On a Monday morning,I woke up late and there was a loud bâng on the door. I relúctantly opened the door because I've been stréssed up lately. Dara walked in and I was standing right by the door yawning. She said ' your uncle told me to tell you to prepare a hót pap and bring it down to the hôspital right away'.

She gave a sign asking if I was okay and I féign a smile and tease her to reassured her that I was fine. Though, I've not been my usual sélf lately.

Two months ago, we had just finished our third terminal examination in school. I stayed with my aunt in a town in Oyo state due to some situation. I'm the kind of daddy's pét, always eager to see him after vacating from school.

Days after there was no call from him and my aunt did not even say anything about travelling down to Lagos. I was worried and ílI lost my appetite and I was on drúgs.

Every day I will try reaching to him by calling his phone, but he won't pick up. I became more worried, I had several bâd thoughts, and yes I was right. He is sîck again.

Dad was not the kind that do fall síck, but early that year he was brought to a hospital in the town where I stayed with my aunt. He was diagnosed with pnéumonia and high blóod pressure. He spent weeks on the síckbed before he was later discharged.

Exactly two weeks after vacating from school, I board a car going to our hometown in the afternoon. My feelings was mixed with sádnéss and pléasure. The good news was that I was going to set my eyes on him and the bád news was that he was síck.

I didn't get the chance to meet him that night because it was late already. I slept early, I was tíred and my health was getting better.

Cock Crow and it was dawn already, the night was like a minute to me. My uncle walked in and told to have my bath. I dash into the bathroom quickly, within seconds I was through. I put on a clean cloth and we headed for the hospital.

He was lying síck on the bed, he looked up and feignéd a smile. I know he wasn't fine, Tears down my face. We spent the day together in the ward, until it was night that I had to return home.

I was a little bit relieved seeing him. Everyday I will have to walk miles down to the hóspital checking on him and to give him food to eat.
I get used to trekking and I wasn't worríed or tíred because he's my Father.

Weeks went by and he was discharged and we had resumed back to school, but I was still home. His health was gradually getting better.
We will go out together in the evening, take me round the town, show some places.

At night, we will chat as friends, yes the bond was great. We will talk about the future, how we will live when we get back to Lagos.

I hurriedly went out and wash my face with some water. I took some money in my dad's wallet, I guess I did not tell you he was rushed to the hóspital in the midnight, I bought pap from a woman down our street, I prepared some firéwood to make the pap. I was still preparing it when Dara told me not to worry about it again that my Uncle is waiting for me in the other room.

I walked into the room, in the room I met my grandparent, and there was total silence as I stepped into the room. I began to suspect that something was wróng. They were not their usual sélf, they gave me a consóling face.

Alás! There gave the devâstating news that my father is dèad. I couldn't believe my ears. I fell down on my knees and everything that came to my mind was 'No wonder he told twelve years old me mystéry he would never tell me if he's still alivé three days ago'.