Beckoned Through The Dark

34 // Lesego // Good Samaritan

I don't know how long it has been since Clay left, but I waited till I fell asleep, and then I woke up at noon when the doorbell rang.

I jumped out of bed and opened the door, expecting to find Clay. "Clay, I'm sorry. I had no idea of what was going on, I don't know what's happen–" I swallowed my words as I came face to face with a stranger in a bow tie.

"Room service," he said with a mischievous smile as he pushed past me and rolled the tray into the room.

I crossed my arms defiantly and stood aside. "I didn't order anything," I said, but he just ignored me and continued placing the food items on the table as if he didn't hear me. "I didn't–"

"I know!" He chirped and then turned swiftly in my direction. He looked like he was about twenty; he had this mischievous glint in his eyes that kinda reminded me of Duncan. He was an Afrikaner with a skin as white as coffee creamer, a brunette with short hair and blue eyes, and a long sharp nose.

"Well?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, yeah! Uhm..." He scratched his head awkwardly, his face concocting into various expression as if trying to remember something. "Your... boyfriend called in to order for you," he said while staring at my ring finger.

I rolled my eyes at him, a slightly light feeling in my heart. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so annoyed at someone. "We are not married, neither is he my boyfriend. Good day!" I showed him the door.

"Oh, okay. I'll come back to collect the dishes when you are done."

I nodded and gently pushed him out the door. "Bye." I shut the door in his face and leaned against the door with a loud sigh. I couldn't believe Clay had left me here, but at least he had remembered that I needed to eat.

I tried to brush off the feeling by enjoying the food, but I couldn't help wondering if he was with her. I had a feeling that he was with her right now and that was the reason why he left me. That alone, hurt, and I prayed that it wasn't true.

Clay did not return for another two hours. I was starting to get worried. I know I sound selfish, but I don’t want to be alone anymore.

Admittedly, even though Clay was being cold and temperamental, I felt safer with him around.

I just wished he could sit down with me so that we could figure things out together. Clearly a lot of things had happened since we last saw each other.

For the whole two hours, I just sat there trying to connect the dots. Was my case even real or was it a ruse to bring that imposter into my home?

It would explain why no one ever came to visit me in prison from day one, chances were that I didn’t even spend the night in jail according to the world; chances are that fire did not even happen.

Was it possible that my mother followed the police after they arrested me, only to come back with the imposter the very same night thinking it was me?

Perhaps I was the only one who thought everyone was in danger.

Over time I became tired of wondering what was going on in the outside world, I had to do something.

I wasn't so sure where I was, but I'm sure I could get access to an internet café somewhere close by.

I went to take a shower and realised that I didn't have anything to change into and that I needed a makeover.

I put on a bathrobe and met the cleaning lady who was busy changing the sheets. "Hello, Ma."

She turned to me with a warm motherly smile. "Hello, my child. How are you?" She greeted in Sotho.

She was an elderly woman probably in her mid-forties. She was tall and slender, and had fair skin, almost the same complexion as Abigail.

I almost laughed; I don't know why people assumed I knew African languages just because I was black. I literally grew up in a white household even though we were raised like most African kids, so we spoke English only at home.

Thankfully I had friends from the townships, and they forced me to learn their languages.

"I'm fine, how are you?" I replied in Sotho.

"I'm good." She gave me a strange look but did not say anything. "I just came to change the sheets and towels, but I'm done now," she piped up, turning back to her work.

"Uhm, Ma. Are there any stores around here? We arrived late last night, and we lost our luggage, we didn't get the time to shop for new clothes." I hated the fact that I had to lie to her, but I really needed a clean set of clothes.

Her eyes trailed over my body, and she nodded before leaving the room.

I stood there perplexed. What just happened? My question was answered a few minutes later when she returned with a plastic bag from Mr Price.

What the???

"What size are you?" She asked.

"Excuse me?"

She handed me the plastic. "Try this on. I bought it for my daughter, but she said it doesn't fit."

"I'm sorry, I can't accept this." I tried giving the plastic bag to her, but she shook her head.

"Just try it on."

I sighed and went to the bathroom. I opened the bag and took out a nice long-sleeved grey dress with a close-up neck. It was beautiful. I tried it on, and it fit perfectly on me. It was a smaller size and wouldn't have fitted under normal circumstances, but I'd lost a great deal of weight.

I walked back into the bedroom, and the lady skipped and clapped in excitement.

"Oh, my goodness, you look beautiful, and it suits you perfectly," she gushed.

"Thanks." I shrugged. "I'll get changed." I turned to walk away.

"Wait, what?" She frowned.

"Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful dress, and it might fit me. But it's your daughter's."

She rolled her eyes and waved me off. "Don't be silly, I'll buy her another one. It's yours now!"

I stood there, not knowing what to say. "Th-thank you."

She smiled at me. "Don't mention it. Just don't leave this room without removing the label," she joked. "I should get going now. It was nice to meet you..."

"Lesego."

Something sparked in her eyes and she stared at me for a second, and then a sad expression crossed her face. "You look just like your mother," she whispered.

My entire body went still, and my heart dropped to my stomach. "Excuse me?" I asked, perplexed.

Something in her must have snapped because her eyes widened, and she looked at me in mortified horror. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean– I have to go!" She rushed out of the room, and I didn't even bother stopping her.

I crushed down on the bed, my head pounding. What was up with that lady? I wondered.

I swear, if I stay here for another second, I will go crazy!

I got up and took some cash that Clay had left on the headboard, and then I headed out.

I found an internet café right opposite the hotel, and surprisingly, it was also a beauty salon. I used their computers to search for my location and realised that I was literally five hours from home, and that is by car.

Going home could be costly. I was so drained, I just wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep.

But when I was about to leave, the salon owner offered to do my hair even though I told her I didn't have any money.

Either today was my lucky day, or this was all a trap.

At the end of the day, the stylist decided to do a whole makeover, and by the time she was done, I couldn't believe the person staring back at the mirror was truly me.

If this did not get Clay to forget about that imposter, I don't know what would.