25 Years Ago
The black sedan idled for a moment, its engine humming softly before the driver stepped out. Without a word, he moved to the trunk, pulling out two suitcases and setting them down beside Wile. His movements were precise, practiced—no hesitation, no wasted effort.
Once the luggage was placed, the driver tipped his head respectfully and climbed back into the vehicle. The tires crunched against the dirt road as the sedan rolled forward, soon disappearing into the chaotic blur of the bus terminal traffic.
Gumamela stood frozen in place, her fingers gripping the edge of her small stall as she stared at Wile.
He was here. Smiling—radiant, even—as if nothing had changed, as if the weight of his past had been peeled away in the span of mere days.
For weeks, she had convinced hers
