My studies, my cross and my calvary: everything is possible

Chapter 3

By taking the dead end back home, Gabie was scared. Every once in a while, with every breeze, a shiver ran down her spine. It was so dark. There hadn't been any electricity in the area for a few days because of a power outage. Gabie walks forward, her purse clutched under her armpits, fearing with every step that a thief might appear from a dark corner. However, she can't afford to move too fast. With all the dirt littering the dead end, the lack of light can make her step on anything. So she has to play hopscotch, scrambling at every dark part of the floor.

The two-room apartment where she lives is shared with two other girls, Anne and Camelle. She used to live with a friend of her mother's in Croix-des-Bouquets. But getting three hours of transportation to go to school every morning is not very good. Not to mention that sometimes the traffic jams last longer. So she managed to rent this space, closer to the university.

Already on the road, she can see a faint light coming from her house. She feels relieved. The next minute, she turns the keys in the lock and locks the door behind her.

- Where have you been?" Camelle throws Camelle at him without giving her time to put her bag down. Jeff was worried about you. He called me several times because he couldn't reach you on your cell phone.
- He also wrote to me on whatsapp, Anne added. He seemed so worried.
- My battery was dead," Gabie defends himself with a semblance of embarrassment.
- And where were you? Ask Camelle.
- I was... with friends... in a bar. We didn't see the time go by.

Before her friends add a word and destroy her bogus excuse, Gabie hastens to ask..:
- Hey, Camelle, can you give me your back up for a moment?
- It's on the table, next to the dictionary. Don't dry it!

They're not fools. But it's late and they're all three tired. Gabie's just getting suspicious looks this time. She knows that won't always be the case. Anne and Camelle are fans of her relationship with Jeff. They're going to be a pain in the ass eventually.

Unless it's the Professor, who's the real pain in the ass.

For the umpteenth time, she's wondering how to end this unfair relationship she's gotten herself into.
_______

Professor Savior was speeding up the road to Bumblebee. The BMW, like a hungry beast, was just begging to swallow the miles. There were few cars on the road and the traffic was very smooth. His brain was trying to come up with a plausible excuse for his beloved wife who, last week, gave him such an ultimatum that he thought she was going to divorce him.

A divorce?

No, I'm not going to put that mark on his profile. It would be a failure, and he refuses to be spoken of as a man who failed in anything. The image he wants to keep leaves him no choice; his couple must absolutely survive.
Certainly, this little Gabie is starting to dance in his head like a loa. My God, she's got a knack for resurrecting the dead! The way she wiggles her hips when she's on horseback would make the Citadel tremble. Tonight, he felt on the verge of a crisis beneath her waves of pleasure. She was ruthless! As if she wanted to prove something. Or that she was trying to punish her lover. Gabie has this slim, slender marabou body, firm, muscular thighs and calves and a hip wide enough for dreamy curves. The teacher has to admit it, Gabie is everything his wife could never be in bed. But is it enough to risk everything he's taken the time to build up to this point? This life he has today, he's worked hard to give it to himself. He has come a long way since he left his little "lakou" from the depths of Torbeck after his classical studies to come and try his luck at the State University of Haiti.

Before arriving in Fermathe, the residential area where he lives, he calls his caretaker to warn him. Fifteen minutes later, she parked the BMW next to his wife's Audi. He takes the time to examine himself, takes his towel, his jacket and locks his car. The house was quiet. He appreciated the quiet atmosphere there. He put his things on a couch in the large, tastefully furnished living room and went to the twins' room upstairs.

They were sound asleep. Valéria and Victoria were eleven years old. The period of pregnancy was not an easy one for the couple. At the time, he was doing his master's degree in France while his wife ran her own business in Port-au-Prince. Catherine had become pregnant during her brief trips to Haiti.
He took the time to admire her two little angels, smiled and laid a light kiss on their foreheads.

- Honey? Are you asleep? Said Professor Savior as he entered his room.
- No, I was waiting for you. Answer, Catherine. Another meeting that lasted too long, I guess?
- How did you guess? Ironizes the professor.

Catherine kept a serious expression. It's clear she's not in the mood for jokes.

- We were celebrating a colleague's promotion in a bar in Petionville. You know the guy. Joseph. I introduced you to him at your last show at the Hotel Montana.
- Who do you think I am, Savior?" the woman said angrily. Am I supposed to buy that?
- What the hell are you implying, honey?
- I'm not insinuating anything; I'm telling you straight: Your apology sucks!
- I'm sure if I lied to you, I'd make sure I'd come up with a better one. You know I'm smart enough to make up good stories.
- You're playing with the game, Savior!
- Come on, my love! You're worrying over nothing. These TV series are definitely corrupting your mind. I swear you're worrying over nothing.
- I just don't want you to come home so late, that's all.
- But I have obligations. And you know how much Joseph means to me.
At least you could have called me. You didn't say anything. Not even a message!
Now you're right. Forgive me, will you? Come here. Come here. Come here. Come into my arms, Madam Savior.

Catherine doesn't like it when he calls her that. But he's so charming when he does, that she finally gives in. She smiles a wry smile and huddles up to her man.

- I worry when you leave me without any news.
- I'm sorry, sweetheart. It won't happen again. Especially since I don't have any classes next week. The small staff at the faculty has called a strike.
- Again?

The conversation turned to politics for almost three quarters of an hour. They were talking about influential people who mysteriously lost their lives, others who had big mouths on sensitive subjects but simply faded away when it came to action, and another category that everyone knew was stingy and narcissistic. Catherine was firm on one point: Saviour can assert himself everywhere with his political convictions, as long as the twins do not risk suffering these outbursts.

The teacher went to the shower, checked his mail, and before going to bed, checked the notifications on his mobile phone.

There he came across a message that made his blood run cold.

The caller didn't say a word.

There was just a picture.

The picture was of a man coming out of a motel, desperately trying to properly reattach the buttons on his shirt. The man had a haggard look on his face and had the key to a car in his hand.

The man in the photo is indeed Professor Sauveur, leaving Gabie to go home.