In His Shadow

Nyana sits by the window, watching the rain and feeling the ache of her father's constant absences. Mr. Usoro is always away, working and traveling, leaving her feeling forgotten and angry. She envies her friends, whose fathers attend school events and share weekends with their families. She wonders why he chooses to be away, why he can't be like the other fathers.

Then one day, a phone call shatters everything-her father has died in an accident. Stunned and numb, Nyana wanders through the empty house, filled with regrets about their strained relationship. She stumbles into his study and discovers a worn-out diary. Curious, she opens it.

At first, the entries seem mundane, but as she reads on, the truth unfolds like a slow revelation. Every page is filled with love for her-a love she never knew existed. Her father's sacrifices, his late nights, his endless travels were all for her. Tears blur her vision as she realizes that, in his own quiet way, he had been there all along, loving her more deeply than she ever understood.

The rain outside begins to feel different-a gift, a sign. Nyana closes her eyes, feeling her father's presence in a new way, understanding now what she never did before. The real story wasn't in his absence, but in the love hidden within it.