COUNTDOWN

7 •'AND SHE IS MY DAUGHTER'

TOMATOES NEVER ROT, BUY YOURS

I miss my child so much. I feel so regretful that I had to put her on welfare after her birth.

I feel so regretful that I let myself be framed. I regret that I didn't fight. I regret that I couldn't give my child the best.

But not anymore, I can't continue to regret things.

I have to be strong for my baby.

"Tiana, I wonder how you are doing." I gently rubbed the picture of my 1-year-old baby. It is the first and only picture I have of her.

It has accompanied and motivated me since my release 10 years ago.

I'll meet you soon. I close my eyes with a sigh.

"Watch where you are going!" The scream from the old man in a tattered military uniform brought me back to the present.

A quick swerve to my right saved me from colliding head-on with the pregnant woman on the left side of the road.

I wouldn't have forgiven myself.

However, it doesn't save my Hyundai's front tire from getting stuck in between the drainage.

And honestly, I prefer it over the former.

After an apology momentary compensation which I insisted to the pregnant woman and the old man, I make my way to the address on the black card.

Forgetting to change out of my heels

"Is this the restaurant?" I checked the card in my hand again.

Looking up at the stall that had 'hungry restaurant' written on it, I knew it was the same as the one on the card.

But it looks too old to still be in use. However, I take a few steps towards the door with rusted metal ridges and take another look at the card the detective gave to me.

Laura my very competent black executive assistant introduced him to me. She knew I was looking for someone. I wonder how.

She described him as very confident and I do not doubt her.

It's been two days since I have him the task and he called yesterday to meet. He must be as confident as Laura said.

Grabbing the rusted handle of the door.

The place seems out of place. It wasn't on the map and it took several stops while asking for descriptions to finally get here.

I haven't seen a single soul pass by either.

"I'll wait for another 10 minutes and if no one is forthcoming, I'll leave and ask for a refund."

The cloudy sky was getting darker.

It might rain and I might lose my way.

7:34. I dragged back my black blazer jacket to look at the time on my left wrist.

Walking back to my rolls Royce, my heel breaks, "this is so frustrating."

Pulling the stiletto off my right foot, I continue my 3 minutes journey back to my car. But my steps are unsteady and I fear I might break my legs next, so I put off the other glass pair.

"Tomatoes never rot buy yours." What?

"That's a scam" I mutter to myself before it dawns on me. That a human, so I trace where the voice is coming from, and I'm met with an old lady in grey colored clothing.

On a closer look, they aren't actually grey colored, they have just lost their color from excessive usage. I can tell her long flay skirt used to be yellow.