On a Trip with His Foster Family, Teenage Boy Runs Away to Find His Real Family after Spotting an Old Sign — Story of the Day

Sixteen-year-old Eric slips away from his foster family on a camping trip, desperate to find his real mother and the answers he’s always craved. But as he faces hard truths about the past and what family truly means, Eric’s journey takes a turn he never saw coming.

The Johnson family drove along the winding road, the car filled with excited chatter and Mila’s occasional giggles as she wiggled in her booster seat, her eyes wide with excitement.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mr. Johnson glanced in the rearview mirror, catching Eric’s gaze and offering a warm smile. Eric tried to smile back, but he couldn’t shake the knot of worry in his chest.

He was almost sixteen now, and he understood his place in the family—or at least, he thought he did. The Johnsons had taken him in as their foster child when he was twelve. They’d told him he was family, even though he wasn’t their own child by blood.

For years, they’d treated him with a kindness he’d never known before, showing him what it felt like to be truly cared for. But now, with Mila—their own child—things felt different. Eric wondered if they’d still want him, now that they had a child of their own.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“We’ll stop here at the gas station; you can stretch your legs,” Mr. Johnson said, turning off the engine as they pulled over. Eric felt the cool air hit his face as he stepped out, and he lifted little Mila from her seat, setting her down gently. She clung to his hand, her tiny fingers gripping his tightly as she looked around with curiosity.

Eric’s gaze, however, was drawn to the other side of the road, where an old, weathered diner sign hung, faded and cracked. A strange feeling stirred in his chest as he looked at it, an odd sense of familiarity that he couldn’t place. He reached into his backpack, pulling out a worn photograph—the only thing left from his past, from his real parents.

In the photo, baby Eric stood beside a woman, his biological mother, with a sign in the background just like the one in the gas station.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mrs. Johnson walked over, noticing Eric staring at something in his hand. “Everything alright?” she asked gently, her voice filled with warmth.

Eric quickly slipped the photo into his pocket, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine,” he replied, trying to sound casual.

Mr. Johnson called from the car, “Alright, family! Time to hit the road again.”

Eric took one last glance at the diner sign before getting back in the car with Mila and Mrs. Johnson.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Within an hour, they arrived at the campsite, a quiet, wooded area surrounded by tall trees and the sound of rustling leaves. Eric helped Mr. Johnson set up the tents, quietly going through the motions, his mind still on the photo.

After dinner by the campfire, Mrs. Johnson and Mila headed to bed. Mr. Johnson looked over at Eric. “Are you going to bed now?”

Eric shook his head. “I’ll stay up a bit longer.”

Mr. Johnson nodded. “Don’t stay up too late. Big hike tomorrow. You sure you’re okay, kiddo?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Eric forced a smile. “Yeah, just not tired yet.”

“Alright,” Mr. Johnson said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading to bed.

Eric sat by the campfire, watching the last embers flicker, his thoughts drifting back to the photo he’d tucked away. He pulled it out once more, studying the faded image in the dim light.

Written neatly on the back were the words “Eliza and Eric.” The woman holding him had a faint smile, but he couldn’t remember her at all. Glancing over at the Johnsons’ tent, he felt a pang of guilt. They had always been kind, always treated him with care.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

With a sigh, he slipped the photo into his pocket, went to his tent, and picked up his backpack. He checked through its contents—his few belongings, a bottle of water, and the sandwiches Mrs. Johnson had made for him.

She’d even cut the crusts off, remembering how he didn’t like them, just as she had when he first arrived at their home. Small acts like this made him feel seen, but still, he wondered if he truly belonged.

Taking one last look at the campsite, Eric turned and walked down the path toward the main road, the cold air biting at his cheeks.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

It was pitch dark, and he switched on the flashlight on his phone, remembering how the Johnsons had handed it to him with a smile. “We need to know our kid is safe,” they’d said. If they really thought of him as their own, wouldn’t they have adopted him by now?

He walked along the road, shivering in the night air, his heart pounding with each step. After hours, he finally saw the dim lights of the diner.

Taking a shaky breath, he stepped inside, eyes adjusting to the gloomy interior. At the counter stood an old man, who looked at him with a frown as Eric approached, photo in hand.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The old man behind the counter narrowed his eyes at Eric. “We don’t serve kids here.”

“I don’t want anything to eat. I just have a question.” He pulled the photo from his pocket, unfolding it carefully. “Do you know this woman?”

