“Dad, you can’t stop me from moving in with my lover. “I’m not a child,” Judith told her father.

“Judith. “That boy is bad for you,” George assured her. Honey, you deserve better. Belief.”

Dad. Judith disagreed. “I’ll live with him soon. He loves me too.”

George struggled to raise his daughter alone a year after losing his wife. She rebelled at 18 and ignored him.

Judith and her father argued daily. He tried to teach his daughter right from wrong, but she never listened. She wanted to live alone to avoid her father’s interference.

George woke Judith up and took her to school the next day. “I’m awake, Daddy!” no response this time.

“Judith? Awake? asks.

George opened the door after a minute to find his daughter. She wasn’t in bed, surprising him.

“Judith?” he said, heading to the bathroom. “Judith, are you showering?”.

George opened the bathroom door but found no one. He searched the kitchen and living room below, but she was gone.

Jorge wondered where she went. He was sure all of Judith’s friends were getting ready for school early.

George went home for the police station.

My daughter’s gone. “I saw her yesterday,” he told an officer.

George went to Judith’s school and asked her pals after filing a missing person’s report.

George waited for the police to locate his daughter after arriving home with no indication. Judith eluded the police for weeks.

He was told she must have gone to live alone. “She’ll be back.”

George lost hope that his daughter would return as time passed. He never told anyone he missed her and kept working to divert himself. Considering his daughter made him melancholy.

George always looked for Judith in public places, but he never found her. He gave up on seeing her again.

Ten years later, a homeless woman approached George while he went grocery shopping.

Please feed me. “I’m starving,” she begged.

George bought groceries monthly, but this was the first time a beggar woman sought for food. He told her to wait outside since he felt bad for her.

“I’ll feed you. Before entering the store, George asked to wait.

George had changed a lot in the past decade. He was less active and happy. He was feeble and gray-haired after losing his daughter. Time had softened him.

George exited the grocery and gave the homeless woman the food he bought. “Here,” he said.

“Thank you very much,” she said, looking at George.

George’s heart accelerated. After two seconds, he asked:

“Judith? You?

The homeless woman nodded anxiously and opened the meal. She then devoured a sandwich.

Relax. When did you stop eating? George.

He was relieved to see his daughter, but he wanted to know where she had been for ten years and how she become a tramp.

Can we meet in the cafe? George told Judith, “I need to talk.”

She said, “Sure, I’ll meet you there in five minutes,” before eating.

“Dad, I moved away with my boyfriend to another city and changed our names so you couldn’t locate us,” Judith replied. “I should have followed your advice.”

“Judith, what happened?” inquired George with clasped hands.

Dad, it started out beautiful. “We spent hours watching movies, talking, and stargazing,” Judith said. “I thought running away with him was my best decision.”

“But then he started losing interest in me,” she continued. “He was gone for hours and barely spoke to me when he got home. He would yell and fight me when I asked where he was.”

“Judith, what happened?” George questioned.

“Then I caught him cheating on me with a neighbor,” Judith buried her face. Dad, that was my worst day. When I confronted him, he threw me out, and I didn’t have the courage to come home to you.”

George said, “Judith.”

“I couldn’t face you, Dad. I mistreated you. “I yelled and mistreated you,” Judith replied, crying. “I had to beg on the streets after he kicked me out.”

Judith! “That must be terrible,” George said.

Dad. Judith wiped her tears.

“When did you arrive, and why didn’t you come home?” concerned George.

“I saved money and returned to this town,” Judith added. “I arrived home last week, but you weren’t here. I moved near this supermarket because I thought God was telling me you didn’t want me.”

“Judith, I want you forever!” Before leaving, George hugged his daughter.

George helped Judith recover. He started by purchasing her clothes, haircuts, and college. He wanted her to graduate and work at a top local company.

“I wish I had gone to you when my ex kicked me out, Dad,” Judith said. “I wouldn’t have wasted ten years begging on the street.”

Four years after moving, Judith graduated first in her class and was hired by a leading company. She had a good profession and was happy with George until she met a bright, compassionate, and responsible young guy who restored her faith in love.