Chapter 9-The message
683 Words
Naledi woke up before sunrise, the faint light creeping through her curtains. Her eyes felt heavy, but her mind was sharp, replaying everything from the night before. The knock. The men. The money being handed over. Their warning.
She sat up slowly, stretching her stiff shoulders. It was over for now, but not finished. A lingering tension clung to the air, like something waiting just out of sight.
She reached for her phone, wondering if Aiden had texted. He hadn’t. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed.
After getting dressed, she walked quietly to the kitchen. Her mom stood by the stove, stirring porridge with a tired expression.
“Morning, Mama,” Naledi said softly.
Her mother turned, offering her a small, weary smile. “Morning, my girl. I barely slept.”
“I know.” Naledi hesitated. “But we’re okay. For now.”
Her mom didn’t answer, only nodded as if afraid that speaking hope aloud would break it.
When Naledi stepped outside to leave for work, she checked her phone again. Still nothing. She sighed and boarded the bus.
At the café, she went through her shift in a daze. Customers came and went, orders were placed and filled, and the familiar smell of coffee grounded her. But her mind kept drifting to her family and the threat hanging over them.
During a quiet moment, her phone buzzed. Naledi’s heart jumped. She pulled it from her apron.
A message from Aiden.
Just checking in. Are you okay?
Naledi felt her shoulders loosen. She typed quickly.
Last night was intense, but everything went fine. Thank you again.
Aiden replied almost instantly.
I’m glad. I was worried.
She smiled before tucking her phone away as a customer approached.
At lunchtime, she stepped outside into the fresh air. The wind carried the faint smell of the ocean, and for a moment she let it calm her.
Her thoughts drifted to Natasha. Her best friend would be arriving back in Cape Town today. Naledi couldn’t wait to see her, to pretend everything was normal, even if just for a few hours.
As she leaned against a railing, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Aiden.
Naledi… something happened.
Her stomach tightened.
What happened? she typed.
There was a long pause before his reply came.
I think someone followed me this morning.
Naledi’s heart dropped.
What do you mean?
Aiden responded more slowly this time.
I left my flat early to take photos. A car I didn’t recognize drove past twice. Then again. Same car. Same guy looking at me.
Naledi felt the blood drain from her face.
Do you think it’s the men from last night?
I don’t know, Aiden wrote.
But it didn’t feel random.
She swallowed hard.
Be careful. Please.
His next message came quickly.
I will. But Naledi… Are you safe?
She closed her eyes.
I think so.
She knew it wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t entirely the truth either.
After her shift, she took the bus home and found her brother sitting on the couch, staring into space.
“You okay?” she asked.
He nodded half-heartedly. “Just thinking. I can’t believe they actually took the money and left.”
“They said they’d be back,” Naledi reminded him gently.
“I know. But when I looked into their faces last night, I realized something. They didn’t expect me to fight back. They thought I was scared.” He exhaled sharply. “I was.”
Naledi sat next to him. “We’ll handle whatever comes. Together.”
She didn’t mention Aiden. She didn’t mention the message. She didn’t mention the car.
Not yet.
Later, as she lay in bed scrolling through her phone, another message came from Aiden.
If anything feels wrong tonight, please tell me. I mean it.
Naledi stared at the words for a long moment before typing back.
I will. Thank you, Aiden.
She placed her phone down and closed her eyes. The night outside felt too quiet, too still. But for the first time, she wasn’t only afraid.
She was prepared.
- Writer
