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"Onye isi (My leader), I'm here" I teased with a regular nickname I called my dad the moment I stepped into his office. With a sense of lightness and joy. Instead I was met with an empty disorganised office and his absence which felt weird and unusual.
It felt weird not because dad never leaves his office but because of the way his office was in disarray and scattered like there had been a brawl between David and Goliath. Papers were strewn across the floor and his desk shifted from its normal place. It was unlike my dad. I've always known him to be a well organised man.
Besides, he was the one that called me over the phone and asked that I meet him at his office immediately. Which I gladly obliged because a day with dad at the shop always yields enough goodies and snacks.
Usually I would not have bothered. I would have dismissed it to be one of those days he had gone out to discuss with his neighbours, or maybe to have lunch or use the restroom. But that particular day something about that mess felt different. I could feel goosebumps gradually growing on my skin. I tried dismissing the ill thoughts that were gradually crawling into my mind as I bent down to pick up the books that were scattered on the floor.
I arranged the office the usual way it was supposed to be then I headed out the door, to search for my dad. Maybe I would find him somewhere discussing with his neighbour Mr John. But as I got to Mr John's office, it was empty too.
My fears worsened as my blood ran cold but somehow I still managed to convince myself that they might have gone for lunch together.
"But why leave their doors open?" I asked no one in particular.
I walked back to my dad's office, while dialling his number at the same time. But he was not answering any of my calls.
Just then I saw, three other men who worked in the same office as him walk past me,
"Good day sirs", I greeted.
But instead of a reply to my greetings on of them said "Nna jide Onwe gị (be strong my dear), nothing will happen to him"
Immediately I felt the atmosphere change. Amongst the four of us standing in that corridor, it felt like the spotlight was on me. I could feel it in their stares. In their eyes was a mix of worry and pity waiting for me to say something.
I felt light-headed, my mind raced fast as I tried to make meaning into what the man had just said. "Nothing will happen to who sir?" I asked, clearly the worry laced in my voice was very loud and can be heard even to a deaf man.
"Your dad, isn't that why you're here?" One of them asked, I guess he had read my face and wondered if I had no idea of what was going on.
Clearly disturbed now and unease "I'm here because he called that I meet him in his office immediately" I answered. " but I got here to meet an empty and messy office. What happened to my dad?" I asked.
Realising that I truly had no idea of what was going on, they looked at each other, this time stuttering with their words. Probably looking for a way to cover up for the mess they thought they had made and probably not to get me panicking. But I was smart enough to know already that all wasn't well.
"Sir, I know I am a teenager, but I can tell when something isn't right. I can tell right now that something is off. Please don't lie to me, tell me, is my father okay?" I asked them.
They stood there looking at me as if they were waiting for any of them to find the courage to say something. Then the first man spoke again. "Your dad" he paused, "he, he fainted in his office just a few minutes ago and was rushed to the nearest hospital by a few of us and his neighbour," he paused again. "That's exactly where we're coming from. We thought you had already heard the news and had come to pack up his stuff and lock his office, " he added.
Immediately, my head grew light, voices distant, I felt the room spinning as I staggered a bit. I tried to rest onto the wall so as not to fall as one of the men immediately got a grip of me and helped me into a chair close by.
"Slumped? How?" Was all I could mutter repeatedly.
I finally mustered enough strength and stood up. I got the address of the hospital my dad was rushed to. Then I locked up his office and made my way to the address.
Few minutes later, I got to the hospital and luckily dad was wide awake although there were still signs of weakness in his eyes. Mum was already there tending to her husband. They were surprised to see me.
"Oyim (My friend), what are you doing here?" dad asked me weakly.
"Onye isi (leader), I heard what happened at the office so I decided to come find out what happened to my strong man." I joked.
Dad smiled. I could tell he was so weak.
Later on, while dad was asleep, I asked my mum what happened and according to the doctor, he had overworked himself so much that his body couldn't carry on again, the reason he fainted. He was placed on a few weeks bed rest by the doctor.