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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
16-year-old Joey runs away from home to pursue his dreams, leaving his widowed mother behind. Thirteen years later, he returns home to see her again but is greeted by a deserted house instead, where he only finds a half-burnt note.<\/p>\n
As a 16-year-old filled with ambition and dreams beyond the confines of his rural life, Joey decided to leave home. He left a farewell note to his mother, Flora, beside her old sewing machine.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Mom, By evening, you\u2019ll be back, but I won\u2019t be home. No, I wasn\u2019t kidnapped; I just finally decided to run away,\u201d Joey wrote in the letter he left behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter how far I go, I\u2019ll always love you. I\u2019m sorry. Take care. With Love, Joey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The loud squawking of the hens and chickens and the sight of the tall trees that surrounded the farm was a sight Joey knew he was bound to miss.<\/p>\n
His backpack was packed and strapped to his back.<\/p>\n
After taking one last look at the house he lived in with his mother after his father\u2019s death, Joey turned around and walked away without once glancing back.<\/p>\n
Unaware of Joey\u2019s plans, Flora spent her day on the farm, waiting for the son who promised to help but never showed.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Despite his love for his mother, Joey felt constrained by the life laid out for him on the farm. He dreamed of becoming a doctor, a dream he believed unattainable if he stayed.<\/p>\n
His attempts to convince Flora to sell the farm and move to the city were futile; her attachment to the land and memories of his late father held her back. Unwilling to abandon his dreams, Joey saw no option but to leave, even if it meant leaving his mother and their life behind.<\/p>\n
As he approached the highway, ready to hitchhike to the city, his mother\u2019s plans for dinner and her voice filled his mind.<\/p>\n
Joey\u2019s journey to the city began. On the bus, he pondered his decision and how he was risking everything. His friend Dan had assured him of a job that would start his new life in the city.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
Joey hurriedly called his friend from a payphone after arriving downtown. Dan instructed him to get to his home by taxi, but Joey was shocked at the $30 fare for a short ride. Frustrated and nearly broke, he finally arrived at Dan\u2019s house, glad to be welcomed warmly.<\/p>\n
But his hope had diminished after that expensive and tiring day. \u201cI came here with big dreams, but now I\u2019m not sure,\u201d Joey admitted, his shoulders sagging.<\/p>\n
Dan reassured him, promising not to charge him rent until Joey was settled in his new job at a grocery store. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine,\u201d he comforted him. \u201cYou\u2019ll earn enough to cover your expenses soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joey\u2019s spirits lifted at his friend\u2019s words. \u201cWhen can I start?\u201d he asked eagerly.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019s a great opportunity, and you\u2019ll make good money,\u201d Dan assured him.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Joey quickly realized the demands of his new life were more significant than anything back home. The satisfaction of receiving his first paycheck was overshadowed by a pressing urge to call his mother, Flora.<\/p>\n
Despite his desire to share his success, the fear of being persuaded to return home constantly stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll make more money, then I\u2019ll call her,\u201d Joey told himself, viewing the money as a step closer to his dream of studying medicine.<\/p>\n
But his optimism was short-lived when Dan reminded him of the rent and food expenses on payday, unexpectedly asking for a thousand dollars, nearly all of Joey\u2019s earnings.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Faced with the harsh winter and the realization that his income barely covered his living expenses, Joey\u2019s college dreams seemed more distant than ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat am I going to do now?\u201d he fretted.<\/p>\n
On a regular day, Joey was about to sit outside and eat lunch when an older man fell on an icy patch on the road. He rushed to help out, bringing the old man a bottle of water after getting him upright.<\/p>\n
The old man introduced himself as Mr. Clark and sat with Joey for a chat.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re an amazing young man,\u201d Mr. Clark said, reaching into his pocket for a card. \u201cCall me, Joey. I would love to know more about you, young man!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Joey pocketed the card with a polite smile, unsure of what to make of the encounter. But while thinking about the old man later, he decided to go to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoey! My boy! I knew you\u2019d call me,\u201d the old man said cheerfully. Joey was glad and simply asked Mr. Clark how he was feeling. The old man answered but quickly pivoted to the real reason he had given him his business card.<\/p>\n
