CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

She woke up and looked out her window. She couldn't remember the last time she had opened it, let alone stepped near it. "Things have to got to change." it was a new month, she'd be a new self. She stood up, and almost immediately sat down because of the dizziness. Dehydration, malnutrition, emotional fatigue, so many reasons to stay in the bed and go back to sleep, but even more reasons to get a decent meal and maybe regain all her lost weight. She'd go for breakfast, maybe even make it. Maybe she should have brunch, milk with something heavy like katogo. She hadn't eaten in a while, she had literally disappeared off the face of social media. She wondered where her phone was, and if he had called her at all. That would be a hustle for another day. For now, she'd focus on getting back the last few weeks of the holiday she had wasted and of the last days of the school term she'd missed.

"Izzy? Can I come in?"

"Yes mummy. Come in." Izzy watched her mum enter her room, close the door quietly and move softly towards her bed. She noticed that even the household slippers had changed. They weren't slippers anymore, but comfy slip-ons that barely made a sound when you walked. Even her demeanour had changed, she wasn't walking in with her chin up or being authoritative anymore. She had two tubs of ice cream in her hands, both full of their favourite flavours. What are you up to, mum? Izzy wondered while her mum made the bed and made herself comfortable on it. She realised she would have to change and wash the sheets and blanket.

"How have you been?"

"What do you mean?"

"Becca called me yesterday but one. She wanted to talk to you but your phone was off, and you were asleep when I tried to check on you."

Julia ate her ice cream as if she was talking about the weather or the news. Izzy watched her. She looked at her ice cream tub, the cookies and cream tempting her. She needed something sugary to boost her energy levels, but the tub in front screamed of blackmail. She decided to eat it anyway.

"What did she say?"

Julia paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth, "Pardon?"

Izzy ate another spoonful, looked up and asked again, "What did Becca say? Was she inquiring about the reason Ian left? I'm sure that's where he went."

"Yes, she was. She said he had been there for a while, and he was depressed. I told her the little I heard from your argument with him the last time he was here. She called again this morning to say he had left. He left before they woke up, they found him gone. Do you have any idea as where he might be?"

Izzy paused for a moment. Her mother's words rang clear in her brain…...your argument the last time he was here.....any idea where he might be...he left before they woke up....

"I think he went to Justin's place. I don't know why he went there. But I'm sure that's where he went after he left their place. I can call up Mekie and ask her. But I have no idea where my phone is."

Rahm stood outside the room, listening. He doubted his method would've worked as well as his wife's had, but he was glad nonetheless. He hoped Izzy was right. He was dressing up to file a police report when Rebecca called Julia. If it wasn't for the child, they never would've known where he was. Even Rebecca was surprised they didn't know, but he wasn't. He knew why the boy had hidden his location from them. He was that age once too, he knew how the brain operated at that age. Now all he needed was to make sure Ian came back home soon. He'd rather have him mopping around than not know his whereabouts at all. He'd wait for Izzy to call Mekalia. He'd know what to do then, but for now he'd have a snack.

"You ready?"

"I still don't get why I have to meet your parents. Why can't I just meet her here outside? It would literally be the same thing, won't it?"

"She won't get out unless she hears your voice. If she hears mine she'll just lock the door instead of opening it."

"Alright, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can get back home. Let's go."

He rang the doorbell and they waited outside the gate. Justin held his breath when he heard slippers on the other side. He braced himself. I wonder what I should address her as. Ma'am or Mummy Ian? No that's not right. Mrs. Shema. Yeah that sounds about right. I should probably just stick to ma'am.

They were both shocked to see Isabelle open the gate instead of her mum. She didn't utter a word to either of them but just opened and walked away, an unspoken "come in". They stood there, stunned.

"I thought you said she doesn't get out of bed at all."

"She hadn't." He put his hands in his pockets and frowned at the ground.

"There is no way this ends well."

They walked slowly, scared of what they're going to find inside.

A stone stuck in one of his crocs made him stop to take it out. It had irritated him enough for him to stand and take off the darn rubber shoe. As he was shaking the shoe, he her heard her voice. She was laughing with her friends and they were coming his way. He quickly put his shoe back on, went to the extreme side of the road and started texting nobody in particular, hoping they would just pass him by without noticing him. He watched her go, he wanted to tap her shoulder, start up a conversation and maybe even make her laugh. But he couldn't, he just wasn't strong enough. He hoped she'd understand someday, he never meant to hurt her. But he still didn't have the guts to approach her. Seeing her almost everyday he got out of the house was hard enough, having to talk to her was just denergising. he'd approach her another day.

She saw him, shaking his crocs. He always gets stones stuck in his shoe. Some things will never change. When he looked up, she avoided him and acted like she hadn't seen him. Then she saw him avoid her out of her peripheral vision. Hurt, she kept walking.

Out of sight, out of mind.