“Not that my opinion counts but I think you should tell him.” Noni says looking at me closely. She stands up from my sofa placing her hands on her waist her face serious. She takes two steps backwards and then she takes three forward. She’s in her thinking mode; she’s looking for to tell me this without sounding judgmental. She’s thoughtful like that. “I don’t think so.” I say looking at her. She frowns at my words and she starts moving backwards again. “Shalom this is a baby we’re talking about here. What’s your plan? Are you going to hide the baby from him?” She asks coming to sit next to me. “I’m not hiding anything from him. He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant. How can I hide something that he doesn’t have prior knowledge of in the first place?” I say and I see the disappointment in her face. “That’s a whole lot of donkey shit and you know it.” She says and I look at her sad. “He deserves to know.” I don’t want to tell Kane. He and I have a complicated situation as is; adding a
“Welcome home.” My cousin Nathan says standing at his guest bedroom door. He looks at me for a long time, silent. He’s looking at me like I’m a stranger. I guess, I kind of am a stranger in a way. We haven’t seen each other in over six years. The last time we saw each other we were young; right at the cusp of becoming young adults. He’s looking at me like he’s trying to figure out who I am; I bet I have the same look on my face. “Thank you for this.” I say gesturing to the room. I walk to the bed and sit down, my body is tired from the flight but my mind is working over time. I’m having sensory overload with being back. My brain is trying to adjust to being back home. It feels like I’m having a culture shock. I know what South Africa is and it shouldn’t scare me but I’ve been away for so long that it feels like I have to relearn everything. My body feels off, I know it’s probably jet lag. “It’s nothing.” He says smiling at me. “I’ll be out of your hair soon,” I say and he shak
“What does your day look like today.” My mother asks walking into the kitchen. She sits at the kitchen table looking at me. I pour her a cup of coffee and walk to the table to give it to her. I sit down sipping on my own coffee. “I don’t have anything booked for today,” I say and she looks at me surprised. “Are you okay?” she asks concerned. I rarely have any off days so she automatically thinks that I must be sick or something “I’m okay. I just thought I should give myself a day off.” I say and she smiles at me. “Do you think you can stick to the day off?” She asks skeptical because she knows me very well. “I’m going to try,” I say truthfully. I work from home as a virtual assistant so it’s hard to take time off. I often struggle to find a balance between working from home and taking time out. I wake up and the work is right there. I just can’t switch off; the only thing that puts me off is when I’m too tired to get out of bed or if I’m sick. I know that neither of these reasons
2 years later “Hi.” I say when Jay opens the door. He smiles at me warmly. “”Hi, come in.” He says moving back to let me in. we hug and then he closes the door. “You look good.” I say walking behind him down the hallway. “I do? Thank you.” He says turning back to look at me. “I started going to the gym.” He says smiling at me. “I can tell.” I say smiling at him too. He really does look good. He lost a lot of weight. I can hear a lot of voices talking at the end of the hallway. I can tell he invited a lot of people. “I want to go back to my university body.” He says when walking into the dining room. I enter the room last and my eyes scan the people at the table. I recognize a few of them but I don’t know a lot of the others. “You were really buff then.” I say smiling at the many faces staring at me. “Hi everyone.” I say at the awkward silence in the room. They’re staring at me open mouthed and they’re making me feel self-conscious. I never know what to do when people stare at me
“I’m glad Jay convinced you to stay.” Kane says sitting on the sofa Jay just vacated. “He was pretty insistent I stay longer.” I say looking at him, feeling a bit weird. I’ve thought about this moment so many times. I’ve spent hours imagining what it would be like to meet him after all these years. But nothing could’ve prepared me for what I’m feeling right now. It feels like I’m the same girl that fell in love with him so many years ago. A decade ago to be exactly, I have the same feelings I would get when he was around. I feel so much excitement, joy, curiosity and intrigue. The only difference is there is a new feeling that plagues me; incompetence. He feels and looks different. He carries himself different; he has this air about him that makes me feel like I don’t belong. I’m struggling with that feeling because Kane is the only person I felt understood me. “I asked him to keep you here.” He says smiling guiltily. “So that’s why he bolted out of here when you walked in,” I say
When I open my front door, Jay is standing there with a big smile on his face. “What’s up?” I ask shaking his hand. “The sky and the sun and the clouds.” He says laughing at his own joke. “Come in.” I say moving to the side so he can walk through. I close the door behind him and turn to follow him down the hallway. “This place is coming along.” He says when we walk into the living room. “Yeah, it took a lot to get here.” I say looking proudly around my house. 7 years of school later I’m finally here. There was a time when I didn’t think I would get here. It has been a long and tedious ride. “I’m so proud of you man,” Jay says walking closer to me and giving me a brotherly hug. “Thank you, thank you,” I say hugging him back. “Speaking of I bought you this. A little housewarming gift.” He says handing me a bottle of Hibiki. “Wow, man,” I say looking at the bottle appreciatively. “You deserve it, man. This is incredible, you’re incredible.” He says a little emotional. “Thank y
