"He's supposed to be here by now." Valerie muttered in exhaustion. Practice was over a long time ago and her dad has not come to pick her up yet.
He was always on time so this was confusing for her.
"Ring ring," the call rang at the other end but there was no answer.
She began to panic. Moving to and fro and wondering what could have gone wrong.
Not knowing what else to do, she decided to trek the long distance home, her bag hung across her shoulder.
Half way down the road, she heard police sirens. There had been an accident. People gathered at the scene, some trying to salvage the situation while others were just recording for content purposes.
The first to post was always the aim.
As she drew closer, recognition dawned on her.
It was a blue Toyota Corolla. She remembered being the one that picked out the colour on the d , ay the car was bought.
That was her dad's car. He was the victim in an accident.
"Stay back miss," the police officer warned trying to stop her from making her way into the scene.
"That's my dad!" she cried.
"What happened?"
"It was an accident and the culprit fled the scene."
Then the ambulance arrived and Valerie's dad was taken to the hospital. She was allowed to ride with the ambulance at the back, after identifying as a family to the victim.
Now, at the hospital, she wouldn't let go of her father.
"Is he alright..is my dad alright?" She asked one of the nurses amidst tears, attempting to follow her into the operating room.
"We're doing the best we can," the nurse replied. "Please ma'am, I'd need you to stay outside," she further instructed.
The following hours were the longest Valerie had ever waited all her life. She sat on the long sofa in the waiting room, dreading the worst and still praying and hoping for the best.
The grey coloured double doors swung open with the doctors and nurses stepping out from it.
Valerie immediately sprung up to her feet, her heart beating as fast as her thoughts.
She stared at them inquisitively trying to make out anything from their expressions but the more she tried, the more confused she got.
"Are you Valerie?" The eldest of the doctors spoke.
"Yes, I am." She replied In a haste.
"How's my dad?...please tell me he's okay," she pleaded as though her pleas could make any change.
The doctor's lips pressed into a thin line, the weight of what he was about to say, evident. In that moment, Valerie got her answer. She didn't even need to hear the words, but they came anyway, heavy as a bag of sand.
"I'm so sorry," he said gently. "We did everything we could… but his injuries were too severe. He didn't make it."
Valerie felt her whole world crumble to pieces.
"Noooo!" She cried. "It's not true… it can't be true.
He was fine this morning….he was supposed to come pick me up from practice," she said in between sobs.
Her voice cracked, and she stumbled back, clutching her chest like she could hold herself together if she tried hard enough.
The doctor offered his hand as a form of support but at this point, Valerie was too numb to feel anything. Her knees gave in and she sank into the cold hospital floor, crying her eyes out.
Her dad was her all, her only support system. He said he'd be there to watch her go pro in her basketball, cheering her on each and every step of the way.
But now he's no more.
"Can I see him?" She asked as soon as she found her voice back.
"Of course."
The doctor nodded sympathetically and guided her into a small, sterile room.
There he was. Lying still on the hospital bed. He looked peaceful, like he was only sleeping and not dead. Valerie's fingers trembled as she reached for his hand, they were still warm but lifeless.
"Daddy…" she called, her tone barely audible, with her tears dripping onto his sheets. "Why did you leave me? You promised…"
The doctor quietly stepped out of the room, giving her a solo moment.
Valerie leaned down towards her father, burying her face in his chest and breathing in the faint scent of his cologne, the one he always wore. The world around her became a blur, time no longer felt real. All she knew was the deafening silence where his laughter used to be.
Outside her, life moved on. People walking through hallways, laughter echoing from the next room, the hum of the hospital machines, but for Valerie, everything had stopped.
Her dad was gone. And nothing would ever be the same again.
Valerie remained in that position for what seemed like eternity, until even her tears ran dry, and the only thing left was the profound emptiness she felt inside her chest.
She didn't know how she would get home. She didn't know how she would sleep that night. She didn't know how she was going to spend the rest of her life without her dad by her side but she did know one thing.
Her whole world had changed. And somehow, she would have to find a way to keep going. She would have to find a way to make due with what's left. She was going to cater for herself and for her mom the best way she could.
Even if that meant waking up one day, putting on a
plain black apron, and learning to force a smile for strangers who would never know her story.