Emily threw her arms around Lori, who held her daughter tightly, just as she had done 22 years ago when she was little. The feeling of finally being reunited filled Lori’s heart with both joy and disbelief.They sat there, not saying a word, just holding each other. Time seemed to stop for them. After a few moments, little Marissa wandered over, curious. She looked at them with big eyes, then wrapped her small arms around both of them. Emily laughed softly, her eyes still teary, and kissed Marissa’s head. So, you’ve already met your granddaughter,” Emily said, her smile softening as she looked down at Marissa, who was now sitting between them.”Yes, I have,” Lori replied, a warm smile spreading across her face. “I can’t believe I’ve been her nanny for two whole years without realizing she was my granddaughter.” Lori gently ran her fingers through Emily’s hair. “You used to have such bright red hair as a child. Marissa’s hair is the same color. What happened to yours?”Emily chuckled. “I started dyeing it in high school. I wanted a change, and I guess I just never stopped.” “That’s a shame,” Lori said with a hint of nostalgia. “You had such beautiful hair, just like Marissa’s.” Emily’s eyes welled up with tears again. She leaned in and hugged Lori tightly, overwhelmed by the emotions of the moment. Lori, still in disbelief, held her daughter close, marveling at the fact that after all these years, she was finally able to hug her little girl again.”If you hadn’t asked me to go through these old boxes, I might never have known you were my daughter,” Lori said, her voice soft. Emily wiped her eyes and grinned. “So, does that mean I don’t have to pay you extra for organizing them?” “I’m ready to give you all the money I have, just promise me you’ll never disappear again,” Lori said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I promise,” Emily replied softly. She hugged her mother, feeling the weight of all those lost years. Lori held her daughter tightly, her arms wrapped around her as if she could protect her from ever disappearing again. She closed her eyes, taking in the familiar warmth she had longed for over so many years. The fear that Emily might vanish once more lingered in her heart. This was truly her daughter—no longer the little girl Lori had lost so many years ago, but now a grown woman, with her own life and even a child of her own. Yet, to Lori, she was still her little Olive.
I Recognized a Beggar as My Fiancé Who Disappeared from Our Wedding 8 Years Ago — His Explanation Shocked Me
I never expected to see Jacob, my ex-fiancé, again, especially not as a beggar in Central Park. Confronting him unveiled a shocking betrayal that left me questioning everything I knew about my past and the people I trusted most.
“Come on, Nina, just one more slice of pizza before you go,” my old friend Eric insisted, flashing his signature grin.
“No way,” I laughed, “I have a flight to catch. And a Central Park stroll to make, remember?”
Eric rolled his eyes but waved me off. “Fine, but you’ll regret missing out on another slice of genuine New York pizza when you’re back in boring old St. Louis,” he jibed.
New York City pictured from above | Source: Pexels
I laughed and hugged him and headed off to Central Park, savoring the last bit of my nostalgic trip. New York always had a way of making me feel so alive, but it also reminded me of Jacob somehow, and I had a strange feeling about him right then.
The weekend had been a whirlwind. I spent hours wandering through boutiques in SoHo, splurging on designer dresses and quirky accessories. The smell of leather from luxury handbags still lingered in my mind. Lunch at a trendy café, where I indulged in an avocado toast that tasted like heaven, was a highlight.
A woman shopping for dresses and shoes | Source: Pexels
Dinner at a swanky rooftop restaurant with Eric, overlooking the city lights, had been the perfect way to end my day. New York was a feast for the senses, a place where I could lose myself in the crowds and flavors.
Eight years had passed since my wedding day disaster. I was at peace with it, or so I thought. That was until I saw him.
There he was, on a bench, looking like a ghost from the past, disheveled and begging. My heart stopped. Could it really be Jacob, my long-lost fiancé? I had to know.
A woman talking to a destitute man in a park | Source: Pexels
“Jacob?” I approached cautiously.
He looked up, eyes widening in recognition. “Nina? Oh wow, it’s really you.”
“Yeah, it’s me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “What happened to you?”
He lowered his gaze, shame evident. “It’s a long story. Can we talk?”
I hesitated but then nodded, my curiosity getting the better of me. “Fine. Let’s get something to eat.”
A destitute man holding a sign | Source: Pexels
We walked to a nearby café, the awkward silence between us growing with each step. I ordered two coffees and a couple of burgers, glancing at Jacob, who seemed lost in thought.
I handed him his cup, our fingers briefly touching, sending a jolt of memories through me. We walked back into the park, found a bench under a large oak tree, and sat down, the city bubbling around us.
“Start from the beginning,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee.
A man eating food on a park bench | Source: Pexels
Jacob took a deep breath. “Two hours before our wedding, men came to my room. They said your father sent them.”
“My father?” I echoed, shocked.
“Yes,” he continued, “they took me away, beat me until I couldn’t remember anything. I ended up wandering, and now… this.”
I stared at him, disbelief mixing with pity. “Are you saying my father did this?”
“That’s what I’m saying,” Jacob replied, eyes pleading for me to believe him.
I shook my head, trying to process it all. “They beat you up and then what?”
A woman eating a sandwich on a park bench | Source: Pexels
“They beat me until I couldn’t remember anything. I woke up in a hospital, bruised and disoriented. The doctors said I had amnesia,” Jacob explained, his voice trembling. “I didn’t even know my own name. They kept me for a while, but once I was physically stable, they discharged me. I had nowhere to go. No memory, no job, no life.”
