I left, she followed.

It was a heavy rain, raining dogs and cats. Thunderstorms were being served.

“We have to go …” Sean shouted at Venu.

Venu knew that running away yet again, more especially in this state was a disaster waiting to occur. She looked at Sean as if she wasn’t about to drown. It was only a matter of time before the shack could collapse, she then looked back at her mattress and made a crucial decision.

“Ey we have to go. Do you want to die here, right now?” Sean shouted again to a thought lost Venu.

“I am so sorry Sean, but I cannot come with you. Go I will rather die here with her”, Venu said convincing herself that she has made a reasonable decision.

“Don’t you want to see the big city anymore! don’t you want to eat pizza everyday and what about the Nokia phone that I promised to buy for you? Come let’s go” Sean said stretching his hand towards Venu.

“Yes, I do. Let’s go”, Venu said excitedly as she attempted to let go of the door.’

“Wait what if I never get to see her again?” Truly speaking that was possible. Sean had enough of Venus tantrums a s a result he harshly pushed her out of the shack. Venu was crying hysterically with hiccups here and there. Sean continued to push and pull her with an abrupt force. He couldn’t let her go.

“Leave me”, Venu said and ran back with a speed of lightning. Sean also ran after her even though he knew that he was the last person to catch her. Venu was the fastest runner there could ever be in their school. She won the national level the last season but even the fastest runner can sometimes be late

“Nooooooooo” Venu cried pierce fully while Lefa held her back. There was nothing she could do. The rain was twice as heavy now. She collected herself and looked at her shacks direction with a hope of seeing her home, one last time.

She has failed again to protect her sister. Firstly, it was the fire that she started, the fire that took her sight and now her selfishness’ took her life ‘She wailed loudly with no care to the world. Lefa released her as she sank to the mouldy grass.

“I am sorry”. Sean said sadly.

Venu stood up and went to sean,” It was you. You killed her” she said beating him.

“I am sorry”, Sean said

“No, you killed her. Go, I don’t want to see you ever again” she said and pushed him. Sean stared at Venu for good ten minutes and then disappeared into the darkness

Her sister’s corpse was discovered three days after the heavy rain.

“We will take you to the orphanage “the social worker told Venu.

Venu doesn’t know her father, she has only anger towards him. Her mother ran from her family in the city and came to the township to raise her two daughters. She left them there and went back to the city to look for work. Ten months down the drain, she stopped visiting and sending money home, they failed to pay rent as such they were forced to live in a shack. Just like that they became orphans.

Her mother’s whereabouts are unknown. At first, she was angry at her but with time she became worried. That traumatic experience left her shaken, scared and broken beyond repair.

Ten years later, she is still very much the same. Taking her to an orphanage made matters even worse.

“Miss Tau”, Mrs Dikane the matron called her out.

“Here I am” she said with no enthusiasm

“I brought you a visitor” Mrs Dikane said picking blank papers from the floor to the dustbin and opened the curtains.

“Well enjoy”, she said and left.

Venu looked up and saw a familiar face even though she couldn’t remember where exactly she has seen her. Venu pulled her pillow and laid back; she totally ignored her presence. Venu has changed a lot. She viewed life as a punishment rather than a second chance. Her mentality of life had completely changed.

“Hey wake up”

“You are still here?” Venu asked concerned.

“Yaa I couldn’t just leave without talking to you. “She sadly said.

Venu got off the bed and went to the bathroom and came back to drink a glass of water

“Why do you have so many books here? “She asked surprised

“Well, I love writing and reading” Venu said and picked her notebook

“What are you doing here, you don’t look like a mentally incapacitated person. How did you end up here” she asked venu.

“I don’t know” venu harshly responded and focused on her notebook

“okay”

“When will you leave, you’ve been here the whole day” venu asked out of the blue

“Well, I will be your roommate for some days” she said

“Are you serious” she asked unbelievably so

“Is there any way that I could make your stay here short” she asked curiously

“Yes, you can speak to me”

“Oh, what’s your name again?” venu asked the stranger.”

“I am Loti Tau, a journalist “she said looking straight at her sister’s eyes.

“Come again” she said puzzled

“I am loti, sis I’ve been looking for you everywhere”

“Huh you…are. Alive” she said slathering

“Yes, I am. Look I can see and walk now. Mom took me to Italy. I am, alive “she said with teary eyes

“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have left. Please forgive me….”

“Whoa I forgave you. Seeing you in this situation breaks me “she sadly said

“I will be fine; I will do anything to be with you. I will work on myself. I promise you “she said

“I know you will”

“Can I ask you something “Venu asked

“Yes please “loti responded warmly

“Have you ever heard from Sean or snail “she asked

“Many people died with guilt after my supposedly death. You almost lost your mind. I am sorry that I had a good life at your suffering” ‘she said guilty

“So, they died”

“Unfortunately,” she answered her

“And mom? I get it that she helped you and I will forever remain indebted to her, but I don’t want anything to do with her”

“Don’t worry about her, she died way before we moved to the shacks. She had policies”

We cannot guarantee that venu will have a smooth journey, but she has found closure. Venu left, she followed