My fiancé, Daniel, his twin daughters, and I were on what was supposed to be a dream vacation, celebrating our upcoming life together. But on the third afternoon, my perfect trip was shattered when I returned to our hotel room to find that Daniel had vanished without a trace, leaving only a cryptic note: “I have to disappear. Soon, you’ll understand.”
Hiding my rising panic from the girls, I immediately packed our bags and rushed us onto the next flight home. My mind raced with fear and worry, replaying every moment of our trip to find a clue. I expected to arrive home to an empty house filled with grief, but when we walked into the living room, I found a small, furry puppy waiting for us in a fleece-wrapped bundle.
Underneath the puppy, I found a note from Daniel. In it, he apologized for the fear he had caused. He explained that he had seen a post online about St. Bernard puppies needing a home, and he remembered that my childhood St. Bernard, Samson, had saved my life when I was a child. He felt that this puppy was a chance to bring me joy again, and he couldn’t let anyone else adopt it first. He had flown, rented a car, and driven six hours just to get this gift for me, which he named Samson Jr.. He also apologized for the fear he had caused and said he just thought he could return before I noticed he was gone.
Just as I finished reading the note, Daniel came home. I ran to him and hugged him, calling him a “lunatic” for scaring me. He apologized again and said that he knew the girls would be safe with me and that he had to act fast to get me this gift. The girls ran to their father, squealing with joy over the new puppy. I was overwhelmed with love and relief. My family, my future, and a piece of my past all returned in one wild, incredible weekend.