Writers 
HIS PERFECT WIFE 3
The next morning, Daddy wasn't home. I noticed it as soon as I woke up. His shoes were gone from beside the door. His old work shirt wasn't hanging on the chair where he usually left it. Even his slippers were missing from underneath the small table near the door. I ran into the sitting room.
"Mama?"
She was already awake. She was sitting quietly, staring at the wall.
"Where's Daddy?"
She didn't answer immediately. Then she looked at me.
"He went out."
"To work?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
Something about the way she said it made me uneasy. I picked up my school bag.
"Will he come back before I leave?"
Mama looked away.
"I don't know."
I frowned.
"Why don't you know?"
She forced a smile.
"Go and get ready."
I wanted to ask more questions, but I knew that look. It was the look Mama gave me whenever she didn't want me to worry. So I went to school. But I couldn't concentrate. During mathematics, I kept looking at the clock. During English, I wondered what Daddy was doing. When the teacher asked me a question, I didn't even hear her the first time.
"Amara?"
I looked up.
"Yes, ma."
The whole class laughed.
I lowered my head, embarrassed. But I didn't care. All I could think about was Daddy. When the final bell rang, I ran home. Daddy still wasn't there. Mama was in the kitchen. She was unusually quiet.
"Mama?"
She turned around.
"You're back."
"Where's Daddy?"
She wiped her hands on her wrapper.
"He hasn't come back."
"Why?"
"He had somewhere to go."
"What place?"
"Amara."
Her voice sounded tired.
"Please don't ask me any more questions."
I stopped. That was the first time Mama had ever spoken to me like that. I went to my room without saying another word. That evening, the sun disappeared. Then the sky became dark. Still, Daddy didn't come home.
Mama sat beside the window for hours. Every time she heard a sound outside, she stood up. Every time it wasn't him, she sat back down. Around midnight, someone knocked on the door. Mama froze. I was already awake. She walked slowly toward the door.
"Who is it?"
A man's voice answered.
"I need to speak with you."
Mama opened the door slightly. The man said something I couldn't hear. Then Mama's face changed.
"No."
She shook her head.
"No, please."
The man stepped closer.
"I've been patient enough."
Mama started crying. I couldn't understand what was happening. I came out of my room.
"Mama?"
She quickly turned around.
"Go back inside."
"But"
"Amara, go!"
I had never heard her shout like that. I ran back to my room. I sat on my bed with my knees pulled against my chest. I could hear voices outside. Mama was crying. The man was angry. Then the door slammed.
Silence followed.
A few minutes later, Mama entered my room. Her eyes were swollen. She sat beside me. I looked at her.
"Is Daddy coming home?"
She didn't answer.
"Mama?"
She took my hand.
"Your father loves you."
My heart started beating faster.
"Why are you telling me that?"
She looked at me for a long time. Then she pulled me into her arms. I didn't understand why she was holding me so tightly. I didn't understand why she was crying. But I knew something terrible had happened. Something bigger than money. Something bigger than school fees. Something that was about to change our lives forever. I wanted to ask more questions, but Mama only held me tighter. That night, I fell asleep in her arms. I still believed that when I woke up, Daddy would be there. I believed he would smile, call me his princess, and tell me everything was going to be fine. I didn't know that sometimes, the person you are waiting for is the very person who may never come back.
And the next morning, Daddy still hadn't come home.
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