The man took the photo, peering at it with a frown. “What’s her name?”

“Eliza,” Eric replied, hoping for a sign of recognition.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The man’s face shifted slightly, and he tilted his head toward a noisy group in the corner. “That’s her over there.” He handed back the photo, shaking his head. “She looked different back then. Life’s taken a toll.”

Eric’s heart pounded as he approached the table. He recognized the woman from the photo—older now, worn down, but definitely her. He cleared his throat. “Eliza, hi,” he said.

She didn’t respond, absorbed in her loud conversation.

Eric tried again, louder this time. “Eliza.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She turned, finally noticing him. “What do you want, kid?”

“I…I’m your son,” Eric said quietly.

“I don’t have any kids.”

Desperate, he held up the photo again. “It’s me. See? Eliza and Eric,” he said.

“Thought I got rid of you,” she muttered, taking a long drink from a bottle.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Eric’s voice trembled. “I just wanted to meet you.”

Eliza looked him over with a smirk. “Fine. Sit down, then. Maybe you’ll be useful.” Her friends chuckled, and Eric sank awkwardly into a chair, feeling out of place.

After some time, Eliza looked around the diner, glancing toward the counter. “Alright, time to leave. Let’s get out before the old man catches on.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The group started to stand up, gathering their things. Eric, feeling uneasy, looked at Eliza. “But you haven’t paid,” he said.

Eliza rolled her eyes. “Kid, that’s not how the world works if you want to survive. You’ll learn that,” she replied.

Eric hesitated, reaching into his backpack. He pulled out some cash, ready to leave it on the table, but before he could, Eliza snatched it from his hand and shoved it into her pocket.

As they headed toward the door, the old man behind the counter noticed. “Hey! You didn’t pay!” he shouted angrily.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Run!” Eliza shouted, dashing out the door. The group bolted, and Eric had no choice but to follow. Outside, he noticed police lights flashing nearby. As Eliza ran past him, she shoved him, and he felt something slip from his pocket.

“Mom!” he called, desperate, hoping she’d turn back.

But Eliza didn’t stop. “I told you—I don’t have any kids!” she shouted over her shoulder, disappearing into the night.

A police car pulled up beside Eric. He stopped, knowing he couldn’t outrun them. The window rolled down, and one of the officers leaned out, squinting at him.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Hey, isn’t this the kid they mentioned?” the officer asked his partner.

The other officer looked Eric over and nodded. “Yep, that’s him. Alright, kid, get in the car.”

Eric’s heart pounded. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, his voice trembling. “I tried to pay, but she took my money. I can call my parents—they’ll come get me.”

He reached into his pocket, only to find it empty. Panic rose as he realized his phone was gone, too. Tears filled his eyes. “Please, you have to believe me. I didn’t do anything.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One of the officers got out, placing a hand on Eric’s shoulder. “Come on, son.” Gently, he guided Eric into the backseat as Eric’s tears fell silently.

At the police station, Eric expected the worst, but instead, they led him to a small room with a warm cup of tea. Glancing up, his heart skipped when he saw the Johnsons talking with an officer nearby. Mila was in Mr. Johnson’s arms, and Mrs. Johnson looked worried, her eyes darting around the room.

The moment Mrs. Johnson spotted him, she gasped, rushing over and wrapping her arms tightly around him. “Eric! You scared us so much!” she said, her voice shaking. “We thought something terrible had happened when we saw you were gone. We called the police right away.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mr. Johnson approached, holding Mila close. “Eric, why did you run off like that?” he asked.

Eric swallowed, looking down. “I just… I wanted parents of my own. I thought finding my mom would change things, but she… she wasn’t what I thought,” he admitted.

Mrs. Johnson’s face softened as she squeezed his hand. “Eric, it hurts to hear that,” she said gently. “We consider ourselves your parents.”

Mr. Johnson nodded. “We’re sorry if we didn’t make that clear.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Eric looked at them. “I thought… maybe you’d want to get rid of me now that you have Mila,” he confessed.

Mrs. Johnson pulled him into another hug, her arms warm and steady. “Parents don’t give up on their children, Eric.”

“You’re as much our child as Mila is,” Mr. Johnson added. “That’s never going to change.”

Eric’s tears fell, his heart finally feeling the love they’d always given. “This whole trip was actually for you,” Mr. Johnson explained. “You wanted to go camping, so we made it a special occasion.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“A special occasion?” Eric asked, wiping his eyes.

