So, when he left for Cape Town, I felt like something had moved inside of me. I felt an emptiness deep down in my soul. My tears rolled down my cheeks like a splash of water on my face. My heart skipped a few beats. I was shaking like I just saw a ghost.

In the end, I was still standing like, “No, I’m okay”, even though I wasn’t. I looked on my phone to see the time “10:09 pm”. My smile faded away like a dark shadow. I could feel my soul being removed from my body as I gave it away.

Then I went to bed. It felt like I was suffocating. I couldn’t breathe. My heart was so heavy. I got a few missed calls and unread messages like they even cared! Why did I ask myself, “Why is this happening to me?” but I already knew the answer.

Enough about that. I’ve questioned myself, “What do you think I am? A questioner of self?”. No, I got back up again and shone! I stood up! My soul returned, my tears dried up, the emptiness had gone away, and my heart’s beats became normal again. My smile came back in reverse as it had never even faded before. The shakes…well, it disappeared. I could finally breathe again. I believed in myself, in ME again!

As for that, I’ve found myself again and started being independent. My father was the only one who cared about my emotions; I’ll always be strong for him!

After he left, after the long traumatised episode of whatever it was that I went through. Daddy gave me a call, and I answered it immediately. “Daddy, are you okay? Are you there yet? I miss you already” my father’s words made me the happiest child alive ever! “Yes, don’t you worry about me; I’m doing just fine.”

I went to bed, and as I fell asleep, I thought of him all night, till sun up.

When I woke up, the first thing I did, was to pray; I went down on my knees and started with, “Heavily, father, thank you for guiding me through the night. Thank you for your time and your mercy on me. Thank you for showing my parents and siblings through whatever path they’re walking. Please help me to be kinder and more helpful towards others. In the beautiful name of Jesus Christ, Amen. “

I opened my eyes, and you won’t believe who I saw in front of me. “Daddy!” I shouted and jumped from the floor to where he was. He hugged me, and he gave me a kiss on my cheek. He put me down and said, “That was so beautiful!” I smiled and heard the voice of my mother. I jumped up from bed and realised it was just a dream; my mother called me and said, “Are you alright, you were breathing tough, and I was just checking in on you?” I nodded with a smile and went back to sleep again.