It was exactly six am and the alarm blared loudly. Tracy switched it off and sat up groggily. She had barely gotten any sleep but she dragged herself out of bed. It was Friday morning and she had to get ready for Susie’s funeral. The past week had gone by like a blur as Tracy received a wider number of visitors than she had anticipated. A couple of Susie’s and Tracy’s mutual friends had taken turns to visit her daily and take her to the vigils that Susie’s family had organised. It was some of these friends who had slept over at Tracy's house to support her. As they drove to the funeral grounds, the ladies engaged Tracy in playful banter and helped her relax so that she was calm by the time they arrived. The funeral service went smoothly and Tracy marvelled at the beautiful tributes of people whose lives Susie had touched. The burial process was also seamless although Tracy was unable to control her tears. Tracy and her team wer
The next morning, Tracy woke up to the sound of music playing. She walked out of her bedroom and was welcomed by a sweet aroma from the kitchen. She walked to the kitchen to find Tokodi making breakfast. He greeted her with a warm smile.“I thought you could use a heavy breakfast. I hope you don’t mind me cooking,” he said. He had already made sausages, pancakes and oatmeal and was now finishing with the tea and eggs.“It actually reminds me of Susie. She rarely cooked but when she did, she went all out. I will really miss her cooking.”“What did she like cooking?” Tokodi asked.“Everything from all types of meats and these fancy salads with exotic vegetables that are so hard to find. We once spent the whole night in
“Get as much information from her as possible. I’ll double your pay if you can get something I can use.”“I’ll do my best sir.” the lawyer Mr Khan said.“Your ‘best’ had better include results that put her in jail.““I’m getting into a meeting. I’ll call you back later.” Mr Khan said as Jessica walked into his office.“Good afternoon, Miss Tracy,” Mr Khan said as he put down his phone. He keyed some commands into it and then set the voice recorder. He locked the phone’s screen and set it aside. Tracy was oblivious to all this as she was taking out the documents she had been told to bring.“Mr. Khan, when did
“You wouldn’t have to look around like a stranger if you would visit sometimes,” Florence said.“Isn't it ironic that you want me to visit my parents’ house?” Tracy said sarcastically.“We have been over this too many times. They owed me money and I had to pay myself. I would have let you stay if you had not been so stubborn,” Florence said. She did not bear the slightest bit of remorse.“The cremation is next week on Thursday. I will send you the details later today,” Tracy said.“I already told you that will not work. Tracy has to be buried next to your parents in the village. We do not cremate people in our culture,” Florence said.“If she has to be buried, why can’t we bury her in the public cemetery? You are compli
Tracy and Tokodi left soon after the brief conversation with the parents. Tokodi often visited his family who still lived here so he went round showing Tracy all the old spots that had been transformed. Tokodi was driving Tracy’s car and he drove slowly and carefully as the old neighbourhood had poorly maintained roads. Tokodi managed to make Tracy laugh as he reminded her of various escapades they had done in their childhood days. By the time they were driving into the highway, Tracy was in a very pleasant mood.“I thought you had parked your old Subaru somewhere around here,” Tracy asked.“No. I take a taxi when I’m coming here. It is easier than parking on the road and paying someone to protect the car from hoodlums. Plus the roads cause too much damage,” Tokodi said.&ld
A couple of days had passed since Kevin had been abandoned by Rose. He had intended to sleep over at Rose’s old house but the pain in his hand became unbearable. At about midday, he ordered a taxi from an app and then it dropped him off at a nearby hospital. He was treated and his arm was bandaged. He then decided to check himself into a hotel as he thought of his next move. He chose a hotel with ground floor access because his movement was now limited. He had filled in the check in form and his debit card and handed them to the receptionist. She frowned as she tried to use his card.“I’m afraid that the card has been declined due to insufficient funds,” she said.“That’s not possible,” Kevin said. “Try again.” She tried again to no avail.“Let me pay throu
Jessica frantically dialled Richard’s number as soon as she ended the call. She was stammering and fumbling over her words and it took a long time before she passed her message. But when she finally did, Richard dropped all he was doing and prepared a team of his security guards to take action. He then sent for a driver to pick up Jessica from her place of work. The driver brought Jessica to a small house on the outskirts of town. Jessica was starting to panic thinking that Kevin had led her into a trap when she spotted Richard at the door. She walked to him and held his hand and finally let out the flood of tears that was engulfing her. His men got into the house to strategize, while Jessica cried her heart out. Richard comforted her for a while and then he swung into action.“I need you to calm down sweetheart,” He said as he stepped back. Jessica took a few deep breaths and then
“How are you feeling?” Gracie asked Tracy. They had been shopping for clothes for Tanasha and Tracy was too silent. Earlier that day, Gracie and two other friends had assisted Tracy to pack up Tracy’s things in readiness for the vacation of her apartment later that month. All these activities had taken an emotional toll on Tracy and she wanted nothing more than to be alone.“What do you think?” Tracy asked as she leaned against her car seat.“I know it must be hard. Stay strong. It will get better,” Gracie said.“Thanks. Let me drop you off at the car park and then I’ll head home,” Tracy said.“I don’t think you should be home alone tonight,” Gracie said as she took ou
The day of Tanasha’s burial had finally arrived. Tracy’s friends had slept over on the night before and the group of ladies had driven to the village together. The burial had passed uneventfully and Tracy had been overwhelmed by the generous support of her friends and colleagues. Some of them had even volunteered to stay over with her in the village. The overnight trip at a local resort had been a source of comfort for Tracy and she had been able to ease her sorrow considerably. Before the ladies began their return trip, Tracy passed by the village to look at her parent's home for the last time. The events that had unfolded at her aunt’s home previously had made her come to the decision to cut off everyone that was affiliated to her past. She clearly remembered the confrontation she had with her aunt in the presence of her childhood neighbours. It was etched in her memory and her heart ached when she recalled it.