Addison’s life revolves around her demanding job as a neurologist, leaving little time for romance. When her cheerful coworker Nathan sets her up on a blind date with a seemingly perfect guy named Jake, she finally feels a spark of hope. However, after Addison shares her three-year dating rule, her date abruptly leaves. What went wrong?
Advertisement
I always thought my life would stay the same.
Day in and day out, the hospital consumed all my time.
A smiling young doctor | Source: Midjourney
My name is Addison, and I work as a neurologist. My days are filled with patients, charts, and endless rounds.
It’s a fulfilling job, but it leaves little room for anything else, especially dating.
A busy young woman | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
One day, while grabbing a quick coffee in the break room, my coworker Nathan walked in with a bright smile on his face.
Nathan is always in a good mood, no matter how stressful the day gets.
A smiling doctor | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, Addison,” Nathan said, leaning against the counter. “How do you feel about blind dates?”
I laughed, almost spilling my coffee. “Blind dates? Nathan, you know my schedule. I barely have time to eat, let alone date.”
Two professionals laughing and chatting | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
Nathan chuckled. “I know, but hear me out. My friend Jake is a great guy. He’s kind, funny, and I think you two would hit it off. What do you say?”
I paused, considering it. I hadn’t been on a date in ages, and the idea of meeting someone new was intriguing. Plus, Nathan seemed genuinely excited about it.
A couple enjoying drinks | Source: Pexels
“Okay, then,” I said, smiling. “You’ve convinced me. When’s this magical date happening?”
Nathan’s face lit up. “Really?? How about next Tuesday night? It’s the only evening that works for both of you!”
A doctor with his arms crossed | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
Next Tuesday. I mentally checked my calendar. It was one of the rare nights I didn’t have a late shift or any other commitments.
“Next Tuesday works for me,” I said. “Let’s do it.”
A female doctor talking to a male doctor | Source: Midjourney
Nathan grinned. “Great! I’ll set it up and text you the details. You won’t regret this, Addison,” he said with a wink.
“We’ll see that,” I laughed and finished my coffee quickly.
A smiling doctor | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
As I walked back to my office, I felt both excited and nervous. It had been so long since I had gone on a date.
My life had become a routine of work and more work, with little time for anything else. But maybe this was what I needed — a chance to step out of my comfort zone.
A doctor lost in her work | Source: Midjourney
The rest of the day flew by in a blur of patient consultations and medical charts. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about the upcoming date. Maybe, just maybe, this blind date with Jake would be the start of something new.
On Tuesday night, I arrived at the quaint restaurant Nathan had suggested.
Inside a restaurant | Source: Freepik
Advertisement
It was cozy, with dim lighting and a warm ambiance that immediately put me at ease. As I walked in, I spotted a man sitting at a table near the window.
He looked up, smiled, and waved me over.
This must be Jake, I thought to myself.
A smiling man at a table | Source: Midjourney
“Addison?” he asked as I approached the table.
“Yes, and you must be Jake,” I replied with a smile.
A couple on a date | Source: Freepik
Advertisement
We shook hands, and I took a seat. Almost immediately, the waitress came over to take our drink orders.
“I’ll have a glass of red wine, please,” I said.
“I’ll have the same,” Jake added.
Two people enjoying wine | Source: Freepik
As the waitress left, we started chatting. Jake was easy to talk to, and I felt my initial nervousness melt away.
“So, Nathan tells me you’re a neurologist,” he said, looking genuinely interested. “That must be a challenging job.”
A couple lost in each other’s eyes | Source: Freepik
Advertisement
“It is,” I nodded. “But I love it. What about you? What do you do?”
“I’m a graphic designer,” Jake replied. “I work freelance, so my schedule is pretty flexible. It’s a lot of fun, especially when I get to work on creative projects.”
A person working on their laptop | Source: Pexels
Our drinks arrived, and we ordered appetizers — stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta. As we nibbled on the delicious food, we continued to talk about our lives, hobbies, and interests.
“I love hiking and photography,” Jake said, taking a sip of his wine. “There’s something about being in nature that’s so refreshing.”
A male photographer | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
“I’ve always wanted to get into photography,” I said. “But I never seem to find the time. Maybe you could give me some tips?”
“I’d love to,” Jake said with a smile. “It’s all about finding the right light and angle.”
A woman with a camera | Source: Pexels
As the evening went on, I found myself more and more charmed by Jake. He was kind, funny, and easy to talk to.
We laughed a lot, and it felt like I had known him for much longer than just one evening.
