Father figure Stories

The rain hammered down on our tent, a relentless drumbeat that shook the nylon walls, each drop a sharp, angry thud that drowned out the world beyond. The air inside was thick, warm, and heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine, seeping through the seams from the forest outside. The campground felt like a forgotten corner of the world, swallowed by towering trees that swayed in the storm, their branches creaking like o...

That Friday evening in early spring, I should have been happy. I was a junior in college, with excellent grades and a large circle of friends. But as Arden and I closed up the bookstore at a little after nine, I couldn't hide my despondency. Though I'd been unfailingly pleasant and helpful to customers since I'd showed up for work earlier that afternoon, I knew my boss sensed something was wrong. Yet he waited until we we...