QUARANTINE

Chapter 1 | Best Day or Worse!

My name is Marilyn Edwards, married to Kian Edwards, and a mother of three amazing children; Amelie, Jazzlyn, and Archie. Two beautiful girls and one healthy boy.

Sometime before today, I had everything I always dreamed of. A beautiful house, a husband, kids and some bills that I could pay. I can't say it was everything, but at least it was something worth dying for!

We were once living in America, but it was Kian's dream to one day visit the African continent. Specifically, the southern part of Africa. I was so glad that I had a husband who wanted to experience new things and go on an adventure with his family, unlike some other men out there!

Kian's dream became true when he one day received a vacation free break from the company he was working for. A vacation that he could attend to with his family. A fully paid vacation!

Kian thought of nowhere else than Africa. At that point, Kian's dreams were finally catching up, and as a family, we thought it was best for us.

As one of the Swahili sayings goes "Usilolijua, ni Sawa na usiku wa Giza!" Meaning, unbeknownst to you, it's like a dark night. And that is exactly what happened to us!

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Let's go back to late 2019, when we were already in a small beautiful town named Tshanekani, in southern Africa.

A beautiful morning I can say, a day that I thought it was to be the best of them all. A day that had no things to unpack or neighbors to catch up with. It was a day that honestly, brought a smile on our faces.

I rushed out of my room, holding a piece of paper, and a bathing robe that felt comfortable. And went downstairs, straight to Kian who was working at the dining area.

"Hey, babe!" while placing the piece of paper on the table.

"Good morning..." his eyes caught by that piece of paper!

"Let me guess, my to-do list?" he asked.

"No, but somehow... it is yours to do." I replied with a kinky face.

"Ooh, no. I know that face!"

"What face?

"A face that you do, when you want me to do something that I might not want to do!"

"What are you talking about, this is my normal face."

"Okay, let's prove!" he pulled the piece of paper to his side, and he stared at it for a moment.

"Are these... are these things to buy?!" with a confused face.

"That is a list of things we're running short in the house." I moved closer to his side.

"Come on, babe! We already talked about this, it's a vacation stay. Not a moving in, stay."

"I know, I know. But, babe most of the things written are food and some extra things to keep us going for these few days of our stay!" placing my hand on his shoulder.

"But, I thought my company is already paying for this apartment, the food, Jazzy and Archie's online class subscriptions, and some other things!" he sounded disturbed.

"Babe, look... I know this is a fully paid vacation. But you can't be serious about only relying on the food we eat every day."

He exhales...

I grabbed a chair and sat next to him, "look, I'm not saying it is a must to do. But, remember today is the day Amelie is coming here. She deserves a little bit of difference!" I tried to convince him.