Sonia’s Saudade

Prologue

Twisting and turning became the first signs of movements from Sonia, her eyes refusing to flutter open. The words of her neighbour kept ringing in her head as she insisted on remaining in the church the previous day. “We are not ending the programme till midnight. You should go home.” Aromas of what she assumed to be buttermilk pancakes wafted up her nostrils. She lazily strained her muscle, scrunching up her nose. Mrs Duke’s pancakes were always her saving grace every morning; especially during the working days when she woke up late. Sonia’s eyes finally fluttered open, the feel of drowsiness immediately buried at the deepest depths of her mind. She stared at her alarm clock and grunted loudly. Again, she was going to be late for work. She jumped out of bed and scurried to the bathroom, fiddling with the series of toothbrushes she had neatly dressed on the glass holder. She scooped up the pink brush which she specifically uses on Mondays, grabbed the toothpaste and got herself ‘...