A cozy couple | Source: Freepik
Advertisement
As we moved on to our main course, Jake looked at me with a smile. “So, Addison, how about we ask each other some more personal questions to break the ice further?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” I said. “What do you want to know?”
Food | Source: Unsplash
Jake leaned in slightly. “How about your one-to-five-year plan? What are your goals?”
I took a moment to think. “Well, I hope to advance in my career as a neurologist,” I began.
A woman staring at her man | Source: Freepik
Advertisement
“Maybe get promoted to a senior position. I also want to decorate my apartment; it feels too plain right now,” I continued. “I’ve been thinking about getting a pet, maybe a cat or a small dog. And I’d love to travel more, see new places, and experience different cultures. Oh, and I want to expand my bookshelf with my favorite novels. I love reading!”
Pile of books and cup on top | Source: Unsplash
“That sounds wonderful. You have a lot of exciting plans!” he grinned.
“What about you?” I asked, curious to hear about his future plans.
“I want to grow my freelance business,” Jake said. “Maybe open my own studio one day. I also love traveling, so I’d like to visit more countries. And, believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about getting a pet too. A dog, probably.”
Advertisement
A dog | Source: Unsplash
We laughed at the coincidence, and it felt nice to find common ground!
“So, how do you feel about marriage and family?” Jake further asked as he sipped his wine.
And this is where it all went horribly wrong.
A family | Source: Unsplash
Advertisement
“Honestly, I’d love to find a partner to share my life with,” I told him, “someone who understands and supports me. But marriage isn’t a necessity for me. If it happens, great, but if not, that’s okay too. As for children, I don’t see myself having any. For now. I’m happy with my career and personal goals.”
Jake leaned forward, looking serious. “What if you found the perfect guy? How long before you’d marry him?”
Two people smiling at each other and standing close | Source: Freepik
“Three years,” I said. “I believe in building a strong foundation. Six months to really get to know someone, a year of serious dating, and a year and a half of living together before considering engagement or marriage.”
Jake’s face changed, his friendly expression replaced by a frown. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Three years? That’s a long time. What if someone wants a quicker timeline?”
Advertisement
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
I felt a knot forming in my stomach. “Well, uh, I think it’s important to take time to build a strong relationship. I’m pretty confident about my three-year-plan.”
Jake’s frown deepened, and he abruptly called the waitress. “Check, please,” he said curtly. She looked confused but quickly brought the bill.
A waitress | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
“Jake, what’s wrong?” I asked as he stood up, but he didn’t bother to answer. He paid and walked out of the restaurant without a glance back.
I sat there, stunned and hurt. What just happened?
Later, at home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the evening.
A woman staring at her reflection | Source: Pexels
How could Jake just leave like that?
Deciding I needed answers, I messaged him.
I sent a selfie we took together and wrote, “Hey Jake, why did you leave so suddenly? I thought we were having a great time.”
A woman using her phone | Source: Unsplash
Advertisement
A few minutes later, his reply came: “Don’t contact me again. You’re indecisive and not serious about what you want.”
Then, he blocked me.
I stared at my phone in disbelief. Was I really that off base?
The next day at work, I noticed Nathan giving me strange glances. Gathering my courage, I decided to confront him.
A man holding a phone in his hands | Source: Unsplash
“Nathan, what did Jake tell you? You know why he left, don’t you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Nathan looked uncomfortable and shifted on his feet. “You messed it up, Addy,” he said. “Jake… told me you were wasting his time. He wanted something serious. He was looking for marriage, and you… you weren’t the best person for him. Sorry, I gotta go.”
Advertisement
A sad doc | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t believe it.
During my lunch break, I called my best friend, Sophie.
“Hey, Addison. How did the date go?” was the first thing she asked.
A cheerful woman on video call | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
I sighed, feeling the weight of the evening pressing on me. “It started great, but then it ended terribly. Jake left abruptly after I talked about my three-year plan, and then he blocked me when I asked him why.”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “He did what? That’s ridiculous! What exactly happened?”
A sad young doctor | Source: Midjourney
I recounted every detail, my voice trembling slightly as I relived the evening. When I finished, Sophie shook her head. “Addison, being honest about your expectations is important. If he couldn’t handle that, it’s his loss.”
“I can’t stop wondering if my three-year rule is really that strange, Sophie,” I admitted, my voice breaking a bit.
Advertisement
An anxious doctor | Source: Midjourney
“Not at all,” Sophie said firmly. “Everyone has their own timeline and needs. What matters is that you stay true to yourself. If he couldn’t appreciate that, he wasn’t the right guy for you.”
