#Chapter 104: Research

Over the next few days, Matt and I tirelessly combed through public records, old photographs, and any trace of information that might lead us to my father. It was a journey filled with dead ends, false leads, and frustrating moments, but we refused to give up. I didn’t have much to go on. I didn’t know his name and I had no pictures that I could show to anyone. I literally knew nothing of my father other than what he currently looked like. The hours of research had been grueling. There wasn’t anyone I could ask either. Jack made me stay away from the rest of our family. The only one I had contact with was my brother. I wasn’t even sure if he spoke to the family. They had certainly never reached out to us. Late one evening, while I was poring over a stack of dusty old newspapers in the local library, my eyes fell upon a familiar face in a faded photograph. It was my father, younger, smiling, and standing with a group of people I didn't recognize. The caption beneath the photo identi