Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
>>>
Tatianna's POV I was asleep when I heard my phone ring. I groaned and turned over to the side of the bed where my phone was and I flipped it over and seen it was my mom.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tati, How are you?"
"I'm fine Mom"
"Where's your dad?"
"He's asleep"
"Is that all y'all do all day?"
"It's Sunday morning mom, normal people sleep in on Sunday's"
"Okay Tatianna Malani. Tell your dad to call me when he's awake."
"Why?"
"Because I said so Tatianna"
"Okay"
"How's school?"
"Good"
"Okay, Be on your best behavior Tatianna. I'm serious. I will be calling to make sure your doing what your supposed to do"
"I know mom"
"Okay, I love you"
"Love you"
I hung up the call and laid in bed looking at the ceiling. Truth is, I haven't been my dad in days. He left out one night and hadn't come back yet. There was no lights on and there was no food in the fridge. Of course I wasn't going to tell mom because she'd send me back home and never let me see my dad again so I played it off cool...He hasn't even enrolled me in school yet. Which is fine with me, I had no issues with that.
The silence in the house was deafening, and the emptiness was starting to get to me. I wondered where he was and if he was okay. I wanted to call him, but I knew it would just go straight to voicemail like all the other times I tried. I sighed and decided to get up and make myself something to eat, even though the fridge was practically empty.
As I rummaged through the sparse contents of the fridge, I found a lone apple and a half-empty carton of milk. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now. I sat at the kitchen table, nibbling on the apple and sipping the milk, my mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. Should I call Mom and tell her the truth? Or should I keep pretending everything was fine? The uncertainty was overwhelming, but I knew I had to stay strong. For now, I would just take it one day at a time and hope that Dad would come back soon.
As my thoughts raced, The doorbell rung. I jumped up and practically ran to the door thinking its dad, I opened the door widely and was faced with a guy, who was probably in his late 30s, he looked a little rough and thuggish and he was wearing all day.
"Where's Keri?"
"Oh..my dad..he's not here..I haven't seen him lately"
"You're who?"
"His daughter.."
The guy eyed me up and down, licking his lips."
"Mh..Tell that nigga that Marty came by and that I want my money"
"Oh..Okay.."
The guy walked to his car and got in. I shut the door and locked it then I heard him drive away. That was..strange. I shrugged my shoulders and walked away as if nothing happened. I didn't know who that man was but I'm sure that was one of Dad's friends, I didn't care I just wanted my dad to come home.
As I walked back to my room, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. What if that guy wasn't one of Dad's friends? What if something had happened to Dad? I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind, but they kept creeping back in. I decided to distract myself by watching some TV, hoping that it would take my mind off things.
Hours passed, and the house remained eerily quiet. The TV show I was watching couldn't hold my attention, and I found myself glancing at the clock every few minutes. It was getting late, and there was still no sign of Dad. I started to worry even more. Should I call someone? Should I go out and look for him? But where would I even start? I felt so helpless.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my phone and dialed Dad's number once again, praying that this time he would pick up. The phone rang and rang.
"Come on, Dad, pick up... please pick up..."
"Hello?"
"Dad! Oh my God, where have you been?"
"Something came up and I couldn't get to my phone.
"What do you mean something came up? You just disappeared for days and you're saying you couldn't fucking call me, and on top of that some strange guy showed up at the house. I thought something terrible happened to you, the hell is wrong with you?"
"I know, honey, and I'm really sorry..."
"I don't care how sorry you are, You could have at least called or sent a text! I haven't slept for nights, Dad!"
"You're right. I should've. I didn't realize..it won't happen again.
"Just... please, next time, let me know what's going on. I was really scared."
"I'll be home soon"
"Okay. Just hurry home, please."
"I will. See you soon."
"Bye Dad."
I hung up the phone, feeling a mix of relief and lingering worry, but reassured that my dad is safe and on his way home.