Her words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. But it didn’t ease all my worries. Was I wrong to be upfront about my expectations? Should I have kept it to myself? All I know is that being honest about what I want is important, even if it means losing a date like Jake.
A doctor focused on her work | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one: Julia is excited to surprise her husband on his birthday, but everything changes when she hears an unexpected voice. Hiding in the living room, her heart pounds as her husband’s laughter mingles with another woman’s. What will Julia uncover?
A couple | Source: Unsplash
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
My Teenage Son Spent Grandma’s Funeral Savings on a Game — The Family Taught Him a Lesson
When Judy discovers that her teenage son has been stealing and using his grandmother’s money to satisfy his gaming addiction, she has no choice but to teach him a lesson that he will never forget.
I’ve always heard about there being one child in every family who just goes overboard and does stupid things.
I didn’t expect my son to be that child in our family.
A smiling teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
My teenage son, Brandon, like most teenage boys his age, had gotten into gaming. And whenever a new game came out, he would get obsessed over it and watch the trailers, begging me to buy it.
“It’s ridiculous, Brandon,” I would say firmly. “I’m not giving you money for stupid games.”
But he was as persistent as they came. And when the latest version of his favorite game came out, he would whine and plead daily.
A teenage boy playing on a computer | Source: Midjourney
“Please, Mom,” he would ask at every opportunity. “Please, just this game and I won’t ask for anything else.”
“Brandon, I’ve already said no,” I would say. “Please, stop nagging. This discussion is over.”
Then, a week ago, the whining stopped. Brandon retreated to his room and was stuck behind his computer again, talk of the game long forgotten.
I was relieved, thinking that he had finally moved past this phase.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know how else to tell him that we cannot spend money on video games,” I told my husband, Liam.
“I know,” he agreed. “It’s time that Brandon realizes that there’s more to life than just sitting behind a computer. And if he insists on it, then it’s time to get a part-time job to pay for his games.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
Everything seemed fine as we settled back into our routine.
Until I received a panicked call from my mom.
“My savings for the funeral! They disappeared!” Her voice trembled with fear and confusion. “Judy, they’re gone!”
A shocked old woman | Source: Midjourney
Now, I should probably explain this part:
My mother is as eccentric as they come. And for the past three years, she has gotten it into her head that she needs to save up for her funeral. She’s healthy as can be, but it’s something that she does as a comfort.
“It’s not my fault, Judy,” she would say. “Some of my friends are passing away now, and I have to be prepared, too.”
An urn on a stool | Source: Midjourney
She would pick up her paintbrushes and splash wet paint all over her studio as she spoke.
“And it’s okay if you think I’m crazy, darling,” she would continue. “But at the end of the day, I have to do what gives me peace of mind.”
Since then, my mother had been putting away money each month.
A person holding a paintbrush | Source: Midjourney
“Where are you storing it, Mom?” I asked her one day. “Please tell me that you have a separate bank account.”
“No, Judy,” she replied, her eyes wide. “Then we definitely won’t get it out in time for you to use for my funeral. No, it’s in a little wooden box under my bed.”
“That’s not safe, Mom,” I replied. “Anyone could get to it!”
A little wooden box | Source: Midjourney
“My neighborhood is safe, darling,” she said. “Don’t you worry about that. I just need you to know where it is when you need it. You know, when the time comes.”
Little did I know, my son had heard this entire conversation.
“Calm down, Mom. I’m sure that there’s an explanation for this,” I said, trying to soothe her.
A woman on the phone | Source: Midjourney
It took hours to calm her down, and every time I thought she was okay, she would burst into tears all over again.
“I should have listened to you, Judy,” she cried. “Keeping the money lying around was a very stupid thing to do.”
But as I hung up, I knew two things: who was at fault and what I was going to do.
A sad old woman | Source: Midjourney
A week earlier, Liam and I had gone away for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and we had left Brandon with my mother.
He had been present when my mother and I had the conversation about her savings and the little wooden box that held it.
I could remember him sitting at her kitchen table, eating the cookies she had made for him, and listening intently to the conversation.
Cookies on a plate | Source: Midjourney
“Gran is really worried about dying?” he asked me in the car.
“It’s normal for her to be worried,” I replied.
Now, I pieced together the story quickly. Brandon must have thought that my mother wouldn’t notice the missing money. Or maybe he did, but he didn’t care about the consequences.
A woman driving | Source: Midjourney
All he had wanted was to satisfy his gaming obsession.
