FATHER RETURNED HOME FROM THE ARMY, AND SAW THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, AS HIS WIFE AND STEPSONS ARE NOT HOME

–Story of the Day–

As Peter was excited to go back to his home, see his daughter, wife and stepsons. He felt lucky that he received an early discharge from the army. He was coming two months early than he should be.

He wanted to surprise his family, so he said nothing to his daughter, Melissa and his wife Linda. But, he had no idea what was waiting for him at his house.

As he opened the door, he shouted, “Linda, Melissa? Where are you? Jay and Kyle! I’m home!”

He heard no response, and shoted once more, “Melissa?”

“Daddy!” Said a silent voice. “I’m here, in the kitchen!”

Peter ran to the kitchen, where the sound was coming. The door was locked. He unlocked it. His daughter, Melissa had cried as she said, “Daddy, I’ve missed you so much!”

As Peter hugged as tight as possible to his daughter, he saw a makeshift bed on the floor. “Melissa!” Peter said as he was shocked. “Were you sleeping here? WHY? Where are Linda and the boys?”

Melissa was scared, “Please, daddy,” she said.

“Please, it’s alright…”

“Tell me!” Said Peter, as he wanted to know what was happening.

“Were you locked up and sleeping in this kitchen?”

“I can’t tell you!” Melissa started to cry. “Don’t you see, daddy? You’ll go away again and I’ll be all alone with THEM again!”

Peter hugged his daughter again. “I promise you, Melissa, you have nothing to be afraid of, ever again. Now tell me what’s going on.”

“Six months ago, Linda said Jay and Kyle were too big to be sharing a bedroom,” Melissa said.

“So she moved me out of my bedroom and Kyle moved in. I sleep in the kitchen on this mattress.”

Peter got mad. He couldn’t believe how his wife, Linda could do that. He had always treated his stepsons, as if they were his.

Peter asked, “Where are they now? And why were you locked in?”

Melissa answered, “Linda took the boys to Florida for the weekend to celebrate Kyle’s birthday,”

“So she left me some sandwiches and locked me in here because she thinks I’d steal her things…”

As they were talking, the window of the kitchen got knocked. “Melissa? It’s Karen…” Said a woman.

“Who is Karen?” Asked Peter.

“She’s a new neighbor,”

“She’s really sweet and kind. I think she suspects something because she always brings me treats.” Answered Melissa.

Peter opened the door, and said, “Hello, I’m Melissa’s father.”

Karen got surprised. “Hi! I hope you won’t take it the wrong way, but I brought Melissa some hot food…”

Peter said, “Of course not,”

“Thank you for your kindness to my daughter. I’ve just realized what you’ve probably known for some time — but I’m putting things right!”

Karen said, “I knew Melissa was left alone… She’d always say she couldn’t open the door to anyone, but I knew something was very wrong. I was going to call Social Services, but I was afraid I’d just make things worse!”

Peter thanked to Karen, and stated that he will do the right thing, and now he is returned, Melissa will be on the safe hands. He started to wait for his wife to return with his stepsons.

As Linda and her sons returned, she saw three mattresses on the yard. And their items were on top of them.

Linda screamed “Melissa! You brat! I’ll get you for this!”

Then the door of the house opened. Peter said in a calm voice, “Hello Linda,”

Linda got shocked as she saw her husband. “Peter!” She said. “Baby, what a wonderful surprise…”

Peter said, “I think I was the one who had the biggest surprise, Linda,”

“But just so you know, Melissa is back in her bedroom. You and the boys can move those mattresses into the garage which is where you will be living from now on…”

Linda got mad and shouted to Peter, “I’ll take you for every penny you have, Peter!”

“No, you won’t, Linda,” said Peter. “I called the police and they saw how Melissa was living and the conditions I found her in. You try anything and you go to jail for child abuse.”

As Linda heard that, she took their belongings, and ran away. The last time they had an interaction, was to complete their divorce. After a while, Peter and Karen got into a relationship, and Melissa was loved again, by her parents.

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