A lifetime of putting work first left Tom estranged from his family. Now, nearing 70, he faces worsening health and a daughter who won’t take his calls after years of neglect. But an unexpected Christmas scare forces him to confront his choices, leading to a moment that could change everything.
Tom sat in his quiet, empty office, the only sound the faint hum of the heater. Papers were neatly stacked on his desk, but his tired eyes wandered to the decorated Christmas tree glowing softly in the corner.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
It was festive but felt out of place in the lonely space. He always stayed late, long after others had gone home.
His friends had retired, but work was his anchor. With a sigh, he picked up his phone and dialed his daughter, Daisy.
“Hello,” Tom said, his voice steady but hesitant.
“Hi, Dad,” Daisy replied, sounding distracted.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What does Theo want for Christmas this year?” Tom asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
“He wants a Furby,” Daisy said.
“A Furby? What’s that?” Tom asked, frowning.
“It’s a toy. It talks and moves. All the kids at school have one,” Daisy explained.
“Would it be okay if I just gave him money instead?” Tom asked carefully.
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“Uh… yeah, I guess,” Daisy replied in a disappointed tone, then hung up quickly.
After working a little longer, Tom gathered his belongings. His desk, once bustling with life and cluttered with files, now looked too clean, almost sterile.
Locking the office door behind him, he stepped into the chilly evening air and drove home, the radio playing softly but failing to distract his thoughts.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
When he entered his empty house, the silence greeted him like an old, unwelcome friend. He hung his coat on the hook near the door and stared at the dimly lit living room.
The same sofa, the same TV, the same memories. For years, he’d lived alone, ever since his wife packed up and left, taking Daisy with her.
Tom changed into his worn-out sweatpants and sank into the couch, remote in hand.
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As the TV flickered on, his eyes wandered to the shelf. There sat a photo of Theo, grinning widely.
It was one of the few connections he had left. He sighed deeply, the weight of missed moments pressing on his chest.
The next morning, he drove to the clinic. Sitting in the doctor’s office, he felt trapped, knowing exactly what he’d hear: to slow down and work less.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Dr. Harris walked into the room with a clipboard in hand, his expression calm but focused. “Well, Tom, how are you feeling today?” he asked, sitting down across from him.
“I’m fine,” Tom muttered, avoiding eye contact.
Dr. Harris flipped through Tom’s file. “Your test results are mostly okay, but your cholesterol is still too high. We’ve talked about improving your diet. Are you eating better?”
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“No. I ignore it,” Tom said, crossing his arms.
“Tom, this isn’t something you can ignore. You know your heart’s condition. You need to make changes,” Dr. Harris said firmly.
“I drink water,” Tom replied, holding up a bottle. “My daughter sent it. Says it’s fancy.”
“That’s good, but it’s not enough. Have you told your family about your condition yet?” Dr. Harris asked, leaning forward.
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“No,” Tom said, his tone cold.
“Tom, we’ve talked about this before. Your family should know,” Dr. Harris said, clearly frustrated.
“I wasn’t a good father. My daughter and I don’t have the best relationship. I don’t want to drag her into this mess,” Tom said, shaking his head.
“Are you worried she won’t want to help?” Dr. Harris asked gently.
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“No. I’m worried she’ll help too much,” Tom admitted.
“Tom, you have to tell her, or I will,” Dr. Harris said firmly, standing up.
“You’re supposed to make my life easier, Doc,” Tom said with a weak smile.
“I’m just trying to keep you alive,” Dr. Harris replied, patting Tom’s shoulder before walking out.
Back home, Tom sat in his favorite armchair, the phone resting heavily in his hand.
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The screen lit up with Daisy’s contact, but his thumb hovered over the call button. He stared at it, debating.
What if she got upset? What if she brushed him off? Shaking his head, Tom forced himself to press the button.
“Dad?” Daisy’s voice came through, a mix of curiosity and concern.
“We need to talk,” Tom said, his voice quieter than he intended.
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“What’s going on?” Daisy asked.
Tom took a deep breath and told her about his heart condition. There was a long pause on the line before Daisy finally said, “I’m coming tomorrow. I’ll take care of it.”
“Daisy, you don’t have to—” Tom began, but she cut him off.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad,” she said firmly, ending the call.
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The next day, Daisy arrived with a determined look. She immediately called his doctor, grilling him about the details of Tom’s health.
Afterward, she attacked the fridge, tossing out every unhealthy item. Sitting Tom down at the table, she crossed her arms.
