When I got hoose from the hospital Edug init a few dusty camera bags from the depths of the bookshelf.
They held remnants of a life Thai deliberately buried.
The touch of the camera’s casing feh unfamiliar, and the batteries had longe drained.
While waiting for the charger to finish, I inserted the memory card into my computer and opened those long forguetes photos.
The first photo showed me treating a Black woman receiving cholera medical on the street.
The second was of a five year old child soldier, so swall the rifle towered over him.
The third captured refugees in North Kivu province living under turn, tattered tents.
The sell of smoke and dust seemed to wait through the screen, piercing the present.
My heart clenched as if seized by sharp claws, the ache spreading throughane
Leaning back in my chair. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing pulse. Abitter smile tugged at my lips
If Jackson saw these photos, would he still describe me as “obedient and docile
Just as that thought crossed my mind, my phone burned twice.
It was a message from Jackson the restierant’s Incation,
That’s when I remembered tonight was the gathering he’d arranged with broomsmen and bridesmaids.
I didn’t have many close friends, so these were all his people.
But I knew this wasn’t just a casual get–together.
Because today, Sara had returned.
By the time I arrived at the restaurant, they’d already ordered.
Scanning the table, I saw Jackson seated at the head, with Sara beside him.
There wasn’t a seat for me.
When Sara noticed me, a faint, and smile appeared on her lips. She gave me a once–over and said nonchalantly,
“Go grab a chair and sit wherever you like,”
I dragged a chair over and sat at the farthest corner from them.
Jackson watched it all unfold with indifference, never ustering a word.
Someone broke the silence, asking, “Sara, we thought you wouldda’t make it back this time!”
“Are you kidding? This is Jackson’s wedding! Even if I had to crawl I’d be here to see what kind of woman he’s marrying.”
Her words were met with knowing glances exchanged around the table, their laughter tinged with sly undertones
Well that’s true. You and Jackson do shane a special bonil.”
The conversation naturally revolved around Sara from that point.
She recounted her adventures: fishing for yellowfin tuna in the Mediterran trekking the Camino de Santiago in Portugal, and climbing Uluru in
Everyone at the table listened with raps attention, their eyes gleaming with admiration.
„yedze a veoman! How do you re
To go to such places?”
“Hmph Sara glanced at me
one light but laced with decision
“That the kind of roman who thinks about cooking, husbands, and kid
Her words hung in the air, shop and cutting.
I downed a small glass off white boot, the burning bitterness manbang my que, stripping the food of all favor
Meable, she remained the center of attention, the life of the pathering
Au the night wore on everyone’s focus stayed i
fixed en het
Azid Jackson, though mostly quiet, bad his eyes on her too.
His gaze was tender, so soft it could melt
When Sara began sharing ber recent experiences dealing with scammers in Egypt, she suddenly turned to Jackson and asked,
“Do you want to know how to say my darling” in Arabic
Jackson paused for a moment, then shook his head.
Tu teach you
Sara leaned core his shoulder, blowing lightly into his ear.
Jackson gently straightened her, biearlobes turning pink
“Sit properly”
“Come on. My it with ma
Unable to resist Sara’s playful pestering he sighed and gave in
“Bingo”
“That’s right, you’re my
Her eyes darted mischievously before suddenly turning to me.
“Have you ever been to Africa?
Nine Chants to Break a Heart:
