A cold and chilly night. She stood by the veranda facing the molded wood floor underneath. A beam of light fading from the window that she couldn’t look into. The light inside switched off and she coughed. Blood stained her hands.
Three weeks before, the house they called a home was full of life. The house was vibrant with romantic laughter, orchestrated by the two lovebirds that lived inside. Alelo and Ando were living together for the past 7 years. Their love was one that brew from high school and survived all trials and tribulations until that one day. One night as Ando was taking a walk around their log cabin, he saw a man from a distance. A bulky stout man holding a camera. This man seemed to be lost in the thick night fog. However, Ando knew that sometimes tourists get lost as their log cabin was about 10km from the local resort situated in the forest where their lived. Tonight was a beautiful night with the fog masking the illuminance of the full moon. Ando was not about to ruin it with small chatter with a rich lost tourist.
While Ando was out, Alelo was back home preparing supper. Alelo was rumored that she bathed with the waters that sprang from the fountain of youth. One lady said that she once saw Alelo scrub herself with rare wild honey and that was the reason for her spotless, smooth, honey hued skin. Alelo never paid much attention to these rumors about her but secretly loved them. While she was chopping the carrots for her lamb stew, her phone rung. On the screen was written ‘Unknown’. “Rather odd an ‘Unknown’ calls me at this hour,” she thought to herself. She stared at her phone for a while until curiosity got the better of her.
“Hello Alelo,” said Unknown. Unknown had a clear and soft tone of voice. The voice of a woman in her early twenties.
“Hello unknown voice who calls people late at night,” replied Alelo jokingly shrewd.
“How have you been? Or better let me ask you this instead: How are you?” Unknown asked.
“What are you getting at?” Alelo asked with annoyance slowing brewing in her vocal cords.
“I’ll see you soon.” Unknown hung up the phone.
Confused, Alelo held her phone in her palm. “Who was this woman who would call me at this hour and ask me how I’m doing? Why call me-“
“Hey, I’m back,” Ando interrupted her thoughts, “you look confused. What’s wrong?” Ando asked Alelo even though knowing the answer.
“Nothing.” Alelo said and she continued with her stew.
The next day, Alelo was the first to wake up. She battled with sleep that night. The strange call from the Unknown lady and her very specific yet ordinary question robbed her of sleep. The thought that Unknown also ended her call by saying that she’ll see her soon got Alelo’s mind in a whirl of confusion. She got out of their bed and went to make pancakes for herself. The morning dew had begun to slowing evaporate and the aroma it gave off was soothing to her. She reached to open a window in the kitchen, over the sink and suddenly a man appeared. A dark, bulky stout man appeared in her vision. Startled Alelo froze not knowing what to do. As sudden as the man appeared, the man raised his camera and took a picture of Alelo. The flash only made things worse and Alelo found herself stumbling over the kitchen floor. Ando came running down and he only found Alelo on the floor, surrounded by the scent of the morning dew.
They did not speak that much that morning. Ando went about reading his books but continuously checking on Alelo. Alelo went about sewing clothes for her clients but kept pricking herself with the needles. At the stroke of noon, there was a knock on the door. Ando got up to see who it was. He opened the door and there stood a man in uniform. A Fast and Furious uniform and the man had been sent to deliver a package to Alelo. Ando looked back and saw that Alelo was drifting in her own world so he took the package for her. “Thanks,” said Ando and the Fast and Furious man was gone.
“You have a package. I’ll just place it here next to your things on the table.” Ando said not sure whether she heard him.
“Oh, ok.” Alelo responded half-aware what Ando said. After an hour, Alelo got up to make herself coffee and saw the package. She had forgotten about it. She raised it from the table and went to the kitchen with it. She poured water into the kettle and switched it on. While the kettle whistled promises of sweet coffee, she sat down and placed the package in front of her. In clear bold, block letters her name was written. She took her time opening the package only to find that inside the box, there was an envelope inside. The envelop looked clean and clear white. There was no lettering on it and the opening unsealed. The kettle clicked to indicate that the water was ready to make her sweet coffee. However, she paid it no mind. She took the envelope out the box and opened it. She turned it upside and hurled the contains on the table. In grave shock, she closed her mouth with her hands.
The scream echoed in the cabin and Ando came running to the kitchen. Pictures of Alelo scattered on the table. In between them, pictures of a baby resting peacefully in a nursery somewhere. Confused Ando picked pictures at random and was confused as to what he was seeing. Alelo had not moved a muscle. On the back of one photo, there was written a date: 12 January 2012. Ando took the box and searched for any missing information inside. There was a second, yellow envelop tucked inside. Ando took it out and it clear red lettering written: FOR ALELO. Ando ignored the instruction and ripped the envelop open. What fell out- forever changed their lives.