“Andrew and I talked, Dad,” Daisy began, her voice calm but firm. “We want you to come live with us. We have a guest house. You’d have your own space, and we’d be close by. I’ve already looked into a great doctor in our area who can help manage your condition. It’s all set up. You wouldn’t have to—”
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“Thank you, Daisy, really,” Tom interrupted, holding up his hand. “But I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Daisy asked, her tone sharper now.
“Because I need to work,” Tom said simply.
“Work? Are you serious?” Daisy asked, raising her voice. “Dad, you’re almost 70! How much longer do you think you can keep this up?”
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“Sweetheart,” Tom said softly, “work is all I have. I’ve built my life around it. I don’t know who I am without it.”
“And what about me? What about Theo?” Daisy shot back, her voice trembling. “When are you going to care about us? You’ve missed so much! My whole life, I heard people say how great you were. But I didn’t know that man. My dad was never around. And Theo? He doesn’t even remember you!”
“Daisy, I…” Tom began, his voice breaking.
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“I’m done, Dad,” Daisy said, tears in her eyes. She grabbed her bag and slammed the door behind her.
Over the next two weeks, Tom called Daisy every day, but each time, her voicemail picked up. He left messages, his words stumbling as he tried to explain himself.
“Daisy, it’s Dad. Please call me back. I’m sorry for everything.” The silence that followed weighed heavily on him.
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He replayed their last argument in his mind, each word cutting deeper. When Dr. Harris told him his condition had worsened, Tom knew he couldn’t wait forever. He had to make amends.
The day before Christmas, Tom sat at his desk, focusing on the work that usually kept his mind busy. His phone rang, displaying an unknown number.
“Hello?” he answered, his voice cautious.
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“This is Riverside Health Clinic,” a calm voice said. “We’ve received Mrs. Brown’s body following an accident. Your number is listed as the emergency contact.”
Tom froze, his heart pounding. “Mrs. Brown?” he repeated.
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
“I can’t get there for at least six hours,” Tom said, his voice shaking. Panic gripped him. His daughter. Daisy.
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“Understood. We’ll wait,” the voice responded before the line went dead. Tom sat there, stunned, the phone still in his hand.
Tom grabbed his coat and rushed out the door, his mind racing. At the airport, he fumbled with his phone, dialing Andrew again and again, but there was no answer.
Frustrated and panicked, he bought a ticket for the next flight, not caring about the cost. Sitting in the crowded plane, his chest felt tight, and his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
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He reached into his pocket, pulling out the small bottle of calming pills Dr. Harris had given him, swallowing one with a shaky gulp of water.
After landing, Tom flagged down a taxi and rushed to the hospital, his heart pounding. At the reception desk, he leaned forward, his voice trembling. “I was told my daughter, Daisy Brown, was in an accident.”
The receptionist frowned and tapped on her keyboard. “Daisy Brown?” she asked.
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“Yes,” Tom said, his hands gripping the counter tightly.
“I think there’s been a mix-up,” she replied. “It was Sarah Brown who was in the accident, not Daisy.”
Tom’s knees felt weak. “Are you sure? I got a call saying it was Daisy.”
The receptionist stepped away, returning after a few minutes. “I’m very sorry. A new nurse confused the files of Sarah Brown and Daisy Brown. She called you by mistake.”
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Tom’s face flushed with frustration. “How could something like that happen? Do you have any idea how terrified I’ve been?”
“Brown is a common last name,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “Again, I’m sorry.” She returned to her screen, acting as if the incident was resolved. Tom stood there, his body shaking, disbelief and relief flooding him at the same time.
Tom sank into a chair, his head in his hands, his heart still racing from the scare.
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Around him, doctors and nurses moved quickly, their faces focused and calm, handling lives that hung by a thread.
The thought hit him hard—this time it wasn’t Daisy, but what about next time? He couldn’t ignore the reality that life was fragile, and time wasn’t endless.
Taking a deep breath, Tom stood up with a new resolve and walked out of the hospital. Two hours later, Tom stood at Daisy’s doorstep, shifting awkwardly in the too-tight Santa costume.
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The fake beard itched, and the toy Furby felt ridiculous in his hand, but he had come this far. He rang the doorbell, his heart pounding.
The door opened, and Daisy stood there, her eyes widening. “Dad?” she said, her voice filled with surprise.
