EVOLUTION Vol.2

CHATTING WITH DAD

An unexpected injury leads to an equally unexpected family discovery.

*

Samantha was an adventurous young woman who loved to explore the great outdoors. She had been planning her next hiking trip for weeks and was finally ready to set out on her journey. She had packed her backpack with all of the essentials and was eager to hit the trails. Little did she know that her trip would take an unexpected turn.

As she hiked up a steep hill, Samantha suddenly slipped and fell, injuring her ankle. She cried out in pain and sat down on a nearby rock to examine the damage. It was clear that her ankle was badly sprained, and she would need help getting back down the mountain.

Feeling helpless and alone, Samantha reached for her cell phone to call for assistance, but she quickly realized that she had no signal. Panic set in as she tried to think of a way to get help. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming towards her.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

Samantha looked up and saw a man standing in front of her. He was tall and muscular, with a kind face and warm eyes.

"No, I've hurt my ankle," Samantha replied, tears welling up in her eyes.

The man knelt down beside her and examined her ankle. "I think it's sprained," he said. "You're going to need some help getting down the mountain."

Samantha nodded, grateful for the stranger's assistance. He helped her to her feet and supported her weight as they slowly made their way down the hill. As they walked, Samantha and the man struck up a conversation. She learned that his name was John, and he had been hiking in the area for years.

As they walked, Samantha couldn't help but notice how kind and caring John was. She felt safe and protected with him by her side. After a few hours, they finally made it back to the trailhead, where a park ranger was waiting to help Samantha.

"Thank you so much," Samantha said to John as they parted ways. "I couldn't have made it down without you."

"It was my pleasure," John replied with a smile. "Take care of that ankle, and I hope you have a safe trip home."

Samantha smiled and waved goodbye as John disappeared into the forest. She felt a pang of sadness as she realized that she may never see him again.

A few weeks later, Samantha was at home recovering from her injury when she received a letter in the mail. It was from John, and he had included his phone number and an invitation to come visit him.

Samantha was surprised but excited. She had enjoyed spending time with John and was curious to learn more about him. She decided to take him up on his offer and called him to set up a visit.

When she arrived at John's cabin, Samantha was greeted warmly and invited inside. She was amazed at the cozy interior, with its warm fireplace and comfortable furniture. John showed her around and they spent the evening talking and getting to know each other better.

As the night wore on, John suddenly looked at Samantha with a serious expression. "There's something I need to tell you," he said. "I'm your biological father."

Samantha was shocked. She had grown up believing that her father had died when she was a baby. She couldn't believe that the man who had helped her down the mountain was actually her father.

John went on to explain that he had been a young man when Samantha was born and had been unable to take care of her at the time. He had given her up for adoption and had been searching for her ever since.

Samantha was overcome with emotion. She couldn't believe that she had finally found her biological father and that he had been the one to rescue her on the mountain. Samantha did not feel angry or bitter – those emotions had been purged years ago, and so they spent the rest of time catching up on all the time they had lost.

© 19 April 2023