Half life

The Red Inked Letter

Stepping out into the doorway, I stopped abruptly contemplating whether to go over to my room or walk back to the sitting room.

Going back to my sitting room meant nothing but basically sleep and getting myself to fall asleep seems to be a big tussle. I could lie on for hours and still not fall asleep.

However going over to the sitting room will give me the opportunity to relax and probably clear my head.

After much ado I settled for the later at least to go finish my juice and probably meditate in the process. So I resignedly climbed down the stairs and headed for the sitting room.

Sinking into a sofa as i got the sitting room, my gaze fell on the table and taken aback by what I saw, I got up and walked closer to peep intently at it.

Behold it was a letter all moistened with red ink.

"How could it be? I was here awhile ago and I didn't see a thing like this

Did someone came into the house while I was upstairs or what?"

"If so, how did the letter get into this place?"

"A letter from who?"

" Who delivered it and to whom?"

"What could be it's content?"

These and many more questions kept racing through my mind in milliseconds as I stared at the letter in fright and stirred up by my fight and flight hormones, I took to my heels and ran as fast as my wobbly legs could carry me to Dad's room.

Panting heavily I dashed into the room even without knocking and held my chest tightly as my heart kept thumping loudly against my chest and Dad who was lying almost half asleep sprang up to his feet the moment he saw me ran to his room like a strayed cat out in cold winter running to take cover beside a stall.

"What is it darling? Why are you running?" Dad asked a bit coldly.

"Uhmm... I" I stuttered after a few minutes of deafening silence has passed and I have regained myself as my lips quivered thereby preventing the words I planned to say come out coherently.

"Amanda just calm down ok?. Whatever it is, relax then breathe. You will be fine Daddy is here so don't be afraid" Dad said soothingly, as he walked over to my side and patted my back while I buried my frail body in his arm as I hugged him, wrapping my hands around his waist tightly.

"Now tell me what is it dear?" Dad asked in a relaxed tone.

"Dad did you leave any letter on the table? " I asked after a sigh

" A letter? What letter is that dear?" Dad asked still not grasping what I was trying to say

"I thought you saw it too" I muttered underneath my breath losing from his grip slowly after exhaling deeply

"Huh what are you talking about Amanda?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look

" Nothing Dad nevermind" I replied shrugging all I planned on saying off

"Hey what's wrong with you Amanda a while ago you ran in here like some cops on duty and now when I ask you to tell me what's wrong you say nevermind?" Dad charged, running his hands on his taut chest then walked back to sit on the bed

"I'm sorry I didn't know what came over me some minutes ago. I'm fine now Dad" I replied then stared into space but deep down I knew better than to tell myself lies. I do not know how I felt at first but now I feel like I'm being controlled by a strong force. I mean awhile ago I ran in here to tell Dad about the letter but just some seconds back my mouth became dead struck it wouldn't open to say a thing about the letter. I guess I'm going insane

"Amanda where have you been?!" Dad thundered snapping his fingers in my face then I jerked back to reality.

"Huh sir...Dad" I stuttered looking at him

"Look what is wrong. You are acting weird. Are you sick or something?" Dad asked staring at me in the face.

" No. Nothing Dad I'm fine" I replied looking at the floor

"Then where on earth was your mind when I have been calling you for the umpteenth time Amanda?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look

" No where Dad. I just strayed away into my thoughts" I replied trying to sound real convincingly

" Alright then I just wanted to make you understand that whatever it is, Dad is here so never hesitate to let him know." Dad said and I nodded

" I will be leaving now Dad" I said after taking a quick glance at the wall.

" Alright dear let me rest my back a little too. It aches" Dad said and then the legs that once ran in here some seconds ago all terrified walked slowly out of the room even though the voice in my head told me to stay back and maybe give Dad a massage but I shrugged it off and walked away.

Turning briskly to take one last glance at Dad's room before walking back to the sitting room, I jolted to a halt and changed my mind to go back in there so I turned and began to slow and steady pace back to Dad's room.

"Umm... sorry to intrude again Dad. I heard you saying your back hurts. What happened Dad are you alright?" I asked in a calm and steady voice depicting concern and care as I walked over to his bedside then squatted when I got to his direction.

"Yes dear but don't you worry I'll be fine." Dad said calmly

" I know Dad but you still haven't answered my question" I said pouting my lips

" I'll have it explained to you in a way you will understand when I feel better ok? but do not worry because it's all work related" Dad said calmly

" Alright Dad. Can I help you massage it Dad?" I asked standing up then sat by the edge of the bed.

"Will a massage make me feel a little more better dear?" Dad asked raising his head up a bit then gave me a quick glance

"Oh well uhmm Dad I think it would help you" I replied hesitantly

"Ok. What would we be needing to get my back massaged?" Dad asked

"Just a balm or ointment and then of course my palms too" I said turning my palms to face up as though I was inspecting them then slowly grazed them together in readiness

"Is there any ointment left in the house?" I asked calmly

"Well I don't think I have an answer to that question" Dad said candidly

" Oops okay let me go check your dressing table who knows if I may find one" I said standing up from the bed

"I don't think there is anything like that there but go ahead and check" Dad muttered and walked over to the dressing table.

I got to the table and met it perfectly wiped. Sparsely was anything on the table except for a body lotion, a pair of combs, a cru and some perfume.

Letting out a chuckle, I walked back to his bed empty handedly.

