Lisa returned to her childhood home with one goal: to take her mother and leave. But one mystery lingered—why did her mother despise their late neighbor, Jeremy, so much?

The house looked almost the same, though worn with time. As Lisa entered, memories flooded back. She’d stayed away for years, avoiding her mother’s temper and their difficult relationship. Now, her mother was older, struggling with daily tasks, and had finally agreed to move after Jeremy passed—despite having never liked him.

Curious, Lisa ventured to Jeremy’s empty house. Inside, a box addressed to her lay on a dusty table. Opening it, she found old photos and a journal. One photo showed her mother and Jeremy smiling together—arms around each other. Lisa was shocked. Her mother had never spoken of their past.

As Lisa read Jeremy’s journal, she uncovered the truth: Jeremy was her real father. The entry on her eleventh birthday explained that he’d run away when her mother found out she was pregnant. He had regretted it every day. He left everything to Lisa in his will.

Tears welled up as the pieces of her life fell into place. She returned to her mother, who was waiting on the porch. “Are you alright?” her mother asked.

“Just dust in my eyes,” Lisa replied softly. As they drove away, she realized some truths are better late than never.