Derek is desperately searching for his daughter Amber, who disappeared a week ago. The police find no clues, but an unexpected encounter with a homeless person holding Amber’s backpack opens a new lead in the investigation, giving Derek hope that he can find his daughter.

Derek was walking to the police station, his heart heavy with worry. It had been a week since his daughter, Amber, had run away from home, and no one had seen her since.

The police had launched a search operation, but they had found no clues. It was as if she had simply vanished into thin air.

Derek had not been able to find any peace all week. He couldn’t sleep, and every waking moment was filled with fear for his daughter.The police had tried to reassure him, telling him that this often happened with teenagers. They said she would likely come back on her own. But Derek felt deep in his heart that something was wrong.He and Amber had always been very close. Derek had raised her alone after his ex-wife had left them when Amber was just two years old.

She had chosen another man and had never even called to check on her daughter all these years. Amber was all Derek had, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.

Derek entered the police station, the cold air hitting him as he walked in. He saw the officer handling Amber’s case and made his way over.

The officer looked up as Derek approached, offering a sympathetic smile. Derek shook the officer’s hand firmly, trying to look calm.“Any news, officer?” Derek asked, his voice strained with worry.

The policeman shook his head gently. “Derek, as soon as we know something, we will inform you immediately.”

Derek sighed deeply. “It’s been a week, and nothing at all.”

“I understand it’s hard for you. That’s why the police are doing everything possible to find Amber,” the officer replied, trying to offer some comfort.

“I worry about her,” Derek said, his eyes showing the fear he felt inside.

“We all worry when a child goes missing,” the policeman said. “The best thing you can do now is to stay home in case she returns.”

Derek nodded slowly. “Alright, thank you,” he said quietly, then turned to leave the police station.He decided to take a longer route home to clear his head. As he walked, he tried to make sense of everything, but his mind kept circling back to Amber. Suddenly, he saw a homeless woman carrying a very familiar bag.

Derek’s heart skipped a beat. He took a closer look and realized what it was. It was Amber’s backpack! Derek approached the woman, trying to keep calm.

“Excuse me, where did you get this backpack?” he asked, his voice shaking a little.

“None of your damn business,” the woman snapped, clutching the bag tightly.“Please, I don’t want to trouble you, but this is my missing daughter’s backpack. If you could tell me where you got it, I would be very grateful,” Derek pleaded.
The woman eyed him suspiciously but finally muttered, “Found it at the bus station; some teenage girl left it behind.”

Derek felt a glimmer of hope. “Do you know where she was headed?” he asked eagerly.

“Am I a detective?” the woman retorted, clearly annoyed.Derek realized he wasn’t going to get more information for free. “Alright, can you give it to me? I’ll pay you,” he said, pulling out his wallet and taking a $100 bill from it.

The woman’s eyes widened at the sight of the money. She snatched the bill from Derek’s hand and gave him the backpack. Then she hurried away, probably to make sure Derek didn’t change his mind and take the money back.Derek sat on the nearest bench and opened the backpack with trembling hands. Inside, he found almost nothing — just a water bottle and a folded piece of paper.His heart pounded as he unfolded the paper, hoping for a clue. It was an address with “Hostess Family” written under it.Derek quickly pulled out his phone and entered the address. His eyes widened when he realized it was in another city, the same city where Amber had wanted to go to a concert with her friend. He had not allowed her to go, fearing it was unsafe.

A wave of guilt washed over him. Had his refusal driven her away? Derek knew he had to act fast. He couldn’t wait for the police to move at their pace.