“To tell you that we want you to officially be our son,” Mr. Johnson said with a smile.

“All the paperwork is ready, but only if you want it,” Mrs. Johnson added, her voice soft. Eric didn’t need to answer in words; he hugged them both, realizing he had found his real family.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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50 Iconic and Rare Historical Photographs

We at HistoryColored have decided to curate 50 interesting, rare and iconic photos from history. There are many reasons why a photograph may be featured on this list. Some of the reasons include: it was the first time something was ever captured on camera, it shows a famous figure from history, the image depicts an important historical event, it is a “rare” photo that does not get shared as much as it should, or it is an “iconic” historical photo. It may not fall under any of these categories but can still be featured in this list for a different reason.

These photographs are in no particular order. They have been curated and added to the list over a long period of time, so no decision was taken on how they should be ordered. Be sure to take the time to check out every historical photograph featured on this list!

As well as this list, be sure to check out the other photos featured on HistoryColored!

1. The First Photograph Ever Taken, 1826 or 1827

The first photograph in history, the view from a window at Le Gras in 1826 or 1827.
The oldest surviving photograph to exist. It was taken by pioneer photographer, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The scene depicts a view from a window in Nicéphore Niépce’s estate known as Le Gras in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Bourgogne, France in 1826 or 1827. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

2. General William Tecumseh Sherman, circa 1865

Side profile photograph of General William Tecumseh Sherman in his Union Army military uniform in c. 1865
Side profile of Union Army Major General, and the Commanding General of the US Army, William Tecumseh Sherman, in his Union Army military uniform in circa 1865. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

3. Dali Atomicus, 1948

Salvador Dali suspended in mid air along with other objects within the iconic photograph Dali Atomicus taken in 1948
The photographic artwork by Philippe Halsman called “Dali Atomicus” showing three cats water, an easel, a chair, and Salvador Dalí all frozen in mid-air, 1948. This was the 28th attempt at taking this photograph. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

4. The Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics, 1927

Key attendees of the 1927 Solvay conference photographed sitting down and in suits. The names are Auguste Piccard, Émile Henriot, Paul Ehrenfest, Édouard Herzen, Théophile de Donder, Erwin Schrödinger, Jules-Émile Verschaffelt, Wolfgang Pauli, Werner Heisenberg, Ralph Howard Fowler, Léon Brillouin,
Peter Debye, Martin Knudsen, William Lawrence Bragg, Hendrik Anthony Kramers, Paul Dirac, Arthur Compton, Louis de Broglie, Max Born, Niels Bohr,
Irving Langmuir, Max Planck, Marie Skłodowska Curie, Hendrik Lorentz, Albert Einstein, Paul Langevin, Charles Eugène Guye, Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, Owen Willans Richardson
The 1927 Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics at the Institut International de Physique Solvay in Brussels, Belgium. This image features many of the greatest scientists in modern history. Some of those that you may recognize are: Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Max Planck, Niels Bohr, and Auguste Piccard. See the full list of names here. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

5. King George V & Tsar Nicholas II Together, 1913

Nicholas II of Russia photographed alongside similar looking and cousin King George V of the United Kingdom, while wearing military uniform.
First cousins and royals Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (left) & King George V of the United Kingdom (right) photographed together wearing military uniforms in Berlin, Germany, 1913. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

6. The Manhattan Bridge Under Construction, 1909

Photographs of the Manhattan Bridge under construction. You can see the layout of the bridge but there is still a lot to build. March 23 1909.
The construction of the Manhattan Bridge on the East River in New York City. This photograph was taken on March 23, 1909. The bridge finished construction in 1909 and first opened up on the 31st of December 1909. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

7. Soviet Prisoner of War, 1940

An injured Prisoner of War from the Soviet Union with a bandage around his bloody head, with clothing wrapped around his body. He looks cold as he is near the Arctic Circle where temperatures can get to -43 degrees Celsius
An injured Soviet Prisoner of War (POW) dressed in new clothes near the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, during the Winter War on the 6th of January 1940. Credit: Military Museum of Finland // CC BY 4.0

8. Dr. Wernher von Braun with 5 F-1 Engines

Aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun standing next to five F-1 rocket engines in 1969.
Dr. Wernher von Braun, an aerospace engineer that was a leading figure in Nazi German rocket technology, and then United States rocket technology, photographed standing in front of five F-1 rocket engines in circa 1969. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domains

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