Sixteen-year-old Eric slips away from his foster family during a camping trip, driven by a desperate desire to find his biological mother and the answers he’s longed for. But as he uncovers hard truths about his past and the meaning of family, Eric’s journey takes an unexpected turn.
On a family car, heading to a camping area, at almost sixteen, Eric’s mind was full of thoughts, he understood his place in the Johnson family. They had taken him in when he was twelve, treated him like one of their own, even though he wasn’t their biological child. They’d shown him kindness he’d never experienced before. But with Mila now in the picture, things felt different. Eric wondered if they still wanted him.
“We’ll stop here at the gas station for a break,” Mr. Johnson said, pulling over. Eric’s eyes, however, were drawn to the weathered diner sign across the road, stirring an odd sense of familiarity. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a worn photograph—the only link to his past, showing him as a baby with his biological mother, with a sign just like the one at the diner in the background.
Mrs. Johnson noticed him staring at something in his hand. “Everything alright?” she asked warmly.
Eric quickly tucked the photo away, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, just thinking.”
Mr. Johnson called from the car, “Alright, family! Let’s get back on the road.”
An hour later, they arrived at the campsite. Eric helped Mr. Johnson set up the tents, though his mind remained on the photo. After dinner by the campfire, the others went to bed, leaving Eric alone with his thoughts.
“I’ll stay up a bit longer,” Eric told Mr. Johnson, who nodded before heading to bed.
Sitting by the flickering embers, Eric studied the photo again. On the back were the words “Eliza and Eric.” The woman in the picture smiled faintly, but Eric couldn’t remember her. He felt a pang of guilt as he glanced at the Johnsons’ tent. They’d been nothing but kind, yet he still felt out of place.
Sighing, he slipped the photo into his pocket, grabbed his backpack, and left the campsite, heading down the road toward the diner. Hours later, the dim lights came into view.
Inside, the diner was gloomy. An old man at the counter frowned as Eric approached, photo in hand. “We don’t serve kids here.”
“I just have a question,” Eric said, showing him the photo. “Do you know this woman?”
The man frowned at the image. “What’s her name?”
“Eliza,” Eric replied, hopeful.
The man nodded toward a noisy group in the corner. “That’s her.”
Eric’s heart pounded as he approached the table. The woman from the photo was older, worn, but it was her. “Eliza, hi,” he said nervously.
She looked at him with a frown. “What do you want, kid?”
“I’m your son,” Eric said quietly.
“I don’t have any kids.”
Eric held up the photo. “It’s me, Eric. See?”
Eliza’s expression hardened. “Thought I got rid of you,” she muttered.
“I just wanted to meet you,” Eric said, his voice trembling.
Eliza smirked. “Fine. Sit down. Maybe you’ll be useful.” Her friends chuckled as Eric sank into a chair, feeling out of place.
After a while, Eliza glanced toward the counter. “Time to leave. Let’s go before the old man catches on.”
As they stood to leave, Eric hesitated. “But we haven’t paid,” he said.
“That’s not how the world works, kid,” Eliza replied, snatching the cash from Eric’s backpack.
The old man at the counter noticed. “Hey! You didn’t pay!” he shouted.
“Run!” Eliza yelled, dashing out. Eric had no choice but to follow. Police lights flashed nearby, and as Eliza ran past him, she shoved him. “I told you—I don’t have any kids!” she shouted, disappearing into the night.
A police car pulled up beside Eric. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, tears in his eyes. “I tried to pay, but she took my money.”
An officer placed a hand on Eric’s shoulder, guiding him into the backseat gently.
At the police station, Eric was led to a small room where he was given a cup of tea. His heart skipped when he saw the Johnsons talking to an officer nearby. Mrs. Johnson rushed over, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Eric! We were so worried!”
Mr. Johnson approached. “Why did you run off like that?”
“I wanted to find my mom,” Eric admitted, “but she wasn’t what I expected.”
Mrs. Johnson’s face softened. “We consider ourselves your parents.”
Mr. Johnson nodded. “We’re sorry if we didn’t make that clear.”
Eric looked at them. “I thought you might not want me anymore, now that you have Mila.”
Mrs. Johnson hugged him again. “We don’t give up on our children.”
“You’re as much our child as Mila is,” Mr. Johnson added. “That’s never going to change.”
Tears fell as Eric realized he had found his real family. Mr. Johnson continued, “This trip was actually for you—to tell you we want you to officially be our son.”
Mrs. Johnson added, “All the paperwork is ready, but only if you want it.”
Eric hugged them both, finally feeling at home.