SMS

The room goes black, images flicker on the screen.

I’ve been waiting for a single message for three hours now. Feels like my life depends on it.

A man is led by soldiers across a bridge. A noose is placed over his neck, he is made to walk to the edge of a plank.

Maybe he’s just lost interest. Perhaps I’ve been too in-his-face. Could it be he’s met someone?

The soldier steps off the plank, it see-saws and the man goes down.

Deep breath. He could be busy. There could be a problem with the network, he may not have got the message.

The rope is frayed and the man splashes into the river below. He swims, dodges bullets aimed at him, reaches shore, runs to his home where his wife comes out and rushes towards him.

The phone vibrates. I do not pick it up immediately. I smile, my heart sings. I savour the moment.

As the man reaches his wife and is about to embrace her, his neck cracks backwards. He is hanging at the end of the rope. Dead.

U always hav my attention, reads the message. Big wet kiss n tight hug…