"Are you back already dear" Dad asked, helping himself up from the bed

"Yes Dad" I replied softly

"Were you able to get one?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look

"Dad really? how was I supposed to get one when your dressing table is as clean as a slate?" I asked giving him a stare

Dad didn't reply but chuckled.

"I just wasted my precious time going there in the first place" I said, irked

"But I told you that you were not going to see a thing like that. Didn't I?" Dad asked briefly staring at me

" You did but you never told me not to bother even when you know your dressing table better than anyone else" I said

" Hey chill. It's fine and I think I'm feeling better now so the massage won't be necessary anymore"Dad said with a sly smile plastered on his face.

"Well in that case there is no need indeed" I cooed , sitting on the bed

" Yeah there is no need." Dad said and we both ruptured into silence.

Clasping and unclasping my hands, I nervously began to stare at the walls from edge to edge as I recollected all that I saw earlier on in the sitting room.

Perrie's visit and the red ink soaked letter. A part of me wanted to tell Dad about it if not everything but at least about Perrie's visit but the other part shrugged it off when I remembered that Dad was a bit tired and doesn't need any form of disturbance.

"But he deserves to know about it" A voice in my head said

"Well I will tell him but not now please" Another countered

After exhaling deeply, I stole a glance at Dad then looked away to be sure he was in a mood to hear anything about Perrie but his face looked quite dazed, not too soft neither hard I guess he was brainstorming about something really important.

So after surmounting courage, I turned to him and asked,

"Dad are you busy?"

"No I'm not dear" Dad replied, turning his gaze to look at me

"Ok then" I replied, nibbling with my fingers

"Why did you ask. Any problem dear?" Dad asked with his gaze still on me

"No Dad. There is no problem. I just wanted to tell you something" I replied

"Oh really?" Dad asked as he raised his brow up to form a question mark

"Yes Dad" I replied

"Ok and what could that be my princess?" Dad asked grazing his nose with the back of his palm

"Uhmm ok. Earlier on today, while you were away, Aunt Perrie came looking for you..." I said slowly but stopped when Dad interrupted

" Perrie again? what does she want this time again. I thought I have made things clear to her already" Dad thundered not letting me to finish up my speech

" Well I told her you weren't around but when she was about walking away, I told her to come wait for you inside the house" I said calmly

" What Amanda, you let Perrie step her foot into this house in my absence? How could you? " Dad blurted and I shut up surprised by his reaction.

What did I do wrong here?

Wasn't I suppose to welcome his guest in and be friendly while he is away? so why all this ranting? I asked rhetorically perplexed by him

"I have told you again and again to stay away from Perrie. That woman is evil she means no good. She will only want to harm you so avoid her as you would a plague" Dad cautioned breathing heavily.

"Ok Dad I have heard you and I'm so sorry" I replied apologetically looking at his face

"It's ok. Just be very careful next time" Dad said and I nodded

At this point in time, I began to feel worrisome about the letter I saw as my mind went back to Perrie. Probably it had a lot of things to do with her.

Could she have been the one that dropped the letter?

When did she do that?

Was it while I was away but why didn't I see it earlier on the table when I returned.

This whole thing is getting out of hand and I can't seem to decipher a thing out of it.

If she really did then why would she do that?

Did she plan on delivering it to Dad herself but decided to keep on the table?

Dad said she was evil and dangerous and this has no other meaning except that she was lethal as a virus setting out to destroy the immune system.

What could she be up to this time?

Nothing I can think of at all but whatever it was it was surely not going to be good so I must take caution and avoid her.

Realizing that I was still in Dad's room, I shrugged my shoulders and broke out of my thoughts and turning to look at Dad, I noticed he was now lying still, eyes shut and breathing softly as his chest rised and fell in a rhythmic manner then a smile etched out from the corner of my lips.

"Never knew this man could fall asleep real quick.

It was indeed a good thing to have a lovely Dad as this" I soliloquized and got up from the bed

And without much ado, headed for the door slowly so as not to get him woked up.

When I got to the doorway, I shut the door behind me and then strolled away to my room.

Of course a part me wanted to go to the sitting room to see if the letter was still there on the table but somehow I still wish it wasn't there anymore. However, whatever be the case I refrained myself from going there. I just couldn't afford to run away in fright anymore. Besides I didn't know what else could be waiting over there for me

Getting to my room, I headed towards the dressing mirror to take out my time to style my hair.

If only I had something really reasonable to do I wouldn't have thought of doing it anyway I needed to do something to pass time.

So I got to the dressing mirror and pulled out the small chair beside my bedstead and positioned it infront of the dressing mirror before finally lowering myself on it to begin my hair care session.

It was usually mum's idea back then that I at least have my hair styled every 3 days and even though I haven't kept up with that routine since she left, I decided to try my hands out on it once again.

So I got my gel and took some into my hands then applied it in a circular manner around the edge of my front hair.

After massaging it intermittently and I was satisfied I moved onto the next edge and did the same thing then picked up my comb and began to dress the gelled hair into curls.

"Not so bad for a starter like me" I said grinning when I took a glance at my reflection in the mirror.

It wasn't all that perfect but I tried anyway.

Hairstyling perhaps just wasn't my thing afterall I do make attempts and fail woefully at it.

"I guess we are done for the day" I said to myself as I placed the comb on my table then stood up to twirl around happily as I fondled with the curls still looking at myself in the mirror.