MUTALE Mutale had insisted on handling every detail of the surprise herself. “This time, Shem, you’re not lifting a finger,” she said, eyes sparkling with the thrill of a plan. “I’m picking the location, and I’m paying for it.” Shem chuckled. “You don’t have to do that. I don’t want to stress you financially or […]

The Zoom call had ended, but the prayers did not. Like a relay race in the spirit, they had agreed to take turns through the night, each person carrying the baton for an hour before handing it over. It was a vigil without walls, stretching across cities and time zones, bound together by the name […]

LONDON – DAVID’S FLAT The late afternoon sun slanted through David’s floor-to-ceiling windows, throwing gold across the polished wood floors. Ham sank into the deep leather couch, stretching his long legs. David handed him a tumbler of ginger beer, Ham’s new resolve of staying off alcohol holding firm. “See?” David said with a grin, dropping […]

HAM Ham didn’t know where he was when he woke up the next morning. His head pounded like a drumline in his skull. The sunlight was too bright. He blinked hard, and saw David, standing by the window, arms folded. “Where’s Mutale?” Ham croaked. “I can’t remember waking up without her in the last few […]

MUTALE The next morning, Mutale woke up in a room that didn’t feel like hers. The ceiling was higher, the paint a shade warmer. The wardrobe was bigger, sleeker. She turned her head and saw the broad wall of muscle beside her. Then she remembered. After what happened in the living room last night, she […]

DAVID David had planned to keep his distance from Ham today. The match was only yesterday, and this was supposed to be a rest day for him. Besides, David had his own schedule, the agents’ and managers’ conference was in full swing, but although surrounded by industry people, he couldn’t shake the restlessness gnawing at […]

HAM Steam filled the small bathroom, clinging to the tiles, the mirror, his skin. Ham stood under the showerhead, water beating down on his head and shoulders. His hands pressed against the wall, forehead leaning into the spray. “I hate myself,” he whispered, his voice breaking against the rush of water. “I hate my life.” […]

HAM Ham stayed in the shower until the steam blurred the tiles and the roar of the water drowned out everything else, the noise in his head, the hum of the dressing room beyond. When he finally stepped out, he dressed without hurry: grey joggers, a soft hoodie, gym bag slung over one shoulder. His […]

HAM & MUTALE – LONDON  Ham adjusted the strap of his duffel bag as he stepped into the hallway. The flat was quiet, but not empty. He hadn’t seen Mutale since yesterday, when he left the living room and stepped out to clear his head, but he knew she hadn’t gone out. Her presence still […]

MUTALE    For the first time in days, Mutale tried to let her hair down. She was seated in the passenger seat of Evan’s silver Audi, the windows slightly down, London’s evening breeze dancing through her braids. They had just passed through the bustling lights of Piccadilly, and now were coasting along South Bank. She […]