2.

I didn’t care that I would hurt myself with the way my back had hit the bed painfully as I dropped to the floor from shock.

My legs seemed to have given up on the ability to hold me up as I tried to process Duke’s statement.

Denial set in “What do you mean by Dad is sick? He is healthy. He sounded okay when he called me” I didn’t believe Duke. My old man was fine.

Duke sighed “It pains me to say it, young miss but your father is sick and at the end of his life”

Duke’s voice had become so small as though he was afraid of how I would react and he was right to be.

If he was in front of me, maybe I would have attacked him for spewing such nonsense.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Duke. Dad is not on his deathbed. That’s an expensive joke to play just to get me to come home early”

I tried to laugh it off but my laughter had doubts edged onto them like thorns on roses. It was painful.

“He has a brain tumour and it can’t be operated on. We’ve been managing it with medications but he relapsed suddenly. The doctor gave him two weeks at most to live”

Duke continued speaking like I hadn’t said a word. I gripped the edge of the bed as I shook my head furiously, refusing to believe the words he was forcefully feeding me.

“I don’t believe you,” I said again “You just want me to come home” I croaked weakly.

“When was the last time you spoke to your father, young mistress?”

Duke’s question was like a hard blow struck against my heart. I had not spoken to Dad in almost a month.

Anytime Duke called, I heard him talking in the background but he never spoke directly to me. I had assumed he was busy and didn’t want to argue with me about coming back home.

“Duke, please tell me it’s a lie” I cried out as fear finally crumpled me.

My hand that had been gripping the sheets for support fell to the ground. I shook my head furiously as tears cascaded down my cheeks.

“You need to come home immediately. Spend time with your father as much as you can” Duke spoke softly and it reminded me of the times he comforted me as a child when I would get hurt or scared.

“Your father’s plane should be at the airport already. I sent the pilot early this morning”

“Okay,” I dried my tears and jumped up.

Duke disconnected the call and I snatched my suitcase, dumping anything my hands could take.

I managed to change out of my nightwear and put on a simple sweatpants and hoodie before dashing out of the room and into the elevator.

When I was in the elevator, Duke also sent me a message that a car was waiting for me outside the hotel so I didn’t need to bother with booking a cab.

I thanked the heavens for bringing Duke into our lives as I rushed to the front desk to check out.

The receptionist eyed me with worry because I looked like a mess but she didn’t pry.

The driver took my luggage as I jumped into the back of the car.

“Please hurry, we need to get to the airport as soon as possible”

The driver nodded and we were off to the airport. He drove at the highest speed while my thoughts wandered back to Dad.

Was he in pain? How did he look? Could he eat well? Was he pale?

My mind was a puzzle of questions and none of them had answers. Answers I would only find when I was at home.

Even though I didn’t need to, I made sure to tip the driver for getting me to the airport on time.

I didn’t wait to hear any words of thanks before I was off towards check-ins to get my document cleared.

As soon as I was seated in the plane, the waterworks began. I would be able to cry myself to a stupor without caring if anyone was watching as the case may be in a public airline.

I had crazed my way to the airport to board my plane and now I felt like jumping off and flying home like Superman because the plane seemed too slow for me.

I found myself checking my phone very often and I could not sleep for the entire flight even when my eyes were begging me to. All I could do was worry and cry.

My eyes were glued to my phone screen as I waited for a message to tell me it was all a prank for me to come home. A message I knew would never come.

I didn’t know how I fell asleep but someone shook me awake and when I opened my eyes, I saw it was the air hostess.

“We’ve arrived, Miss Hazel” She spoke with a small smile. She must have heard about Dad.

“Thank you,” I told her before getting my things and exiting the plane.

I was finally home. A place I didn’t think I would be for another three months but here I was, shamefully returning all because my sick father was at the end of his life.

When I finished customs, I was about to start another marathon race to get a cab home when I saw David standing outside the airport.

David didn’t need to hold a hand sign because he could recognize me even with his eyes closed since he had worked for us since before I was born.

Usually, when David picked me up from the airport, he had a smile on his face but today was different.

He looked tired and worn out and would not be able to hold a smile even if he tried. His expression was a staggering confirmation of the terrible news I had been given a few hours ago.

When I reached David, he pulled me into a hug that I didn’t know I needed. As soon as his arms were wrapped around me, I burst into another wave of tears. Tears I had thought had run out because I had cried enough to make an ocean during the flight.

I could feel people’s gaze at us as they watched and wondered why I was bawling my eyes out in front of the airport. I also didn’t know why I was crying terribly when I had yet to see my dad.

What then would I do when I finally saw him?

David didn’t mind or protest as my loud cries surrounded us, and neither did he make any attempt to stop me or pull me towards the waiting car as I soaked his uniform with tears and disgusting snot.

Instead, he patted my back carefully with much understanding, as if he were silently telling me that it was okay and I would be fine. But was I really going to be fine?

Ever since Mom died, Dad had been my whole world. He became my father, mother, sister, brother and best friend so who would I become if he decided to leave me alone in this world?

He had promised that he would never leave me but now, he was breaking his promise and he was never one to break his promises.

By the time I had collected myself and was no longer bawling my eyes, I could not even lift my eyes to look up because I knew that some nosy people would not go about their business and were lingering so they could find out the cause of my troubles.

Just like he always knew what I wanted, David took charge of the situation. He steered me in the direction of the car, making sure to shield me from nosy eyes.

“Let’s go and see your father, young mistress. He has been waiting for you” was all David said as he opened the back seat of the car. A car I was all too familiar with as it was my dad’s favourite.