Marco



It was a scene drenched in disbelief, my mind struggling to comprehend the harsh reality that the man who had taken me under his protective wing was now forever lost in the embrace of death. The weight of his absence tore through my heart, shattering it into countless jagged pieces.

With a heavy heart, I found myself drawn to the table where a collection of newspapers lay, each one bearing the news of Ndumiso’s demise. The headlines portrayed him as a merciless figure, a man deserving of his tragic fate. Yet amidst the harsh judgments, there were whispers of his benevolence, stories of how he had extended his hand to uplift the downtrodden.

My gaze then wandered towards the wall, adorned with a series of photographs capturing the radiant smiles of Sindie, Shawn, and their children. In those snapshots frozen in time, they exuded a happiness that seemed so distant from my own sorrow-stricken reality. How could they revel in blissful moments, frolicking in parks, strolling through malls, embarking on joyous family vacations, and hosting lively parties? How could they bask in the warmth of life’s pleasures while I withered in the agony of losing the man who had nurtured me, shaping me into the person I had become?

For two long years, I had been consumed by a relentless obsession, meticulously crafting a vengeful plan to inflict upon them the same searing pain they had callously thrust upon me. My fingers clenched the glass, its amber contents swirling within, the whiskey that had once been Ndumiso’s only solace. I lifted it to my lips, allowing the liquid fire to slide down my throat, as if fueling the inferno of retribution that blazed within me.

A pocket knife lay discarded before me, its glinting blade taunting my rage. Without a moment’s hesitation, I hurled it towards the photograph of Shawn, its trajectory finding a chillingly precise mark upon his face. The message was clear, even if spoken in silence—I was coming for them all. Not just Sindie, Shawn, and their innocent children, but even their faithful companion, their dog. I vowed to unleash upon them a tempest of despair, leaving them trembling in the clutches of sorrow, just as I had been left to suffer. And with unwavering determination, I would ensure that my intentions were brutally realized.