The Choices Made

Afena hadn't been present for his death. What would have been the point?

"We couldn't have children," she thought looking down at the eyes of the corpse at her feet. "Once that had been determined, I wasn't allowed to see you anymore."

That's what she told herself, at least.

"I could have snuck out. No one would have stopped me even if they'd discovered me, because they all did the same. Everyone got out now and then to be with their men. I was the only one that didn't because I wanted to be like my mother."

She said, "You're not here." Then, she turned around only to stumble onto another body, which almost made her fall.

It was her mother's corpse, and next to it, her father's.

"You're not here," she said, but her legs were still frozen, her heart still raced in her chest, and she felt a void grow just below her nape as a chill climbed down her spine. "What is this? What's happening?"