Daniel sat close to her TV set watching the network news at 9.00pm. She was glued to the chair as her eyes were fixed on the television. Her attention was absolute. She focused on the broadcast, all her senses dedicated to the report. Her mouth remained agape as she stared at the TV halfway smiling and halfway surprised. She was so deeply immersed in the news that it seemed impossible to draw her attention.
Shortly before the news was concluded, she heard a loud knock on the door. Still glued to the TV, she stood up, walking sideways towards the door as she watched the TV attentively.
Now close to the door, a loud knock crashed into the door. Jumping out of shock, she faced the door as she slowly walked towards it.
"Who's there?", she said fearfully.
"Open the door mum, It's me", the voice called out.
"Oh Stephanie it's you!"
Opening the door she saw that Stephanie was disturbed. Her eyes were red and teary, and she gave her mother an accusatory stare.
"I hope all is well?', her mother asked in a hushed tone.
"Mum, we need to talk"
"About what exactly?", her mother asked.
" about my father"
Her mother stared at her for a short while and then ushered her in. They had a lengthy discussion but the words that stuck to Stephanie were the concluding words; "your father was sentenced to life imprisonment, no visits, no option of fine, nothing". As she walked to her room, those words continued to echo in her head.
"Life imprisonment, no visits, no option of fine, nothing.
Getting to her room, she sank into her bed, trying to clear the echo in her head as she spent most of the night crying.