Chapter 3

Gabriels P.O.V(Point of View)

A few weeks ago we got an invitation from the Baloyi's for their housewarming party, they just moved here a few months ago- about 3 houses from where we stay. On that morning of the housewarming, I figured that the party would help me forget for a few hours because school was so stressful. I pulled out the first thing I saw in my wardrobe putting no effort into trying to look nice and thankfully my parents approved of the look so it was all systems go.

I arrived at the party with my step mom and father, there was this lovely ambiance in the house, everyone was friendly and had smiles on their faces. We went up to the Baloyi family to introduce ourselves and welcome them to the neighborhood, They seemed like a very nice cozy family with only one child- Blessing but everyone called her Bless,who was a very happy soul. She is the type to brighten up your day with just her smile.

She had the perfect petite body, her nails were painted black and her voice calmed the storm inside me. All I wanted to know was “ what's her story?”,  everyone has one whether bad or good. I wanted to know what hers was, what made her this bright, kind and happy lady she was. But obviously the party wasn't the right place to ask such questions.  So after the meet and greet I faded back into the party.

My father came to tell me that I should get ready to leave soon after what seemed like hours, so I quickly rushed to the bathroom before we could leave, cousin Themba directed me to the bathroom upstairs and said there would be no one there.

As I was finishing up in the bathroom I heard the door slaam and a girl crying, she kept on saying the name “ Nate”,  I wanted to leave the bathroom and comfort whoever was on the other side but I realized it would be awkward for a random person to just emerge from the bathroom, embarrassing  even, so I decided to wait until the girl stopped crying.

After a few minutes the crying stopped and I heard the girl say words of encouragement to herself to keep herself going, it was amazing how someone could be so broken but then pick themselves up after a “fall”, after a slip into a dark hole. I wanted to know now even more who this girl was, her voice sounded desperate, her breathing was as if she was forcing herself to stop breathing but couldn't, it was forced, the name Nate bounced off the walls and it seemed to make her feel better. I hit my hand against the hand sanitizer and it fell on the floor then, suddenly the bathroom door opened and Bless stood there looking at me. I was amazed and also concerned that the girl who burst with happiness could be the same one crying so devastatingly. So, I said nothing and waited for her to say something like scream, chase me out, apologize or tell me it's not what it seems like but, nothing, So I said " I'm sorry, Cousin Them..."before I could even finish speaking she swung the door closed and walked out to join the party.

Who is Bless really, why was she crying? What happened to the happy, full of life girl I saw. Her eyes were blood red drenched in tears.

I left the bathroom in an attempt to apologize and as I was about to walk out I tripped on something and saw a box of letters on the floor and immediately I grabbed one and started reading it.

“ Dear Nate

I tried pretending, I tried this happiness thing today. I actually wore a yellow dress, YELLOW babe. And everyone noticed me like I had intended for them to. Hopefully that will stop the whispers of whether I’m going crazy or not. I tried pretending but the questions people kept on asking me about you cut me deep,  how can anyone think you could just be a phase!? How can anyone think I'm putting on a show, merely pretending to be torn by your death for  attention? I'm ready to fade away,  I want to die too, I don't want to breathe anymore.  see you soon

I love you always and forever

Bless”

Before I could go through the other letters my phone rang and my father was telling me we need to leave,  I just grabbed a bunch of them and put them in my pocket and walked out. I have to help this girl in an effort to help myself also. I had recently lost someone dear to my heart in a car accident and I know very well that the pain never really goes away. 

When I got home I read some of the letters to get to know Bless better and also know about this Nate character. After reading what seemed to be 20 Letters, I knew exactly how to approach Bless and make her feel better.

That Saturday, almost 2 weeks after the housewarming party, I went to bless’ house holding two blueberry cheesecake ice creams that were topped with chocolate shavings and m&m’s. I rang the door bell with my elbow, which was harder than I had imagined it would be, Bless opened the door and said “ What do you want?” looking down the whole time. I waited until she looked up and said “Hi, I’m Gabriel,  we met at the housewarming party, I live 3 houses away. I brought ice-cream,  thought we could talk”