The Open Road

Chapter 1

Bob

I could only pray that no one had recognised me and by recognising I meant aligning my features with the wanted guy on every social media platform in the country. I opted to purchase a cap on Kanu Street to hide a part of my face that could easily get me caught, after all the frontier is a person's identification. I felt my heart come to an abrupt stop when a police officer came out of nowhere. I quickly ducked behind a neighbouring cigarette shop only for the officer to come towards my direction. Was this it? Was I going back to the pit? It had only been six hours; such short lived freedom.

"Two cigarettes..."

My mouth stood agape for less than a micro second not believing my luck. He had not spotted me but a box of Farasi cigarettes. After he left I let out a sigh of relief happy that I still get to enjoy the juicy taste of freedom.

I bought the cap and proceeded with my journey. I quickly feigned confidence in my strides in order to chase away suspicions.

"Dad I want that..."

A little girl stood transfixed on the spot while determinedly pointing at a cake in a small bakery. I loved cake, in fact I was obsessed with it. The sugar rush that pumped into ones veins when the icing granted entrance on your tongue was ecstatic, better than a d**g any day.

"Sweetie you have tonsils remember? What did the doctor say?"

The voice was so familiar but surely it couldn't be her, could it?

"Darren what is this all about?"

Motion froze around me as I angled my head to view the source of the soft voice. No it couldn't be, she shouldn't be here. And what had she just said?

Darren? My brother Darren?

"Mommy, Daddy doesn't want me to eat cake..."

She brought her arm to wipe fake tears which was a signature move for any kid to get their hearts desire. Wait the kid had called Sue mommy...no no no. I stealthily walked towards the trio as their debate on cake went on. The little girl was around five years old, the exact number of years I had been locked away.

So it was true. The celeb buzz in daily nation had been correct, my wife was getting married to my younger brother, what they had left out was the fact that he was going to father his brother's daughter.