Passion and pursuit

frozen, shocked as our struggling moment broke apart with a sudden slap. What had

rathon race as I sighted Diana, my aunt. I wanted to run away,

en turn around into the kitchen, she had already turned on Mary, un

r! What are you doing in the

d closed as she struggled to process the onslaught, but the wor

ut deeper, sharp

help Angel whenever she's on duty? Didn't

y, who trembled visibly, shaking

ry's hand and, in a shocked turn, began to use it as a weap

y ma! " Mary pleaded, her vo

ling like a timid mouse peeking out of its hole, hoping th

nsion, as I realized that somehow, I had turned Mary into t

y on me, a gnawed discomfort tha

he passageway where she dashed into her

a second time, I swe

y in her voice making it c

me, her eyes wide with a m

ered, hissing at me as she pushed past

ana uttered carried significant meaning, and I couldn't shake off the feeling th

nd surprisingly, those words li

o prepare to carry the bowls filled with the break

truggled with my weekend chores. Sinc

ouse. I knew from experience that their outings together often

ime to myself before they returned. I decided to head upstairs

ind it was already fifteen after five in the evening. With a sen

popular Canadian dish known as poutine, which consists of crispy French fr

tasks, including preparing breakfast for the following morni

heading to bed, I whipped up a light pre-sleep s

ep early, knowing that an early s

ee o'clock. The light from the dawn had

he kitchen with a sense of routine in putting the br

ad hidden in the corner by Diana, so I decided to

I noticed some movement inside. I wondered what time t

I couldn't wait for them to wake up and join me because I usually left for the park at six-thi

rk, so I settled down at the table by myself, enjoyed

**************

nking dishes and soft chatter surrounded me. I waved to the staff, my

in my stomach. She was never late. I glanced at th

ping vegetables, but her bright smile was absent. I h

of my coworkers if I asked about her. So, I p

elsewhere. I took orders, delivered meals, and checked in on

hair, my fingers anxiously tapped on my phone as I dialed her number. No a

, her voice sliced through my thoughts. My heart raced as I

a paycheck without working!" she continued, and I

typical. I often have to come here un

She always found a way to criticize me, and I could just imagine her telling he

went in. I quickly wen

ore three. I decided not to call anyone again, a

bench, I tried to call Michelle, but still, the call didn't go through. I thought of visi

Hughes's insults in my mind. It seemed lik

fice on my way home. Without thinking twice, I decided to book

retary's table, a wave of nervous energy c

ng my uncertainty about whether the secretary would grant

arating, and I could see the secretary typ

inside. I took a deep breath, hoping that somehow, amidst my doubts, I would be able