Where is my Papa?!

I sped home, not caring how many people I bumped into along the way. I knew there were many. People shouted behind me, but nothing mattered at that moment. I pushed forward, weaving through the road until I reached home.

I froze when I saw the crowd gathered in front of our house—mostly elders. In our community, it was an old tradition: when an elder was fighting for life or had already passed, the others would surround the home.

I stood still for a moment. Tears pushed forward without waiting for permission, streaming down my face.

“Where’s my papa? What’s going on with my papa?” I whispered as I walked toward them, each step slower than the last.

Before I could take another breath, something inside me snapped. My legs moved faster than my thoughts, and I surged forward, trying to reach the door.

Strong hands caught me before I could get there.

“Leave me!” I cried, thrashing against them. “Let me go inside! I need to see him!”

One of the elders tightened his grip. “You cannot go in, Kaelith. Someone is inside with him. They’re trying to revive him.”

My head jerked toward him. “Trying to revive who?” My voice shook, barely audible.

The elder sighed. “Your father.”

That was all it took. Control slipped from my hands.

“Papa! They’re trying to revive my papa!” I screamed. “Why? What happened? Why are you trying to revive someone who is not dead? Let me go in!”

I pushed, kicked, struggled—anything to break free—but their hold remained firm.

“Kaelith!” another elder called. “You cannot go inside. You will distract them.”

“I don’t care!” I cried. “I want to see him!”

They didn’t listen. They signaled someone. Moments later, Tallis, my second oldest brother, appeared from the side of the house.

He rushed to me. “Kaelith, stop,” he said, grabbing my arms so I wouldn’t fling myself toward the door again.

“Tallis, let me go!” I cried. “I need to see Papa. Please.”

“You can’t. Not now. Come with me.”

He guided me toward the back of the house. I didn’t resist anymore. My body shook too violently.

When we reached the backyard, I stopped again.

My sisters were there, sitting on a wooden bench, laughing. Chatting like nothing was wrong. Talking about one thing.

“Did you see the stranger?” Iris giggled. “Veylor Caith. The one with the camera.”

I stared at them in disbelief, tears still flowing. Tallis placed a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t speak. I just stood there, hurting, confused, unable to understand how they could laugh while Papa was fighting for his life inside.

Their chatter grew louder, like they were in a market place instead of behind a house where our father’s life hung in the balance. I tried to ignore them. Heaven knows I tried. I closed my eyes, breathed in, telling myself to focus on Papa—but their voices pierced everything.

I straightened.

“Have you no conscience? All three of you, have you no conscience?” My voice shook, but I didn’t care. “What is wrong with you? Papa is in there fighting for his life, and you are fantasizing over a stranger who would never ever look at you. I am disappointed.”

They exchanged glances. Then all three burst into laughter.

I stared, stunned.

Iris rose from the bench and walked toward me slowly. I didn’t understand what she intended until it happened.

A sharp slap cut through the air. My head whipped to the side. My cheek burned so fiercely I could barely breathe.

Tallis rushed forward. “Iris!” he shouted, stepping between us. “What is your problem? Why would you slap her?”

Uri stood immediately. “Why wouldn’t she?” she snapped. “Did you not hear how she spoke to us? If she has forgotten her place, Iris just reminded her.”

I turned to Uri, a lump formed in my throat. “Remind me of what? What have I ever done to any of you? Why do you hate me so much? I am your sister. Your youngest sister.”

Ina, who had been silent, stood and folded her arms, eyes cold when they met mine.

“That is where you are wrong,” she said. “We are not sisters. And we will never be. Ever.”

The words hit harder than the slap.

Tears choked me as I tried to speak. “Why? Why would you say that to me?”

Uri’s face twisted in anger. “I hate it when you pretend to be innocent,” she spat. “Like you are better than everyone else. Like we are monsters. You make people see us as villains when you are the one they should avoid.”

Tallis lifted a hand. “Uri, stop—”

She ignored him.

“You ruined everything the moment you came,” Uri continued, stepping closer, her voice cutting deep. “You took our parents’ love. The same way you did with Mama six years ago. You were always clinging to her. You killed her because you are cursed.”

“Uri, that’s enough,” Tallis warned, louder this time.

But she leaned closer, bitterness sharp as knives. “Everything changed because of you. Everything.”

Before Tallis could pull her away, footsteps approached fast.

Corven appeared from the side door. His eyes found me instantly.

“Kaelith,” he said, still out of breath, “Papa is awake. He’s asking for you.”

Relief, fear, hope—they tangled together in my chest. I wiped my tears and ran without another word.

Behind me, Uri’s voice rose again, full of spite.

“See? That is exactly what we mean. He loves her more than all of us, and she is not even his child!”

I didn’t look back. I only ran toward Papa.

When I reached the door, the elders parted just enough for me to slip through. My body moved faster than my mind could keep up. I ran straight to Papa’s room, my chest tight, tears spilling freely.

I barged in.

Papa was there, lying on his bed, smiling weakly at me. The room smelled faintly of herbs, sunlight filtering through the curtains.

“Easy, tigress,” he said in a shaky voice. “You don’t think you’d be getting rid of me so easily, do you?”

I didn’t answer with words. I rushed into his arms, clutching him so tightly that all the tears I had held back since hearing the news poured out.

He stroked my hair gently, whispering, “It’s okay, Kaelith… it’s okay.”

I pulled back slightly, looking up at his face, still crying. Then, somehow, I started laughing.

“I thought I lost you! You scared me, old man.”

Papa cupped my cheek softly. “I’m sorry… it’s never going to happen again,” he whispered.

My smile froze. My face turned pale. Those words… they were the exact same ones he had said six days ago when he collapsed in front of the house.

It had been happening before… but now it was worse.