My little kid Zara was a story lover. She loved it when I and her dad read her stories at night, it helped her fall asleep. She loved how stories unfold in her favourite cartoons on TV.
I remember every time I told her a new story, it was like she was being taken to a far away place to experience a whole new adventure. She had a very beautiful and wild imagination, at times she would swim the sea which was our bathtub in search for lost treasures which were either her soap or toys, sometimes she was a warrior with her lovely cape on, which was actually my scarf and her carton carved sword, fighting the bad guys and protecting her princess Jordy which was her stuffed barbie doll.
One lovely night she was off to bed, I went to tuck her in and read her a bed time story, one of which I recently purchased earlier in the day. She was excited as usual and I was glad to see her eagerness.
The book was titled "The mysteries of the great beyond"
In this story there was a young boy named Zion, he lost his father who was out on a quest for lost and hidden treasures for over eight years. With years of researching, dedication and hard work Zion found his father alongside many other unknown and hidden Islands. Zion entered places where people dared not to enter all in search of his father as well as the purposed hidden treasure.
It was a lovely quest story with a happy ending.
After the story telling I kissed Zara goodnight but she wasn't sleepy at all, she began to ask me questions
"mum are there really lost and hidden treasures". "Yes Zara", I replied. She then asked further "so mum there are really lands that no one knows exists". "Yes Zara", I replied again.
I cut her short with tickles and loads of kisses because I knew the questions would never stop and she finally went to bed. Zara looked so adorable while sleeping, I knew that night she was going to go so many places in her wild imagination.
Years past and Zara grew up with the love for treasure hunting and quest books, she had a lot of research materials and so many world maps. Zara ended up studying Historical facts because she has this love for historical artifacts and she was a very inquisitive young lady.
On a slightly humid Sunday afternoon, Zara broke the news of her quest to find lost treasures on a particularly stranded Island. She wanted to explore the world. I and her dad were very sceptical about the decision because we knew what it would entailed for Zara but she had already made up her mind. We gave her our blessings and she set off for her quest.
Years passed and I still haven't seen my daughter, I can't tell if she is alive or dead, healthy or unhealthy, sick, weak or at the verge of death. I really curse the day I read the story book "The mysteries of the great beyond" to her.
I have this anger inside of me, if only perhaps I could go back in time.
Adventure is usually an exciting experience filled with loads of mysteries. But everytime I hear ‘adventure’ it sounds like a death toll in my head.
Perhaps one day I'd hear a knock on the door and when I open it, it will be my daughter staring right back at me but until then...
Oh Zara where are you mother and father misses you a whole lot