When Ellie’s stepdad unexpectedly hands her a newborn baby to babysit, she has no idea who the baby is or where she came from. However, when Ellie changes the baby’s diaper, she finds a name and an address. Determined to uncover the truth, she takes the baby and heads to the address.

“I never expected that a blanket could reveal so much,” Ellie reflects, “but as I clutched the soft fabric with a name and address scribbled onto the edge, my world tipped into more uncertainty than I’ve ever experienced before.”

Ellie’s life had already been full of surprises—from her father leaving when she was just three to her mother remarrying William, a man of few words but deep kindness. William had profoundly changed her life. When Ellie’s mother passed away, the void was unbearable. Still in high school, Ellie struggled to navigate her grief.

William, though quiet, supported her in simple ways—buying her notebooks to write down her feelings and sitting in silence while they listened to music together. Slowly, they healed. “We’ll visit Mom’s grave every week, Ellie,” he promised one day as they ate noodles and watched TV. “I didn’t have much before I met your mother, but when I got you, everything changed. I became a father.”

Ellie smiled at him, remembering the early days when William moved in, his boxes scattered around the house as her mom tried to blend their belongings into one family.

But now, as Ellie prepared to leave for college during the holidays, her stepdad suddenly walked into the house and placed a newborn baby in her arms with no explanation. “Ellie,” he said, his brows furrowed as he sat on the couch with his head in his hands, “Can you look after her for a few days?” His usual reserved tone hid the turmoil beneath as he avoided Ellie’s gaze and prepared to leave for work.

“Wait!” Ellie called after him, confused. How could William just hand her a baby she knew nothing about? “Where did she come from? Who is she?” Ellie pressed for answers, but William was evasive, muttering something about work emergencies and needing to find a nanny soon.

Before heading out, William went into the kitchen to make a sandwich. His hand trembled slightly, his expression troubled. “What’s going on?” Ellie asked, holding the baby close, grateful she was still asleep.

“I’ll explain everything when I get home,” William replied quietly before rushing out the door, sandwich and juice in hand.

As Ellie held the baby, a chill ran down her spine. Something was deeply wrong. William didn’t have any family he kept in contact with, so the possibility of the baby being a relative seemed unlikely. The baby began to stir, and Ellie realized she needed to change her. Taking the baby to her room, she grabbed the diaper bag William had left at the door. As she unwrapped the baby from the blanket, she noticed a note attached to it—a name, Abby, and an address.

The name and address felt like a breadcrumb in a dark forest. With her stepdad gone and the baby looking up at her with innocent eyes, Ellie made a decision—she needed answers. Her mind raced with questions about the baby’s identity. Could the baby be William’s? It had been years since Ellie’s mother died, and William hadn’t dated anyone, at least not that Ellie knew of. “You can see other people; it’s okay with me,” Ellie had once told him while they walked back from her mother’s grave. “Thank you for saying that, Ellie,” William had replied, “but I don’t think I can. Your mother was the one for me.”

For years, William had never been with anyone else. He had friends, sure—meeting them for sports and beer—but Ellie never saw him date. Now, staring at the baby, Ellie wasn’t so sure anymore. She changed Abby, her thoughts swirling, and realized that while she didn’t mind caring for the baby, she wasn’t going to be around much longer.

In a moment of resolve, Ellie packed a few essentials, hailed a cab, and headed to the address from the blanket. The house was modest, the garden unkempt, and an old bicycle lay in the middle of the yard. Ellie’s heart raced as she rang the bell, each chime echoing her growing fears. The door opened to reveal a woman whose face was etched with worry, but it softened into relief when she saw the baby.

“Oh, my little Abby,” the woman gasped, her arms instinctively reaching out for her child. Between sobs, she shared her heartbreaking story of loss and desperation. “There was no way out for my husband, Jerry, and me,” she said. “He lost his job, and I don’t have one. The debts kept piling up. Giving up Abby was our only chance of survival.”

“How do you know William?” Ellie asked, unsure if she truly wanted to hear the answer.