Coming down the old creaky staircase, Stacy quickly noticed that her father hadn't gone to bed yet. He sat on the rocking chair looking into space. From the reaction on his face she noticed that something was bothering him.
Stacy stood on the stairs studying the lines on her father's face, papa had suddenly grown old, his eyes sunken, his cheekbones popped out, his hands werefrail and lacked enough flesh. She suddenly remembered when her mother was alive, there was more of laughter and fun but now everything was different, with papa's temper and constant nagging.
The latter was an attitude he developed the very day she introduced her friend Derek to him. He disliked him before she introduced him, after he had left he warned her to stay away from him and had been doing a good job of drumming it into her ears everyday.
'Papa'. She called but she didn't get a response as her father was lost in thoughts.
'Papa'. She called again, this time her voice had risen slightly.
'Yes'. He answered turning quickly.
'Why aren't you asleep papa, your health isn't stable, you're not supposed to stay up this late'. Stacy said with worry written all over her face.
'You're supposed to be asleep, why are you still up?. Pa Duncan asked not answering his daughter's question.
'I don't feel sleepy yet'. Stacy replied. 'Papa you know I'm worried about you'. She said taking a seat beside her father, she took his frail hand into her hand rubbing it, she looked deeply into his eyes.
'Papa, what is bothering you? You can always talk to me about it'.
'Your association with Derek is a bother to me, Derek isn't good for you, there is something odd about him,why can't you see it too?. Pa Duncan said with a pained expression.
'Papa, you're getting it all wrong, Derek is a good man and I love him, you will love him too if you give him a chance'. Stacey said smiling.
'You're being deceived by looks and what he's been telling you, they are all lies'. Pa Duncan bit back.
'You can't decide who I love and who I don't, I'm old enough to do that, you've lived your life allow me live mine'. She shouted back at her father not minding her harsh words.