With You by Harper Lawson

A billionaire on TV just offered 10 million dollars to anyone with information on his missing daughter. And she’s sitting next to me on my couch.

Yesterday, I barely had enough money for food. I was just fired from my job, and I have thirty-three dollars to my name.

Tonight, I heard a small knock at my door, and when I opened it, a little girl was standing on my porch shivering in the rain.

When I asked where her parents were, she looked down and said,

“My stepmom told me Daddy doesn’t love me and he wouldn’t care if I disappeared.”

She asked if she could stay and have dinner. I only had two cans of soup, but she said it was her favorite.

After dinner, we curled up under a blanket on the couch, and I turned on the TV.

Suddenly, the news cut to a live press conference. It was a billionaire offering a 10 million dollar reward for anyone with information on his missing daughter.

Immediately, she pointed at the screen and yelled, “That’s my daddy!”

A number flashed on the screen, and my hands were already shaking as I grabbed my phone and started dialing.

The rain was still tapping against the windows while she leaned her head on my arm and smiled at the screen.

The operator picked up, a deep male voice came through the line, low and strained,

“This is the emergency line for Mr. Sterling. Who am I speaking with?”

I froze, my throat tight, then said,

“Umm… hi… I’m Claire. I think I have your daughter.”