Christmas Eve always weighed heavily on my heart, like a storm cloud that never passed. After a long shift at the hospital, I climbed into the backseat of a taxi and let the hum of the engine lull me to sleep. But when I woke up, I was in a cold, abandoned room, and my life was about to change forever.
Working in the Emergency Room, I was used to the sterile buzz of hospital lights, but Christmas Eve always brought an added level of chaos. Amidst the chaos, I had something to look forward to – Jeremy, my boyfriend of four years. Earlier that day, he had called me with excitement in his voice, telling me about all the festive plans he had waiting for us at home.
As I laughed along with him, trying to match his cheer, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness towards Christmas. Growing up in an orphanage, I never experienced the magic of family holidays. My mother passed away when I was too young to remember, and I knew next to nothing about my father. For me, Christmas was a painful reminder of everything I had lost.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I hailed a yellow cab and the driver immediately recognized me. Exhausted, I sank into the cool leather seat and let myself drift off to sleep.
But when I woke up, everything was wrong. The familiar streetlights and warm glow of home were gone. Instead, I was surrounded by darkness, the car parked in an abandoned garage. Panic set in as I realized the driver was gone.
“Hello?” My voice echoed in the empty space. Fumbling for my phone, I found my pocket empty. Just then, a creak cut through the silence and a door slowly opened, spilling light into the room. A figure stepped through.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice trembling.
As the figure drew closer, I could make out a man in a thick coat. His sharp features softened as he met my gaze. “Megan Price?”
My heart raced. “How do you know my name?”
“I need you to come with me,” he said in a steady yet low voice. “There’s something you need to know.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Is that what people say before they kidnap someone?”
He exhaled sharply and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t want to scare you. This wasn’t my idea. Your boyfriend set this up.”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. “Jeremy?” Confusion quickly turned to anger. “What the hell are you talking about? Where is he?”
The man hesitated before speaking softly. “I’ll explain everything. But first…I need you to know…I’m your father.”