26/12/2024
Amanda loved being a teacher. It gave her the chance to spend time with children, who she believed were the salt of the earth. Teaching had been her dream ever since she was a little girl, and with her parents' support, she followed that path. After earning her degree, Amanda landed a job at a local school, where she spent years.
Amanda was a dedicated and compassionate teacher. Teaching brought her fulfillment and eventually led her to Todd, another educator. They met on a field trip to a museum, bonded over the chaos of managing their students, and later got married. Together, they had a son named Jack.
But years later, tragedy struck when Todd passed away from cancer, leaving Amanda to raise Jack on her own. Jack, now in college, had become distant, rarely visiting or calling unless he needed money. This year was no different. With Christmas approaching, Amanda had only heard from him twice.
While preparing her students for a math contest, Amanda tried not to dwell on Jack's absence. But when he called, only to ask for money again, she was hurt and frustrated. She told him he could have the money on one condition: he had to come home for Christmas. Jack agreed, and for the first time in a long while, Amanda felt hopeful about the holidays.
The day before Christmas, she went grocery shopping to buy ingredients for her son's favorite meal. She called to check if he was on his way, but he didn't answer. But when she got home, she noticed an unusual number of footprints leading to her house.👇