PROLOUGE

“I’m going to catch you princess” Philip called playfully to his four year old daughter Erin who giggled as she ran around in the living room trying to escape her father who was playfully chasing after her, and just when she was about to run towards the opposite direction Philip appeared in front of her and lifted her up.

“Got you” he said out loud and she giggled happily as he walked towards the couch and sat down pulling her unto his lap

“for such a little girl you sure can run fast” he said as he tickled her and she giggled again.

After calming down the little Erin asked

“dad, do I have a mum?” Philip was definitely surprised by this remark. He panicked because Erin has never asked about her mum. She was always contented with having only a father and he has done all he can to be both a father and a mother to her.

“Your mum is gone dear” he replied sadly while brushing strands of her shiny blond hair aside; A trait she definitely inherited from her mum and also the extra ordinary beauty that made him to fall madly in love with her.

“Where to, dad?” Erin asked innocently silently fidgeting with her fingers.

“To a place where she would be happy and living peacefully”

“Isn’t she coming back? Or aren’t we going to visit her”

Philip sighed as he wondered why his daughter is suddenly asking questions about her mum “we will visit her someday but dear why are you suddenly asking all this questions?”

“My friends always talk about their mums but I have nothing to say because I don’t have a mum my class mates often tease me about it”

Philip sighed again, his heart fueled with pity for his little girl who didn’t get to enjoy the company of a mother. He would have married again but his love for his late wife Tessa was too strong, he just couldn’t love anyone else.

“Don’t worry my little princess I’m here for you” he said and Erin giggled

“I know daddy” she said and her father smiled and that was when he decided that he was going to get her a mother even if he had to marry again he shouldn’t be selfish his little girl deserve the love of a real mother. He just couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter growing up without a mother.

“Daddy” Erin called pulling him out of his thought.

“Yes my little princess” he replied

“Who’s that?” she asked pointing to a huge portrait on the wall, her voice held a surprisingly frightened tone.

Philip was surprised by her tone and he looked towards where his daughter was pointing to. It was a portrait he drew long ago of him and his best friend Fred when they were younger

“that’s your uncle Fred Erin” he replied his voice sad and pained. Fred died some years ago; nobody knows what killed him only that his body was found at a construction site.

“Why is he looking at me like that dad?” she asked very frightened her voice becoming teary

“What do you mean dear?” Philip asked getting worried at the tone of her voice

“It’s angry at me daddy” she said as she began to sob.

Philip looked up at the portrait of his smiling friend and he didn’t see any angry expression in the face of his friend’s portrait

“you are only imagining things princess. so don’t cry okay, let‘s get you cleaned up first you must be very tired” he wipe off her tears stained cheeks with his thumb and immediately scoop her in his arms carrying her towards her bedroom up the stairs.

Her eyes never left that of the angry looking man as she watched him over her dad’s shoulder and Erin could swear that she saw his eyes following her every movement and she cringe In fear burring her face in her dad’s shoulder. And that was when it all began the very day her life became so miserable and unbearable

AN: please let me know what you think about this novel, your comments help a long way to help me improve