The Teenage Girl I Saved During a Snowstorm – Her ID Card Held a Terrifying Truth

I Sheltered a Helpless Teenage Girl during a Snowstorm – I Got Chills When I Accidentally Looked at Her ID Card

Before a snowstorm delivers a frightened youngster to your doorstep stating he has nowhere to go, you never really know what lies ahead in life. That’s how I ended up having to confront a history I had thought I had forgotten and an unknown future.

I never imagined that I would be the type of guy to find himself gazing down a mystery at his front door while surrounded by snow. Ian is my name. My name is 33, I’m married to Jenna, and in a few months, we’ll be welcoming our first child.

It was meant to be an easy life. Jenna is a freelance photographer who captures moments that seem to pass too quickly for the rest of us to notice, and I work well in IT. Conversations about baby names, nursery colors, and whether or not pineapple goes on pizza dominate our days. Normal stuff.

The snow was falling heavily that night. Curled up on the couch, Jenna was mindlessly stroking her stomach as she perused her phone. As I was preparing hot chocolate, I realized that Jenna had been hankering after it ever since she became pregnant.

A comforting counterpoint to the howling weather outside was the room’s soothing heater hum.

“Babe, do you think we should go with blue or green for the nursery?” Light-hearted yet a little worn out, Jenna yelled out.

“I still say yellow,” I said while dividing the cocoa between two mugs. It’s bright and neutral. You won’t spit up as frequently.”

Jenna chuckled. “You and your practical logic.”

A loud tap on the door startled me as I was about to carry the mugs over. Particularly considering how awful the weather was, it was unusual. A worried frown appeared on Jenna’s brow as she looked up.

She questioned, “Ian, who could it be at this hour?”

I muttered, “No idea,” as I put down the chocolate and moved for the door.

A blast of cold air blasted me as soon as I opened it, nearly sending me flying. A girl who appeared to be around fifteen was standing there, trembling from the cold.

Her lips were getting blue, and her hair was wet and clinging to her forehead. Her fingers were raw and red from the cold, and she had only a thin, torn jumper on instead of a coat.

“Is there anything I can use to hide? Something, a blanket, a coat?” Her voice was hardly a whisper as she stammered.

Her face had a strange familiarity that I couldn’t quite place. She looked around anxiously, similar to a deer caught in headlights.

“Obviously,” I responded without hesitation. “Come in, come in — you’re freezing.”

Hesitantly, as if expecting me to smash the door in her face, she stepped inside. I went to the couch and got a blanket and gave it to her. Jenna sprang to her feet, concern shining in her eyes.

“What’s going on, Ian?” She murmured, but I merely gave a small shake of my head. I was still without a response.

Despite covering herself with the blanket, the girl maintained her horrified expression. She was staring at her feet, avoiding eye contact, and her hands were shaking. I made an effort to reassure her.

“What’s your name?” I made a gentle inquiry.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, the crackling of the fireplace nearly drowning out her words. Just don’t call the cops, please. I don’t own a phone or identification.”

That made me start to get worried. Why wouldn’t she want the cops to assist her? I gave Jenna a quick glance. She nodded slightly, as she was saying, “Just go with the flow for now.”

“All right, no police,” I murmured softly. However, are you having any problems at all? Is there someone you can be reached via phone?”

She gave a forceful shake of her head and clung closer to the blanket over her petite figure. “No… no one.”

Jenna’s tone became softer. “We’re not here to pass judgment, sweetie. All we want to do is assist. However, you have something to tell us. Are you escaping?”

For a split second, the girl’s face twisted. She appeared to be attempting to contain her tears. “Please, let me just… I must take a nap. I’ll get out as quickly as I can.”

I could feel her presence pulling at the back of my thoughts. That expression I had previously seen it, but where?

I saw her jacket half-buried under a mound of snow by the door as she excused herself to use the restroom. I knew I shouldn’t have, but my curiosity won out and I touched it despite its age and torn edges.

Feeling around in the pocket, I reached out and brushed my fingers against a small plastic card. Carefully pulling it out, I looked toward the bathroom door to make sure she wouldn’t see me prying. It was an ID card, a little bent and worn.

There was a chill down my spine, stronger than the snowstorm outside, when I saw the name on it.

Jenna saw the expression on my face. “Ian, what is it?”

My fingers trembled a little as I fixed my gaze on the ID card in my hand. Kenzie Rutherford, Jane. Dorothy’s middle name was Jane. It was as though I had taken a punch to the gut. Rutherford is the last name, and the face and middle name are the same. The man’s last name that Dorothy abandoned me for so many years ago.

I looked up to see Jenna staring at me apprehensively. “Ian, what’s it?” she said, her voice a little gentler this time.

I took a deep breath, still attempting to take in what I was seeing. With my voice scarcely audible above a whisper, I eventually managed to say, “This girl… Kenzie… she’s Dorothy’s daughter.”

