father

Chapter 06: Father

*Melissa's POV*

"I guess you're Ms Wood. Your father is in the hospital, he's badly injured and your presence is needed."

The stranger's voice echoed in my ears, making me go dumb for some time. I tried to open my mouth to talk, to ask which hospital but no word formed in my mouth. Fear gripped and tightened my chest painfully.

"Hello, hello. Ms Wood are you there?"

I heard the stranger's urgent voice but I still couldn't say anything. "If you can still hear me, come to Oak Park hospital, that's where your father is admitted."

With that, the call ended. I shakily removed the phone from my ear and in the next moment, I ran like a mad woman in the direction of the main mansion.

I burst into the house, my heart racing with worry and fear. The attention of the maids who were busy cleaning and doing other work turned to me, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Not wasting any time, i ran up the stairs, stopping only when I reached Mr Brown's door.

My heart hammered against my chest as I lifted my hand and knocked frantically on the door. After a few moments, there was no answer, so i knocked again, more forcefully this time. My heart was pounding in fear. I was very sure he wouldn't be pleased to see me in his room after how I spoke to him back in the dark room. What if he decided to punish me more by not allowing me to go see my father? The thought sent more panic to my chest, and I immediately regretted standing up to him.

I was about to knock again when I heard footsteps approaching, and my breath caught in my throat. The door opened, revealing Mr Brown and Mia. They appeared to be on their way out. Oh god! What was this? Now I had to deal with them both.

I was about to speak when Mia held out her hand in the air, shutting me up with a look of disdain. She was impeccably dressed, her perfect makeup and hair contrasting sharply with my disheveled appearance. Her eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down, a smug smile playing on her lips.

Mr Brown on the other hand was wearing a black pant and black long sleeved shirt which he folded up his arm, exactly how he was dressed yesterday. Then a very stoic expression as a finishing touch. I wondered how Mia coped with his face.

Without a word, Mia pushed me out of their way and walked past, Mr Brown following behind her. I stood there, rooted to the spot, a wave of despair washing over me.

As they were about to disappear down the stairs, I rushed forward and grabbed Mr. Brown's arm. He turned to me, looking raged and surprised, and I quickly let go of his arm.

"Please," I begged, my voice shaking. "I just got a call that my father has been admitted to the hospital. Please let me go to him."

He looked at me with cold, unfeeling eyes, before taking out a handkerchief and wiped the place I had touched him. Mia glared at me a look of disgust on her face. I guess I was in for a whole lot of work today!

They were about to leave again but I wasn't going to give up without getting what I had come for. I rushed towards them again, this time they were already on the second floor.

"My father needs me," I pleaded, desperation in my voice. "He's sick and I have to go to him. Please, I'll do anything."

After I said that, he paused and turned to me, his expression now unreadable. The next second, I felt his aura grow a little softer but it was gone before I knew it.

"Okay." He said, making me think that my ears had started malfunctioning for a second. "You have four days to do whatever you want to do with your father."

With that, he continued on his track, leaving me and Mia in shock. The man was just... I don't even know.

Without wasting anymore second, I quickly dashed past Mia who was still standing in shock and ran towards the gate. I needed to go find a cab and head to the hospital immediately.

**************

The cab pulled up to the hospital entrance and i stepped out, my heart pounding in my chest. I got down and paid the cab man before making my way Inside. As i walked through the doors, I was overwhelmed by a sense of grief and loss. This was the same hospital where my mother had passed away two weeks ago. The familiar smell of antiseptic and the beeping of machines filled the air, bringing back painful memories.

I pushed my legs to the reception desk, my mind going wild with fear. I approached the receptionist, my hands shaking as I asked about my father.

"Hello, I'm looking for Mr Ralph Wood. He's my father. I got a call this morning that he was admitted here."

The receptionist, a young blonde woman was kind. I had met her here multiple times when my mom was still in the hospital.

She looked through her book before she answered me with a warm small smile.

"Go to the intensive care unit, you would find him in the third room."

I took a deep breath and walked down the hallway, trying to prepare myself for what i might find. As I reached the door to the ICU, my heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty. I opened the door and saw my father lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and surrounded by doctors and nurses. His head was wrapped in bandage.

The room was filled with the sound of machines beeping and the hushed voices of the medical staff. I felt like I was in a daze as i approached my father's bedside, the tears I had been fighting to hold back found its way down my cheeks in freedom. He looked so pale and still, and i couldn't help but feel a wave of panic wash over me again.

The doctors and nurses were moving quickly, checking his vitals and administering medications. I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do or say. One of the nurses noticed me and came over to talk to me.

I quickly recognized the nurse, she was among the nurses that used to attend to my mom when she was still alive.

Ms Wood," she called. "it's good you're here, he has been asking for you since he woke up this morning. He gave Dr Albert your number to call you before he fell back asleep."

I just nodded as she spoke, moving to touch my father but she stopped me. "You have to wait until they finish administering the medications," she said softly.

"Okay," I replied, my throat feeling dry. "What happened to him," I asked, sniffing a little loudly.

"The person that brought him in yesterday afternoon said that he was involved in a fight in a betting store and the other person had hit his head with a metal which caused the serious injury he sustained and the back of his head."

"So, my father had been here since yesterday afternoon?" I asked to confirm, tears streaming down my eyes and she nodded. "Please, is he going to get better soon?"

"From the look of it, the hit caused a serious injury but thankfully it didn't affect any vital organ, so, he would recover in no time. You can ask the doctor for more informations when he's done," she explained and I nodded.

I stood there watching them painfully until they finished administering his medication and began to disperse one after the other. The doctor assured me that he was stable for now and I didn't need to worry too much before he left me alone with my dad.

I moved to where he was and sat down next to his bed, taking his hand in mine.

"Please don't leave me too dad, please," I begged, allowing my tears flow freely. "You're all I have left and I love you so much."

For a long time, I sat there whispering words of love and encouragement. Even though he couldn't respond, I felt he knew I was there and that was enough for me.