Efe

I saw my dad.

I saw MY DAD

I felt so many emotions at once.

Anger

Happiness

Confusion

Grief

Regret

All these emotions mixed into one concoction and poured into my heart. Each trying to surface the other making me feel so unsettled and unstable.

Then I ran.

Again

Nnamdi tried to stop me but I didn't listen. I got so messed up as I ran. The burning in my chest and the cracking of my heart could not be compared to the aching pain in my legs.

Upon reaching the Ice cream stand, he wasn't there again.

The woman wasn't there.

The little boy wasn't there.

Again my heart shattered into a million pieces. Those pieces morphed into tears and those tears brought along that voice.

"You will never find him.
You will die before seeing him.
I don't know why you are still ALIVE!"

"You will never find your father! No one can help you! Ever!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

The voice came again. Draining me of the energy I worked so hard to build up. Tearing my insides as well as my mind. I thought I was going crazy.

The tower of doubt hovered above my wee self as the bells of heartbreak were rung to my hearing.

"Efe!"

I heard my name. I turned around to see Nnamdi and the ice cream lady looking at me as if I had horns on my head or wings on my back.

"They went to the fountains." He said to me.

We were about leaving when the lady called Nnamdi back. He reluctantly turned around and went to the lady. They had an exchange of words.

He came strolling back looking a bit flustered.

"What did she tell you?" I asked.

He hesitated then spoke.

"Nothing big. She thought she knew me from somewhere."

I didn't push further as we continued walking or may I say running towards the fountains.

The fountains served as a hilltop for the Park. Such that standing there, you would be able to see everything and everyone in the park.

I looked around and my eyes were in a frenzy but I searched and couldn't find him.

Nnamdi was also in the search but was looking at me in the process.

I pretended not to notice because I didn't need anything to distract me right now.

I finally gave up and signaled Nnamdi to stop looking.

He wanted to speak but I stopped him. We went down the fountain and walked back to the ice cream shop. Meeting the same lady selling ice cream to a group of kids.

"Any luck?" She asked as she spotted us coming towards her.

"No." Nnamdi breathed. He was sad but wasn't as sad as I.

The vendress then smiled at us and gestured for us to come into her kiosk.

I voted against this but there wasn't any option left and so I came in. Likewise Nnamdi.

She closed the shutters which provided access to the outside world.

"Have a seat." She said. Pointing to the two little stools at the side.
Normally I wouldn't sit on such tiny furniture but considering the fact that they were the only pieces that could fit into the not so big kiosk. I obeyed.

She sighed.

"I'm sure you must be wondering why I called you here. I'm Mapis.
I've been selling ice cream in this park for the four to five years." She paused and sighed.

I knew she wished she could be bigger than this but only God knows.

"I know that man you were looking for is your father. Am I correct?" She stopped.

How did this lady kn-

"I can see the resemblance between the two of you. You have his skin and eye colour."
I wondered how she knew.

"Your father, Mr Aaron. Has been buying ice cream from my kiosk since I started working. At first, he was making advances towards me  but I declined. He then started bringing a lady with him and then a child. Then I thanked God I didn't accept him."

I trust my father for woman matter...

Let me no call him rubbish in Jesus Name.

"So please get straight to the point." Nnamdi shot at Mapis and I gave him a disapproving look.

Mapis noticed this and smiled once more.

"Don't worry, It's nothing. So the point is. Your father is a hard man to trace. He travels from one place to another. And he is a very private man."

She was right. He was a private person indeed. He never told my mom about his day at work or his expenditures at office travel.

Only when he gets promoted are we informed.

"I may have a way to help you."

I looked at Nnamdi while he looked back at me.

Should we trust this lady?

Should I trust her?

I turned back to face her. "Okay, what do you got?"

Mapis reached into her apron pocket and brought out a small piece of paper.

"This is his home address. He gave it to me a year ago. I never needed it but I decided to keep it. Now I know why."

My face lit up when I looked at the paper.

No. 356,
Akeraye Avenue.
Osama Town.

I memorised it and as well took a photo of it. Once again. A ball of hope lit up in me and I wasn't gonna let it burn out
"Thank you Mapis! How am I going to repay you for this?"

I asked willingly. Hoping it's not of monetary value.

She shook her head. "My dear, nothing would do. I can't expect a teenager looking for her father to give me something. I just want to help you." She said smiling.

Nnamdi still didn't buy it. But kept quiet.

"Alright thank you Mapis." Nnamdi said.

"Your welcome dearies." She said as we stood up about to leave.

"What are your names?" She asked.

I said without hesitation.

"Efe and Nnamdi."

Time to start from where we stopped.

Heyyoo guys.

I'm so sorry for this long long wait.

I have been very very very very very very very very very very very very very very busy.

But I'm back.

The unfortunate thing is School is opening on Monday. That's in three days. So this is unbearable.

Thank you for the number of reads. You've made me happy.

I love you all.

Thank you for being patient and all the yada yada.

❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩❤️🤩