“Brandon, do you know anything about Grandma’s missing money?” I asked him later that evening as we cooked dinner together.
My son’s face paled in front of me.
A shocked teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
“No, why would I know anything about that?” he replied, a little too quickly. “Gran didn’t tell me.”
By that point, I was certain that it was him. His tone was all off, and I had offered him a chance to confess.
The following weekend, he begged to spend the night at my mother’s house.
A smiling teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
“Please, Mom,” he said. “I’m sure Gran isn’t feeling too safe at the moment.”
I allowed it, thinking that he’d try to sneak the money back.
And sure enough, when I went to pick him up, my mother opened the door beaming.
“You’ll never guess what!” she said, pulling me into a tight hug.
A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney
“What happened?” I asked, curiosity taking over me.
“Last night, after Brandon and I had dinner, he asked me about the money and said that he wanted to check my room,” she said.
“Oh, he said that, huh?” I asked.
A stack of dollars | Source: Midjourney
“Yes! And he found it! He said that I must have misplaced it, and I guess that maybe I did. Most of it is there, except for about $100, but I could have used that on my nails last week for all I know.”
“I’m glad you found it, Mom,” I said earnestly, but inside, I was seething.
The plan was simple. I texted Liam and told him everything, asking him to call for a family meeting later that evening. We needed to teach Brandon a lesson that he wouldn’t forget any time soon.
A person using their phone | Source: Midjourney
After dinner, Liam stood up.
“We need to have a family meeting now,” he said. “It’s important. Don’t worry about the dishes, love, we can do it later.”
Brandon and I followed Liam into the living room and we sat down.
A teenager sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“Brandon, Gran told me about you finding her money last night. Her memory seems to be going, doesn’t it? Maybe we should consider a nursing home?”
Liam nodded his head slowly.
“Look, Judy, I know that it’s painful to think about. But maybe that will be the best thing, if she’s worried about her memory.”
A close-up of a man | Source: Midjourney
“What? No! She’s fine!” Brandon protested, his eyes wide with panic.
“Well, she’s lost her money once. What if it’s her keys or she forgets to take her medication or put the stove off?” my husband added, playing his part perfectly.
My son’s face turned a deep shade of red.
A close-up of a teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
“She didn’t lose the money! It was there all along!” he said.
“So, you’re saying that Grandma’s lying?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, I’m saying that maybe she’s just confused,” he said, squirming in his seat.
“If she’s that confused, then maybe a nursing home is best,” I replied.
An old woman at a nursing home | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll make some calls tomorrow,” my husband said.
Finally, Brandon’s façade crumbled.
“Okay, okay! I took the money! I’m sorry! But I just wanted to buy my game. I didn’t think that it would cause so much trouble.”
We let him sit in silence for a moment, the weight of his confession hanging in the air.
An upset teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
“Brandon, stealing is wrong. And lying about it makes it worse,” I said softly. “You’re going to have to make this right.”
“I know,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’ll get a summer job and pay Grandma back. I promise.”
“That’s a start,” I said. “But you also need to apologize to Grandma. And you’re going to tell her the truth. Not me. And you’re grounded from using your computer until you’ve paid back every cent. Do you understand?”
A close-up of a stern woman | Source: Midjourney
Brandon nodded, tears streaming down his face.
“I will, I promise. I’ll get a job at the ice cream place and I’ll make everything right.”
Of course, he had no other choice.
An ice cream store | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you.
My Kids Listed My House on Airbnb While I Was in the Hospital — I Found a Way to Teach Them a Lesson
Mariah had been feeling less than healthy lately, causing her to admit herself to the hospital so that she could have a check-up. But in her absence, her children decided to rent out her house as an Airbnb, ready to pocket the money for themselves. When Mariah found out, she decided to teach them a lesson.
“I want you to tell Denise to book it,” I said. “But they’ll recognize that it’s her, so she’s probably going to need to create a new account. Do you think she’ll be okay with that?”
A phone opened to an Airbnb app | Source: Pexels
“Of course, she will!” Liz said. “Anything for you. But then what?”
“I’m getting discharged tomorrow,” I said. “But the kids think that I’ll be here until the end of the week. So, let them think that they’re going to make some money off the place.”
A close-up of a woman’s IV and hospital band | Source: Midjourney
“You want Denise to rent the place, but you want to mess it up?” Liz chuckled. “That’s devious.”
“No, my children are devious,” I said.
I hung up the call, and the nurse brought my lunch to me, ready to leave me alone to eat while she did her rounds.
Read the full story here.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Leave a Reply