WHERE DO I CRY?

CHAPTER 7: Two Weeks Without Amanda

It had been two weeks.

Two weeks since Amanda left that pap on the table in Berea and ran with the black bag with broken zip.

For the first two days, Daniel didn't panic. He thought she went to her mother in Mbonambi. He thought she will come back when money finishes — she only had R300 cash and Capitec with less than R600 and R80 coins from under couch, what can she do with that?

By day three, he started calling. Blocked. Every number — blocked.

By day five, the flat smelled. No one swept. Pap still on wall where he threw it. Clothes piled. No one to make him pap and cover with plate.

By day ten, he was going crazy. Not because he missed Amanda. Because house was empty and people at work asked "Where is your wife?" And Candice with expensive vanilla perfume started saying "You said you will leave her."

It drove Daniel crazy that Amanda was nowhere to be seen. Berea flat, where he used to control everything, now controlled him.

Day 12.

He sat on bed, looked at Pep mirror with crack, and typed message to Amanda's mom in Mbonambi.

He wrote: "Mama, Amanda has been disrespecting me. She disappeared with my kids two weeks ago. She has been depressed. I am worried. If she comes to you, tell me. She took R300 and my card."

Depressed. That was his cover. If Amanda goes to police, he already told everyone she is not stable.

Day 14. Two weeks complete. Amanda still nowhere to be seen in Berea. Daniel sat alone, blue shirt not ironed, no one to bend over bed, and for first time he felt scared — not because police, but because maybe Amanda will never come back.