2003

NOBODY could believe the shocking news; not even Greg. It spreaded like a wild fire in the harmattan season. He died too soon, it was way more than a premature death and sadly enough, it was a careless death.

Spencer had finished consuming half a bottle of alcohol and started walking about when he saw Liz packing.

"What are you doing?" He became sober immediately.

"Exactly what you're seeing" she spat out, eyes drenched and red from crying.

"No Liz please don't leave me" he pleaded.

"Don't touch me!" She warned him.

Spencer stood, watching her for another two minutes as she kept on packing her things. "You can't leave me Liz"

"I can't live with you. Not in this house, not anymore" she said.

"No Liz no" he paused; "I need someone" and with that, she paused, looking at him and said "then go find someone"

"Liz are you leaving me?"

"I can't stay here anymore! I can't stay thinking about how my son died, everyday! I can't stay remembering his memory and his little chuckles! I can't stay hearing his running..." She broke down in tears and Spencer ran to hold her. This was his only chance to let her stay, he prayed, hoping that it worked.

"I'm sorry Spencer" she left his warm grip, cleaned her tears and continued packing.

"He's also my son Liz. You can't imagine how I'd be without you or him around. Come on Liz, you should understand our pain. Don't make things worst by packing" he prayed that worked too.

"I'm also gonna be alone Spencer. Without you... Or Josh. Live with it, I'll live with mine" she concluded.

"Why?! Why are you doing this to us Liz?!" He staggered her.

"I can't live with the person that... Killed my son" she cried.

Spencer looked lost, he felt betrayed, he felt lost.

"You really think this is my fault?!"

"Let's not go over this again, you bought the swing for God's sake"

"And so?! What if you were the one that bought the swing Liz?!" He roared.

"I wouldn't be careless enough to buy such a gift! I told you times without number that I didn't like that swing and you wouldn't listen!" She took her bag and headed for the parlour.

"Don't you dare leave here thinking I killed our son!" He restricted her.

"Oh well you killed him!" She said.

"How would I have known the swing would lead to his death?"

"If you had listened to me and stopped telling me how I nagged too much, I guess he'd still be alive" she said.

"Liz, I can't believe you're saying this" Spencer held her hands, keeping his eyes on hers.

Liz didn't return the gaze, she quietly shoved his hand away from hers and left.