“Merry Christmas,” Tom said, forcing a small smile. “I know I’ve been a terrible father and grandfather. I’ve missed so much. But I want to change that. I want to do better, starting today.”
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Daisy’s eyes glistened with tears, and her lips curved into a smile. She stepped aside and said, “Come in, Dad.”
She turned and called into the house, “Theo! Come here! Look who’s at the door!”
Little Theo came running, his eyes lighting up when he saw Tom. “Santa!” he shouted with pure joy, throwing himself into Tom’s arms.
Tom knelt, hugging Theo tightly, the toy dropping to the floor as his emotions spilled over. Tears streamed down his face, and when he glanced up, he saw Daisy watching, her smile full of warmth.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Walking into the office that morning, I expected another ordinary day of burying myself in work. But then I saw him—the man who had destroyed my life. My chest tightened, and the memories came flooding back. I had no idea how to handle it. All I knew was that I couldn’t stay in the same room as him.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Poor Mom Is Barred from Boarding Plane to Get Home to Son, ‘I Need to See My Baby!’ She Screams — Story of the Day
A distraught mom loses her cool when barred from boarding the flight. “You don’t understand! I need to see my baby!” she screams, but it’s all for naught. In the end, she receives help from the most unexpected place.
When Caitlyn and Declan Cooper welcomed their son, Eden, Caitlyn decided to step up on the household front and embrace her mommy duties, making Declan the family’s primary breadwinner.
However, a few months after Caitlyn became a full-time mom, Declan noticed how tired she looked. She hardly had any time to herself and couldn’t sleep well since Eden would wake her in the middle of the night.
So on Catilyn’s birthday, Declan surprised her with flight tickets to Japan for a trip with her friends, ensuring that he’d stay behind to care for Eden alone. Caitlyn was reluctant to go, figuring everything would be too much for Declan to manage on his own. But he insisted, and she agreed.
Caitlyn was barred from boarding a flight. | Source: Shutterstock
A week later, after Declan and Eden dropped her off at the airport, Caitlyn badly missed them already. Even as she settled on the plane, her thoughts were preoccupied with whether Declan would be able to care for Eden on his own.
From the minute she arrived in Japan, she called Declan every hour to check on how things were going at home. Her friends mocked her and laughed at her, saying she was just being paranoid about the whole thing.
But only Caitlyn knew how hard it was to subdue the unsettling fear in her heart that something dreadful was about to happen. She didn’t know it would happen so soon…
Three days into their vacation, Caitlyn and her friends were at a beachside party. Her friends Amanda, Sophie, and Veronica were ogling their eyes over the shirtless men, complimenting their hot bodies, but Caitlyn … she was just lost.
“Hey, Caitlyn,” Sophie whispered, interrupting her thoughts. “Where are you even, babe? Just look at that guy. Damn, he’s hot….”
Caitlyn and her friends were enjoying a beach party. | Source: Unsplash
“Ughh,” Caitlyn sighed. “I’m just not in the mood right now, Sophie. I – I want to go back to the hotel. I’m sorry.”
Sophie frowned. “Is this about your baby and husband again? Look, Caitlyn, I understand you’re a new mom and all that, but stop being such a bore here, okay? You know what, it’s because you’re too engrossed in that stupid phone! Give it here!” Sophie tried to snatch Catilyn’s phone from her grasp.
“STOP IT, SOPHIE!” Caitlyn screamed, jerking Sophie’s hand away and drawing Veronica and Amanda’s attention away from the loud music. “I told you I am not interested! To hell with you and your party!”
Caitlyn stormed back to the hotel room, agitated, and she was pacing across the room frantically as she tried to get Declan to answer the phone. Back at the beach, she’d already tried contacting him three times, and now there were a total of 10 attempts with no news from Declan.
Caitlyn’s heart dropped to the floor at that point, and as a last resort, she called their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Louis, to check on Declan and Eden, but the call went unattended. Sophie was bawling like a child at this point, unsure of what to do.
Caitlyn was dead scared when Declan didn’t answer his phone. | Source: Unsplash
Suddenly, her phone rang, and it was Mrs. Louis on the other end. But in addition to Mrs. Louis’ voice, Caitlyn also heard some commotion in the background.
“Mrs. Louis!” cried Caitlyn. “Declan…he’s not returning my calls. Could you please check in on him and Eden for me? Please? I’m in Japan right now, and….”