Mr. Clark was in charge of a scholarship fund for ambitious youths like Joey. \u201cA scholarship?\u201d he squeaked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Joey,\u201d Mr. Clark continued, \u201ca full scholarship with stipends for accommodation and food. All you need to do is focus on your studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prospect of achieving his dream without financial burden was almost too good to be true. But Mr. Clark was serious and generous. And once again, the intense desire to call his mother surfaced. But Joey hesitated, wanting to have more to tell her. That was how 13 years passed\u2026<\/p>\n
As a graduated doctor, Joey celebrated with the man who made it all possible, who toasted his success. \u201cSo, Joey, you\u2019ve done it, young man! I\u2019m proud of you\u2026and I\u2019m sure your mother would be equally proud,\u201d Mr. Clark mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoon\u2026very soon!\u201d Joey assured, though his heart was heavy with the thought of facing his mother after such a long absence.<\/p>\n
Finally deciding to return home after buying a small house for Flora, Joey drove back to his hometown, filled with anticipation.<\/p>\n
He was astounded and shocked to see the condition of the house. Everywhere was deserted and hollow; it seemed like it had been that way for over a few years.<\/p>\n
The grass around it was overgrown, and the dust on the windows was a couple of inches thick. Getting down from his car and walking towards the front door, Joey could feel his panic swelling.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom! Mom!\u201d he yelled, his voice echoing in the house as he barged right through the door after knocking without getting any response.<\/p>\n
The inside was just as abandoned as the outside, and Joey could feel his fears double in intensity as he looked around the house with no trace of his mother. He instantly called his mother\u2019s number, but regardless of how many times he called, no one picked up.<\/p>\n
At that moment, Joey felt regret, realizing how big a fool he had been for not calling her all these years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs-is she\u2014\u201d unable to say the thoughts brewing in his head out loud, not knowing what he would do if it were true. He didn\u2019t give up searching the house and continued to look through every nook and corner of it.<\/p>\n
When he was about to give up, he glanced at the fireplace, shocked to see a half-burnt letter poking out slightly under the ashes and dust. He instantly bent down to reach for it, not expecting to see his name written right at the top of it.<\/p>\n
His eyes teared up as he read:<\/p>\n
\u201cJoey, sweetie, I miss you so much. Where did you leave me and go?<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish you had never left me. If I knew you had planned to leave me and disappear like this, I would have agreed to go with you instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease come back, Joey. I miss you to the core. Nothing can ever replace you.<\/p>\n
This silence around me is killing me. The house is so empty, and my heart feels heavier and haunted without you. I wish\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
The rest was burnt to ashes.<\/p>\n
Convinced he needed to find his mother, Joey wiped away his tears and tried to find help. Stepping outside, he encountered their old neighbor.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Colins. I just got back, and I\u2019m looking for my mother,\u201d Joey explained, breathing heavily.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you Flora\u2019s son\u2026the boy who ran away thirteen years ago?\u201d Mr. Colins asked, squinting his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Where\u2019s my mother? She\u2019s not home. Did she tell you anything?\u201d he asked, his voice quivering.<\/p>\n
Mr. Colins revealed that Joey\u2019s mother had been taken to the hospital. He thanked him and rushed off. \u201cPlease\u2026please be alright, Mom,\u201d Joey whispered in the taxi, fearing the worst.<\/p>\n
\u201cMOM!\u201d he exclaimed, approaching Flora\u2019s side after finding her room.<\/p>\n
Flora\u2019s eyes fluttered open, and upon recognizing Joey, she enveloped him in a tight embrace. \u201cJOEY\u2026my boy!\u201d she cried, tears of joy streaming down her face.<\/p>\n
He cried again, not wanting to let go. \u201cI\u2019m so\u2026so sorry for not calling or visiting you earlier\u2026 I didn\u2019t want to disappoint you,\u201d he confessed, his voice breaking.<\/p>\n
Flora brushed aside Joey\u2019s apologies. \u201cTell me more, Joey. I want to hear you talk\u2026Oh, your voice! How I missed hearing that voice\u2026and laughter,\u201d she urged, messing with his hair.<\/p>\n
Joey shared his journey, from the struggles in the city to becoming a doctor, thanks to Mr. Clark\u2019s scholarship. He revealed his plans to rebuild the farm and insisted that Flora move in with him in the city until the farmhouse was restored.<\/p>\n
Flora agreed without hesitation. After many years of separation, neither wanted to be apart again, even for a second.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
16-year-old Joey runs away from home to pursue his dreams, leaving his widowed mother behind. Thirteen years later, he returns home to see her again but is greeted by a deserted house instead, where he only finds a half-burnt note. As a 16-year-old filled with ambition and dreams beyond the confines of his rural life, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14814,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14807\/revisions\/14814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}