Simphiwe’s desk at the supermarket was piled high with invoices and consignment notices. There was also a half-full water bottle, and a cup of unfinished, cold coffee that had not been cleared away.

The manager at the supermarket had been in Mauritius, on leave, for ten days and Simphiwe had been working extra hours most days. He had to be the first there to open the supermarket and the last at work, so that he could lock it up and set the alarms.

Many times on the weekends, he’d had to work overtime. He had not been able to leave work promptly and go to the hotel where Zinhle worked, in order to walk home with her. That was something of the past. That belonged to the days before he was made assistant manager.

On her next day off, Zinhle went to town by taxi and headed straight for the supermarket. In the taxi she had prepared a speech that she would give to Simphiwe about how little she saw him these days and that things needed to change. She had remembered that on the day of his mother’s funeral he had needed her and reached out for her. But since then she had hardly heard from him.

When she arrived at the supermarket, Simphiwe was not in his office and when she asked where he was, she was told that he had gone to Durban for further training.

“What kind of training?” she said aloud. “He’s just been to Durban for training.”

“Training! I’m not sure,” said the bookkeeper. “Speak to the manager.”

“How long will Simphiwe be away?’

“Three days,” said the bookkeeper. “Now please, excuse me. I have so much work to do.”

Sulking, Zinhle left the supermarket. Why had Simphiwe not told her that he was going away? She remembered what had happened the last time he had been away, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

After looking in some clothes shops and buying deodorant at Clicks, Zinhle impulsively decided to visit her friend, Nokwanda, during her lunch hour at the hotel.

It was a bright day without a cloud and the sun warmed their legs as Nokwanda and Zinhle sat around the kiddies’ swimming pool.

“Do you know that Jabu has left Vryheid, and gone back to Durban?” said Nokwanda.

“Really? It’s not just a rumour? You know how everyone loves to gossip.”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Did she not find a job, Nokwanda?”

“I heard that Busiso has been cheating on her and they broke up.”

“Is that so?” responded Zinhle, smiling shyly.

***

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