“Caitlyn! Oh, I’m so glad you are safe, honey. There – There was a fire at your house, and the firemen… they’re still trying to put it out…”
“Fire?” Caitlyn’s heart skipped a beat. “Hello? Mrs. Louis?” The phone call was abruptly disconnected.
Caitlyn tried again, but it was all for naught. She panicked at this point and dashed back to the beach.
“Caitlyn, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Sophie asked, concerned.
“Oh my god! Dec – Declan and Eden…there was….”
Caitlyn broke down after she learned her house was engulfed in a fire. | Source: Unsplash
“Okay, cool down, okay…” Amanda wrapped her arms around her and comforted her. “Did something happen at home?”
Still sobbing, Caitlyn told them what transpired, insisting to go home right then. Her friends accompanied her to the airport, but sadly, when Caitlyn checked for a flight back home, she discovered that all flights to New York were fully booked.
“I guess we’ll have to wait, Caitlyn,” Amanda said gently. “Let’s hope everything turns out okay.”
“Hell no! I am going home right now!”
Caitlyn began to plead desperately with nearly every customer at the check-in counter to sell her their ticket to New York. But she was met with dismay because hardly anyone understood English and those who did refused her.
Finally, an old woman approached her and offered to help her.
“Hello, are you the one wanting to buy a ticket?” she inquired gently.
A woman came to Caitlyn’s rescue. | Source: Unsplash
“Oh yes!” Caitlyn nodded desperately. “I am ready to give you whatever price you want and even my diamond earrings, please! I need to get home to my husband and baby. Please!” she said, ready to offer the diamond earrings that were Declan’s wedding anniversary gift to her.
The woman handed her her ticket with a gentle grin. “There’s no need for that. You can have this. I’m Brenda White, by the way.”
“Oh my God! Thank you so much! I’m Caitlyn – Caitlyn Cooper. Trust me, I’ll forever be grateful to you!”
“You better get going,” the woman said. “Your flight takes off soon.”
“Of course, thank you!”
Caitlyn was over the moon, but her joy was short-lived when she was barred from the flight. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the ground stewardess at the check-in counter said after checking her passport. “The name on your passport does not match the name on your ticket. You cannot board this flight.”
“Listen, you don’t understand! I need to see my baby!” Caitlyn screamed. “Please let me go! It’s urgent. I can’t afford to waste time here!”
Catilyn was stopped at the check-in counter. | Source: Unsplash
“Sorry, ma’am, but that’s the protocol. Please step back,” the staff member replied flatly.
Caitlyn was about to burst into tears when another member of the staff approached her. “You may go, ma’am,” she said. “We have received word about your situation, so it’s all good.”
Caitlyn was so panicked that she didn’t even wait to hear how she was suddenly allowed on the flight. She was just anxious to get home – to Declan and Eden.
Several hours later, she arrived home and saw a half-burnt structure standing in place of what used to be her home, with no sign of Eden and Declan.
Caitlyn went to Mrs. Louis’ house, shivering in horror as she wondered where her husband and child were.
Mrs. Louis consoled Caitlyn. | Source: Pexels
Mrs. Louis informed her that Declan and Eden were taken to the hospital immediately after the accident and were admitted there. Caitlyn rushed to the hospital and learned from doctors that their condition wasn’t bad, but they needed to be monitored for a while. It turned out there was a short circuit at their home, resulting in a fire.
Caitlyn couldn’t stop crying when she saw Eden and Declan wrapped in bandages and with bruises on their faces. But she was relieved that they were still alive and safe.
When they were discharged about two weeks later, they stayed at Mrs. Louis’ place while their house was being repaired. It was during that time that Caitlyn told Declan about how an elderly lady had helped her.
Declan suggested they thank her, so they started looking for her on Facebook. But when Caitlyn found her, she almost collapsed to the floor. The woman was the airline owner’s mother. She had posted several pictures with her son. No wonder the staff gave her a pass.
Declan and Catilyn messaged her via Facebook, wanting to thank her, and a few days later, they got a reply. Mrs. White arrived for dinner with a beautiful bouquet, having accepted their dinner invitation, and she got acquainted with not only Catilyn’s family but also Mrs. Louis. The families have been close to each other ever since.
What can we learn from this story?
- Family is your greatest treasure. When she learned Declan and Eden were in trouble, Caitlyn was ready to spare anything, ever her diamond earrings, just for a ticket back home.
- Always be there for your loved ones. Caitlyn always prioritized her family, and she was there for them when they needed her the most.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who discovers a chest while digging in her backyard and opens it only 3 years later.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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