I could see the pain in his eyes as he continued. “Without a past, I couldn’t move forward. I wandered the streets, trying to piece together fragments of who I was. The confusion and fear turned into depression. I couldn’t find work, couldn’t afford a place to stay. One bad turn led to another, and I ended up here, living day by day.”
A sad-looking man facing the camera | Source: Pexels
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Recently, some memories started coming back, but it’s like trying to grasp smoke. I remember bits of our life together, our plans, but it’s all so fragmented.”
Hearing this, my heart ached. The man I once loved had been reduced to this by forces beyond his control. “I… I don’t know what to say, Jacob. This is all so overwhelming.”
He nodded, understanding my struggle. “I get it, Nina. It’s a lot to take in. But I’m glad I got to tell you this now, so you can understand what happened to me.”
A woman on a bench with a concerned expression | Source: Pexels
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. I looked at the man who once promised me a life together forever, now a shadow of his former self.
“I don’t know what to believe,” I finally said.
“I understand,” Jacob said quietly. “But I needed you to know.”
We finished our food in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I got up to leave, looking at Jacob, still sitting on the bench.
“Take care, Jacob,” I said softly.
“You too, Nina,” he replied, not meeting my eyes.
A woman walking away in a park | Source: Pexels
I walked away, heart heavy with unresolved emotions. As I replayed our conversation in my mind, I suddenly realized I had left my bag on the bench next to Jacob.
Panicking, I rushed back and found it right where I had left it. My weekend in New York had taken a turn I never expected, and I wasn’t sure what to do next.
***
I spent the rest of the evening wandering the city, trying to shake off the encounter. The lights of Times Square, the crowds, and the noise all felt distant. I couldn’t get Jacob’s story out of my head.
A depiction of New York’s Times Square at night | Source: Pexels
“Hey, Nina, you alright?” Eric’s voice brought me back to reality as I found myself back at his apartment.
“Yeah, just… a lot on my mind,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I decided not to take that flight home yet.”
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, concerned.
“In a way, I did,” I admitted. “I ran into Jacob.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “Jacob? Your Jacob?”
“Yeah, he’s… a mess. He told me some crazy story about my dad having him kidnapped.”
Eric shook his head. “That sounds nuts. You believe him?”
A woman and man conversing on a sofa in an apartment | Source: Pexels
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “It’s too much to take in.”
“Look, why don’t you stay another day? Clear your head before you fly back,” Eric suggested.
“I can’t,” I said, though the offer was tempting. “I need to go home and sort this out.”
“Alright,” Eric said, giving me a hug. “But tell me if you need anything.”
The next morning, instead of heading straight to the airport, I found myself back at Central Park. The conversation with Jacob replayed in my mind. I had to understand more before leaving the city. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe, it was a need for closure.
A woman making a call on a cell phone outdoors | Source: Pexels
I wandered through the park, hoping to find Jacob again. As I passed by the bench where we had sat, a wave of emotion hit me. I sat down, trying to piece everything together.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as I sat on the bench. Jacob’s story gnawed at me. It was too wild to be true, yet too detailed to be a lie. I needed answers.
“Hello, Dad?” I called my father, hoping for some clarity.
“Nina, what’s wrong? You sound upset,” he responded.
An older man talking on a cell phone | Source: Pexels
“I ran into Jacob,” I said, hearing the sharp intake of breath on the other end.
“That man has the nerve to show his face?” Dad’s voice was cold.
“He told me you had him kidnapped on our wedding day,” I blurted out.
“That’s absurd,” he replied, but there was hesitation in his voice.
“Is it? He said you hired men to beat him up and it left him with amnesia. He’s now homeless and lost in New York City.”
An woman sitting on a park bench with a cell phone in her hands | Source: Pexels
“Ridiculous. I paid him to leave you, Nina. He took the money and ran,” my father’s tone was harsh and defensive.
“So, you did interfere,” I said, anger rising.
“Yes, but for your own good. He wasn’t right for you,” he insisted.
“I can’t believe you,” I said, tears welling up. “You ruined everything.”
“Nina, please, I did it to protect you,” he pleaded, but I had already hung up and dropped my phone into my bag.
I sat for a long time, pondering what to do. Then it occurred to me to call Eric and ask him if I could stay longer in the city with him. As I rummaged in my bag for my phone, my pulse quickened.
A woman looks into in her handbag | Source: Pexels
My purse, which I had carefully placed inside, was missing. Then it hit me: yesterday, the bag had been on the bench between Jacob and me when we talked. The realization was like a punch to the gut. Had he taken my purse then? My trust, fragile already, shattered completely.
“Damn it,” I muttered, feeling panic and anger. I rifled through my bag, hoping I had just misplaced it, but it was nowhere to be found. A cold realization came over me. Jacob must have taken it when I had walked away and left it on the bench.
How could he do this? Was everything he said a lie? I felt betrayed all over again, by both Jacob and my father.
A woman contemplatives on a park bench | Source: Pexels
“Excuse me, miss, is everything alright?” a passerby asked, concern in his eyes.
“Not really,” I sighed, “but I’ll manage.”
I stood up, ready to face whatever came next. The past had reared its ugly head, but I wouldn’t let it define my future. It was time to move forward, one step at a time.
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you about a father who hid a letter addressed to his daughter from her boyfriend, only for her to find it years later.
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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