The bus got to Ikpene Park at 4am,the passengers alighted from the bus and headed to their various destination.The park was crowded with people either boarding a bus or making enquires about a particular route or people coming down from a bus,I was surprised that it was this crowded by such time.I needed to do something about my dress because it was drawing unnecessary attention so I went into
a shop and begged the owner if there was a dress she could give me and I had to lie to her that I was running away from men who wanted to traffick me for prostitution ,she believed it at once and gave me an old looking dress,I had to wear it I didn't have a choice,I looked terrible on it then she told me lay my head for a while for the day to become brighter so that I can find my way.I sat on a stool and layed my head on pack of plastic soft drinks and slept off.I woke up to someone shaking me violently "Excuse me young girl don't you think you should start looking for your parents or you don't have a home ?"the shop owner asked me, looking at me with the corner of her eyes "I lost my father and I'm looking for him,I came from Lagos to search for him"I answered her as tears welled in my eyes about to spill out.The shop owner had compassion and her countenance softened but it didn't change anything as she was a business woman and she wouldn't abandon her shop to help a random girl like me search for my father she doesn't know "There's a police station down the road so you can go and report your missing father there i have business to attend to"she said and went to attend to customers that were waiting for her.I didn't need someone to tell me that I have to find my way so I stood up and walked out of her shop,down the road to the police station as she described, feeling bad for taking such actions but I believed I'll still find him.I got to the police station and went inside,two police officers were at the counter,one scribbling on a paper while the other was snoring loudly,they didn't notice my presence so I hit the counter so draw their attention "Excuse me officers I'm in search for my father,I don't know if you have any information about his whereabouts or if you've seen him ?"I asked them hoping to get a positive response but it was the opposite I got"What's your father's name ?"the police officer who name was Alex on his badge asked me with a sour expression on his face.At first I didn't know my father's other names just his surname which we're still bearing so I thought the surname would be better"His name is Mr Okorie"I answered them and their eyes widened at what I said,I was surprised thinking I said something wrong"So your father is the notorious criminal we've been looking for a long time eh...I see,so where is he "officer Alex asked me and I was tongue tied,I couldn't believe my ears,my father can't be a criminal and mom will never marry a criminal,I told them that they were referring to the wrong person but they showed a photo of a man with the word 'WANTED'written underneath,the man's face looked hardened and the scowl was scary but I couldn't wrap my head around what I just heard.I wanted to call mom immediately when I remembered I left my phone in the bus I boarded coming here,I did it purposely because I didn't want anyone calling me or even looking for me until I find my father,I was lost in thoughts about how my father became a criminal when officer Alex voice brought me back and I realized I was still in the police station."I don't know where he is and I haven't seen him before,I came her from Lagos to find him because I know deep down he's not dead"I answered them as tears welled in my eyes wishing all this was a dream that I would just wake up and see my dad looking at me with loving eyes and cuddle me to bed every night but that was far away from the reality now and it hurts so much.Officer Alex assured me that he'll be found by all means and also told me to report to the station if I have any information that could be of help.I left the police station praying to God to help me come across him anytime but what was more important than that was where I would lay my head when night comes.