“I’m at your gate open up.” Jay says when I answer. “Okay.” I say ending the call and opening the gate for him. About a minute later he knocks on my door. I go to the door and open it. “Hi.” I say when I open the door. “Hi beautiful.” He says leaning in for a hug. “I brought an old friend.” He says just as my eyes collide with Kane’s. I smile to hide the turmoil of feeling I feel when I see him. “Welcome, please come in.” I say letting them both in. “Thank you for having us over.” Jay says as they follow me to the kitchen. “It’s my pleasure,” I say leading them to my kitchen table. “Have a seat.” I say looking from Jay to Kane. “Thank you.” Kane says smiling. He looks around my house with so much interest. “I’ll get the wine.” I say going to the fridge. I need a moment to get my emotions in check. I didn’t think I would see Kane so soon. His being here is throwing me off; I don’t know how to feel about him being in my personal space. “This looks good.” Jay says looking at the
“Hey.” Kane says when I answer my phone. “Hi” I say on the end of the receiver. We stay for a long time; I don’t know what to say because I wasn’t expecting his phone call. I don’t know why he’s silent; he’s the one that called me. “It’s Kane.” He says like he snapped out of something. “I know how you are?” I say trying to move the conversation along. “I’m good and I am outside your house.” He says and I almost trip over myself. I walk to my security monitor in the kitchen and look at the screen. And there is a car at my gate. “Okay.” I say not really sure what to say. It’s kind of late for a visit and I just got home myself. I don’t think I have the energy to entertain anyone at this hour. “I was hoping we could talk.” He says sounding so unsure. I wait looking at his car trying to figure out what to do. My mother is home and I don’t want them meeting. But can I really turn him away? “Come in.” I say opening the gate for him. Hopefully, he won’t stay long; he has a girlfriend t
Six months later, our wedding day arrives. The venue is a charming chapel nestled in the hills, surrounded by a sea of white flowers. Everything is draped in white: the chairs, the aisle runner, even the delicate lace that adorns the altar. The soft glow of fairy lights adds a touch of magic, creating a dreamy atmosphere that feels like a scene out of a fairytale. Our guest list is intimate, just fifty of our closest friends and family, making the occasion feel even more special.I’m in a small room at the back of the chapel, getting ready. My dress is a vision of white silk and lace, hugging my curves in all the right places. The intricate beadwork sparkles as I move, catching the light. My hair is styled in loose waves, cascading down my back, with a simple veil trailing behind me. My mother and daughter, my beautiful flower girls, are beside me, dressed in matching white dresses with delicate floral crowns on their heads.My mother fusses over me, adjusting my veil and smoothing ou
I lie on my side and stare at Kane lying next to me. He closes his eyes and then he sighs happily as his body slowly calms down from the high of our orgasms. “I missed you so much,” I say, my voice trembling with emotion. I reach out and touch his brow, feeling the familiar warmth of his skin. The simple contact brings a rush of relief.He opens his eyes and smiles, the tenderness in his gaze melting the remaining shards of hurt within me. “I missed you too,” he replies, moving closer.“I don’t want to fight like that with you ever again,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, yet carrying the weight of a heartfelt promise. His nod is immediate, his eyes reflecting the same resolve.“We will never fight like that ever again,” he assures me, his tone filled with sincerity. He takes my hand into his, his grip firm yet gentle. Lifting it to his lips, he kisses it softly, the gesture a silent vow of commitment and love.I close my eyes, savoring the feeling of contentment that flows throug
I'm in bed watching Shaolm get ready to go to sleep. She's wearing one of those lingerie sets where you can see through the material. I watch the way her skin peaks through and wish my lips were slowly gliding over it. I wish I could feel the softness hidden beneath the material."You okay?" She says when she stops in the middle of the room to look at me. I nod and she starts walking into the bathroom.When she comes back to the room she gets into bed next to me."You're very silent tonight." She says looking over at me."I'm just thinking about how beautiful you are." I say and she smiles shyly."You're beautiful too." She says her smile getting wider and I just stare at her. There's so much light and warmth in her eyes it makes me sigh. She's incredibly gorgeous."Thank you." I say leaning over to kiss her. She wraps her arms around me leaning into the kiss.I slide onto my back, pulling her onto me. I moan