Jenna’s gaze expanded. “Dorothy? Do you mean your girlfriend from high school? The one who…

“Yes,” I interrupted, nodding. “The one that departed for Wesley.” Kenzie, this kid, is their daughter.”

After using the restroom, Kenzie came out with a pale face and cautious eyes. When she saw the ID card in my palm, her look changed from one of terror to one of almost resignation.

“You… you figured it out,” she murmured.

“Yes, I did,” I said, sounding more assertive than I actually was. “Kenzie, you must be honest with me. What brings you here?”

She wavered, looking from Jenna to me. She had fear and desperation in her eyes. “I… I don’t know if I should…”

Jenna moved forward, speaking softly. “We promise not to harm you, sweetie. All we have to do is comprehend the situation. Tell us, please.”

As though bracing herself for whatever lay ahead, Kenzie inhaled deeply.

“All right,” she began, her voice wavering. “My mother, Dorothy, died in an automobile accident a year ago. It was awful. Wesley, my dad, discovered after she passed away that I wasn’t his daughter. After receiving the results of his DNA test, he simply quit on me. said he was unable to look at me any longer.”

A knot started to form in my stomach. “He abandoned you? In the same manner?”

With tears in her eyes, Kenzie nodded.

Yes. He no longer desired me. I had nowhere to go when he sent me to an orphanage. However, I learned about my mother’s former friend Avril, who claimed that my mother had a previous partner in her early years. Ian, she told me it was you. And I escaped and arrived here since I had nowhere else to go.”

I inhaled deeply as I tried to take in what she was saying. “So, you think… you think I might be your father?”

Kenzie looked into my eyes as she gently nodded. “I had run out of options. Even though I wasn’t your daughter, I reasoned that if I came here and simply begged for assistance, perhaps you would aid me. However, I was afraid to speak it aloud. I was worried that you would reject me.”

Jenna stretched out and lightly touched my arm. Ian, we must assist her. In any case, she is only a child.”

I nodded as the situation’s weight descended upon me. “Kenzie, we need to be certain that you are my daughter if there’s any possibility at all. We’re going to the hospital to have our DNA tested. Okay, we’ll work this out.

Kenzie appeared to relax slightly as her expression relaxed. She said, “Okay,” “Thank you.”

The travel to the hospital was peaceful. I couldn’t stop staring at Kenzie in the rearview mirror as I tried to figure out how things had changed so quickly.

Dorothy had vanished. This youngster sitting in the back seat could be my daughter; the girl I believed I’d spend my life with was dead.

Jenna grabbed my hand as she reached across. “You okay?”

I wasn’t sure, but I nodded. I’m not sure, Jenna. I simply… This is unbelievable. I had no idea she was even a mother.”

“She didn’t tell you?” Looking back at Kenzie, Jenna questioned.

Kenzie gave a headshake. “No… Mom never mentioned you. She occasionally gave off the impression that she was depressed and was unable to express herself.”

Once we arrived at the hospital, the DNA test was a haze of paperwork and antiseptic rooms. Both Kenzie and I were anxious, but Jenna maintained her composure and led us through the procedure. When the samples were finally taken, we were informed that we would not receive the findings for several hours. We chose to wait in the tiny café at the hospital.

Still a little shaky in her fingers, Kenzie picked up a muffin. So, how did she seem to you? When did you know her, Mom?”

I grinned as memories came back to me. “Dorothy was someone else entirely. Even in the absence of music, she loved to dance and had a laugh that could fill a room. Even though we were young, I believed I would marry her.”

With a slight smile on her lips, Kenzie cast her gaze downward. “She taught me how to dance when I was little.”

Jenna inclined closer. “She sounds like she was a wonderful person.”

Kenzie gave a nod. “She did. However, she made errors. Large ones. Like having faith in Wesley, who has been preparing to sell our previous home as if she had never left.”

I felt a surge of wrath and balled my fists. “I wish I had been aware. I would have taken action.”

The nurse entered and took out a folder. “Mr. Abrams? The outcomes are available to us.”

The moment I opened it, my heart raced. I carefully read the phrases two times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “Good. The likelihood of paternity is 99.9%.”

Tears clouded my eyes, and my breath stuck in my throat. I muttered, “Kenzie, you’re my daughter.”

A smile spread across Kenzie’s face, and she found herself cradling me in her arms. The weight of fifteen years lost descended upon me, yet I also had an odd sensation of relief.

“I’m really sorry,” I gasped. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

Kenzie withdrew and shook her head. “No, you were unaware. You were not able to know. There’s no need for an apology.”

Tears fell from Jenna’s cheek. “What now?” she murmured.

For the first time, I felt a smile appear as I turned to face Kenzie. “Kenzie… how do you feel about pizza?”

Kenzie chuckled, and the room seemed to brighten up. “I think that sounds perfect, Dad.”

We suddenly ventured outside into the cold, but I felt warm for the first time.