I wiped sis Mary’s tears.

” Don’t worry aunty, papa is sleeping. He’ll wake up soon ,okay?.”

I was a little innocent child that knew nothing but the world was cruel enough to take my pillar of strength,my one and only papa.

“Your papa is gone , gone forever”, she said

Her sympathetic eyes left me with many questions.

For few moments I kept quiet trying to process everything but nothing sinked in.

I asked , “Gone where?”

This was my first question after keeping quiet for a while

“Heaven” , she replied

(I giggled)” No sis Mary papa promised that he won’t go anywhere . He promised me that he’ll forever be with me, and I believe him. Now stop crying dad will wake up okay?”

“Your father is dead Nana ,we won’t see him anymore “

I had mixed feelings , numb perhaps.

I remembered the day he promised to always be there for me.

“Are you okay Nana?” Sis Mary asked

The word “Nana” made me miss papa. He used to call me like that and I loved it.

I shaked his corpse.

“Papa wake up ,please , papa wake up please.” I screamed

I wanted to cry but I couldn’t . Papa always told me that big girls don’t cry. I held back my tears .

Days went by and I missed him so much.

Seeing dad in his coffin broke my heart it was as if he would wake up and tell me I was dreaming. Everyone was crying but I wasn’t I had hope and was sure it was a joke . I thought dad will come back soon and we’ll be happy again.