The Missed Call

Lena sat at her kitchen table, sipping cold coffee, staring at the pile of bills in front of her. Rent was overdue, her job was barely keeping her afloat, and the loneliness since her father’s passing six months ago felt heavier than ever. She sighed, rubbing her temples, trying to silence the constant worry in her head.

She missed him. More than words could express. More than she had ever imagined. Her father had always been her anchor, the person who told her everything would be okay, even when it wasn’t. Now, there was no one to reassure her. No one to remind her that she was strong enough to get through this.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She glanced at it absentmindedly, expecting another payment reminder or some spam call. But instead, her heart nearly stopped.

One missed call from Dad.

Lena’s fingers trembled as she stared at the screen. This had to be a mistake. A glitch. Her father had died six months ago. His number had been disconnected. She had deleted it from her contacts, but she’d never forgotten those ten digits.

A chill ran down her spine. Maybe someone had reassigned his number. Maybe this was just a strange coincidence. Or maybe she was imagining things, letting her grief play tricks on her.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she clicked on the voicemail notification.

“Lena…”

The voice was scratchy, weak, but unmistakable.

Her father’s voice.

“I just wanted to say I’m proud of you. No matter how hard things get, don’t give up. Keep going. You’re stronger than you think.”

Lena’s breath caught in her throat. She knew this message. It was from last year—her birthday. Her father had left it when she hadn’t answered his call. She had listened to it dozens of times after he passed away, but eventually, it disappeared when she switched phones.

But how was it here now?

Her pulse raced as she checked the timestamp. Today. 3:14 AM.

Her mind scrambled for a logical explanation. Had the phone company restored old messages? Had someone hacked her number? But why now?

Tears welled in her eyes. She remembered that night last year—she had been out with friends, ignoring her ringing phone, thinking she’d call him back later.

Later never came.

She’d spent months regretting that missed call, wishing she had answered, wishing she had told him she loved him one more time.

Lena pressed her palm to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Maybe it was just a glitch, a random technological hiccup. But deep down, something in her heart told her otherwise.

She closed her eyes and whispered, “I miss you, Dad.”

The phone buzzed again.

A text message.

From an unknown number.

“I’m always with you.”

Lena gasped, dropping the phone onto the table. Her whole body shook. Was this real? Was someone playing a cruel joke? Or was it… something else?

She hesitated before picking up the phone again, staring at the message.

Could it really be him?

Her father had always told her that love never truly dies. That the people we lose never really leave us. She had never been sure if she believed that, but right now, as she sat alone in her dimly lit kitchen, she felt something she hadn’t felt in months.

Warmth.

A presence.

Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe it was a glitch.

Or maybe, just maybe, her father had found a way to reach her.

A smile trembled on her lips as she wiped her tears away.

For the first time crushing.