Sixteen-year-old Eric slips away from his foster family during a camping trip, determined to find the mother he barely remembers—and the truth about where he belongs.The Johnsons had taken Eric in at twelve. They’d given him love, stability, even little things like crustless sandwiches and bedtime stories. But now, with their biological daughter Mila in the picture, Eric couldn’t shake the fear that he was just temporary.

On the drive to the campsite, a worn diner sign near a gas station caught Eric’s eye. It looked familiar. He checked the faded photo in his pocket—him as a baby, held by a woman with the same sign in the background. His mother: Eliza.

That night, while the Johnsons slept, Eric packed his things and quietly left. Hours later, exhausted and cold, he reached the diner. Inside, he showed the photo to the old man at the counter.

“Eliza?” the man said, nodding toward a noisy group. “That’s her.”Eric approached the woman. She looked older, harder, but it was definitely her. “Eliza?” he said softly.She barely looked up. “What do you want, kid?”“I’m your son.”She snorted. “Don’t have kids.”Eric held up the photo. “It’s me. Eliza and Eric.”“Oh. Thought I got rid of you,” she muttered, downing a drink.

Still, she let him sit with her. But when it came time to pay, she grabbed the cash from Eric’s hand and walked out. “Run!” she yelled.Eric hesitated—then followed. Moments later, police lights flashed. Eliza vanished into the night, shouting, “I don’t have any kids!”When the police stopped Eric, he tried to explain. But his phone was gone, along with his money. At the station, scared and alone, he braced for the worst.

Then—Mrs. Johnson rushed in, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Eric! We were so worried!”Mr. Johnson followed, holding Mila. “Why did you leave, son?”Eric looked down. “I thought maybe you didn’t want me anymore. I wanted to find my real mom… but she didn’t want me.”Tears welled in Mrs. Johnson’s eyes. “Eric, you are our real son.”Mr. Johnson smiled gently. “This trip was for you. To tell you something important.”Eric blinked. “What?”We want to adopt you,” Mrs. Johnson said. “Only if you want that too.”Eric didn’t speak—he just pulled them both into a hug, the kind he knew now would never be temporary.