After a long day at the hospital, I finally make my way home, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on me. The evening air is cool, a welcome contrast to the sterile feeling of the hospital. As I unlock the door, the familiar scent of home greets me, and I immediately feel a bit lighter.“Baby?” I call out, stepping inside.“In the kitchen!” Her voice rings back, cheerful and warm.I find her at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smells amazing. She turns and smiles when she sees me, her eyes lighting up. “Hey, you. How was your day?”I lean in to kiss her, savoring the brief moment of normalcy. “Busy. Interesting, too. Smells great in here.”“Chicken curry,” she says with a grin. “It’ll be ready in a few minutes. Why don’t you get changed and relax for a bit?”“Sounds perfect.” I head to our bedroom, changing into more comfo
The hospital corridors hum with the usual morning bustle. As I head to the conference room for the morning briefing, I notice a familiar figure ahead, her brown hair tied back in a neat ponytail. My steps falter for a second before I continue walking, my mind racing.Olive.I know she ran into Shalom a week ago and I don't know how she'll react. It sucks that we have to work together but their internal medicine fellowship and our neurosurgery program h work together from time t time and I'm stuck with her this week. The unexpected sight of her here, in the same hospital, stirs up a whirlwind of emotions.Entering the conference room, I take a seat and try to focus on the meeting. Dr. Malik outlines the cases for the day, his voice steady and authoritative. When he mentions a complex case requiring collaboration with internal medicine, my heart skips a beat.“And for this case, you’ll be working closely with Dr. Olive Bennett from Internal Medicine,” he says, glancing around the room
Today is my first solo surgery. I can't believe it but I can because I worked harder than most people and I'm not surprised I've progressed so quickly in the program.It's both exciting and nerve wrecking blend as I prepare for my first solo surgery. It's a simple procedure—a lumbar discectomy—but the significance of it being my first is huge.Dr. Hunter's words from that first day echo in my mind as I scrub in: "This program is designed to challenge you and expand your capabilities." I’ve spent countless hours observing, assisting, and honing my skills under the watchful eyes of the attendings. Today, it’s my turn.I walk into the OR, the sterile environment buzzing with the quiet efficiency of the surgical team. Dr. Malik, who has been an incredible mentor, gives me a reassuring nod from across the room. “Ready, Dr.?” He smiles at me and I exhale slowly.“Ready,” I reply, my voice steady despite the
Sitting in my car, the world around me blurs as tears fill my eyes. My chest tightens, and I struggle to catch my breath. The image of Shalom with her baby is burned into my mind, a constant reminder of what I’ve lost. Panic grips me, making it hard to think, hard to breathe.I close my eyes, trying to calm myself. "In and out," I whisper to myself, focusing on my breathing. "In and out." Slowly, the panic begins to recede, but the pain remains, a dull ache in my chest.I lean back in my seat, staring at the ceiling. How did it come to this? How did I end up here, alone and broken? Kane was everything to me, and now he’s gone, living a life I can only dream of. I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing I could erase the last few minutes from my memory.But the truth is, I needed to see it. I needed to see that Kane has moved on, that he’s happy. Maybe now I can start to heal, to find a way to move forward without him.With a shaky breath, I open my eyes and wipe away the tears. I need to get ou
I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's her. My heart pounds as I duck behind a rack of summer dresses, and my breath catches in my throat. I peek through the fabric, watching Shalom browse the store with her baby. The scene stirs a whirlwind of emotions in me—a mix of anger, jealousy, and a tinge of curiosity.Shalom moves gracefully, her attention focused on the baby in a stroller. I can see the soft coos and the gentle way Shalom interacts with her baby, a smile across her lips. I feel my heart break at the sight. I want to get closer, to see the baby, and to understand what has changed in Kane's life since he broke up with me.My mind races with thoughts. Why did he choose Shalom? What did she have that I didn’t? I need answers, and this might be my only chance to find them.Taking a deep breath, I straighten up, trying to appear nonchalant as I step out from behind the rack. I pick up a dress and pretend to examine it, all the while inching closer to Shalom.Shalom seems oblivious
I stir awake, blinking sleepily the scent of coffee and pancakes fills the air. I sit up, stretching, and for a moment, a soft smile touches me lips as shei remembers the warmth of Kane beside me."Good morning, sleepyhead," Kane greets me with a grin as he places a plate of pancakes on the table. "I made your favorite"I smile, my eyes brightening. "You spoil me," I say, sliding into the chair. "Thank you, Kane."He pours me a cup of coffee, watching me as I take my first sip. "I thought we could spend the day together. Maybe take Rene to the zoo. What do you think?"My smile widens at the mention of our daughter. "I think that sounds perfect," I reply, reaching for Kane's hand across the table. "I love the idea of a family day."As we eat breakfast, our conversation is light and filled with laughter. I find himself marveling at how easy it is to talk to him how natural it feels to plan our day together. There's a sense of normalcy that I cherishes, a reminder that we are building som