The internet is screaming with whispers and speculation.
“Who is she?
“Her friends are so quiet?”
No context, no follow-up, just a Facebook status that sent chills down the internet’s spine: “If I die today, Google Neitherlands.”
My friends, usually active and vibrant online, have gone radio silent. It's as if we all vanished, leaving a digital void of unanswered questions.
Previous chapter: How did I (we) get here?
“Inkani uzoyiyeka nini? When will you stop being stubborn?” he asks.
Before I can respond, he sneers “Now you’re in the Neitherlands. You do not exist.”
My mind is screaming, “yaze yangijwayela indoda ngiyithanda,” but my mouth asks, “kanjani manje weDali!?”
My heart’s pounding has ruined my tastebuds and I am sure he can see it through the naked twins. Even in the midst of danger, we found time for a desperate, amorous congress. But now, reality is crashing in.
Yesterday's Facebook status, the hastily published blog post and that man’s pictures attached—all a frantic attempt to ensure our safety, to let the world know who killed us if it came to that. Panic made me reckless. I thought exposing that man would save us. Now, I wonder if I've only hastened our doom.
“Your only identity is ‘my girl,’ so I need you to start acting like it.” He sarcastically continues, a clear mockery of my defiance.
The terror of my new reality starts to sink in.
Also read: Shadows of Yesterday
Six months ago, I called my dad to tell him about the new love of my life. As usual, he was happy for me, cemented by his famous, “How long will this one last?”
A few weeks later, his call caught me off guard. He was prying, asking personal questions that made my skin crawl. It wasn't until later that I learned he knew my lover’s parents from back home. My lover’s denial of this revelation twisted my gut, raising more questions than it answered.
***
What does this man mean, "I do not exist?" Is he part of the Neitherlands? Is he the enemy?
Panic gripped me as I realized the depth of the mystery. My mind is racing. I need answers and fast.
“I need to call my dad!”
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Why does this reads like something i know 💀