Happy New Year, everyone! Happy 2013! Here’s wishing you all a great year ahead! May all your dreams come true!

2013! Again! Malaika throws herself down on the floor. She closes her fist over the fridge magnet until its edges dig deep into her flesh and the blood flows. “I am doomed! I am cursed!” she is screaming. Over and over.

But no-one hears her. Outside cars are hooting to welcome the New Year. Fireworks are exploding all over the city. And at the party opposite, the music is back to full volume while the party-goers cheer and sing along.

So no-one hears her and no-one calls the police or the paramedics in their white coats.

And so, for a second time, that evening of Friday, 4 January 2013 comes around. For a second time, Isaac comes home bringing some KFC take-away as well as a movie called Groundhog Day for them to watch.

“This Groundhog Day is a comedy, sweetheart. It will be good for us to have a laugh together, right? I love to see you laugh!”

Once again Malaika watches as on the TV screen, Phil the Weatherman changes from an arrogant jerk into a decent, caring man who saves people’s lives and learns to play the piano. All because of his Groundhog Day repeating. Yes, he changes into the kind of man that his producer, Rita, can fall in love with.

Isaac is laughing, saying, “What a crazy idea! Re-living the same day over and over. Insane!”

Malaika picks up the empty KFC boxes and used serviettes and takes them through to the kitchen. She looks at the fridge door where the fridge magnet is now displayed. Pride of place, her most precious possession. She put it up there just a few days ago. And she smiles now as she read the words.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

No, for her, yesterday is not history. And no, for her, tomorrow is not a mystery. She knows full well that in nine months’ time, once again, she will get that terrible phone call from Mr Naidoo, the garage owner. Yes and in nine months’ time she will be sitting at Isaac’s bedside there in the hospital while he fights for his life. She knows full well that he will lose that fight. And she will have to stand weeping as they lower his coffin into the ground. All this is true.

Yet still, despite it all, today is a gift. That part is true. Oh yes! For these next nine months, she will have a second chance to be with Isaac. Every day will be special and wonderful. And she will be grateful for every single moment. She will treasure the miracle of his presence.

And for this miracle, she will happily live through 2013 again and again and again. She will accept the pain and agony it will bring.

What she has now called her Groundhog Curse, is in fact a blessing after all.

Isaac is calling now. “Quick sweetheart, you’re missing the groundhog. Come and have a look at him.”

So Malaika runs back into the lounge, cuddles up under Gogo’s crocheted blanket beside her beloved Isaac. The words are singing inside her head: Today is a gift! Today is a gift!

“There is something different about you,” Isaac tells her. “Something different about your eyes. It’s like that dark, sad shadow that haunted you has gone at last. I’m so glad, my love.”

Nine months later, 29 September arrives. As Malaika knows it must. Yes, it is time for her to pay the price. But she is prepared.

Isaac says, “I’m off to the garage shop, sweetheart. Do you want a chicken pie? Mr Naidoo has the best chicken-pies in the business.”

Malaika nods. She doesn’t even try to stop Isaac from going. She doesn’t even tell him to be careful. She knows there is no point. But she does give him an extra-loving kiss at the door.

“I love you,” she says. “You have turned my life into a miracle.”

Isaac shakes his head at her. “What’s this all about? I’m only going to the garage shop. Not to the moon!” he laughs.

Malaika sits beside the phone, waiting for 9.25. Waiting for Mr Naidoo’s phone call. Waiting for the agony that she knows is coming. But even so, even despite all the pain ahead, her heart is full of gratitude. Yes, because every day of this repeated year has been a gift!

And 9.25 comes. Then 9.26. And 9.27. Still the phone does not ring.

What is going on? Malaika sits with her hands shaking. Her whole body shaking.

And at exactly 9.55, Isaac walks back into the flat. Isaac! Alive! Unhurt! What miracle is this? Malaika throws herself into his arms.

“Careful, lovely lady! You’re going to squash the chicken pies!” Isaac laughs. He is shaking his head at her. “Sometimes I get the feeling I don’t understand what the heck is going on round here! But I’m not complaining. Living with you is interesting, that’s for sure!”

But Malaika understands. At last she understands. Yes, just like Phil the Weatherman, she too has changed. She has grasped the lesson she needed to learn. She has learned to stop focusing on all that is bad and sad and hopeless. She has learned instead to appreciate what joy life has to offer.

She has discovered the power of gratitude. And that has broken her Groundhog Curse for good. There will be no more repeated years.

No, from now on yesterday will be history. And tomorrow will be a mystery – for her just as it is for everyone else.

***

Tell us: Do you believe in the paranormal? Or do you only believe in things that science can prove?