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Double Downfall

Penulis: Gail
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-20 19:13:48

Chapter 7 – Tshepo’s Downfall

Tshepo slumped in his apartment chair, staring at the crumpled betting slips scattered across the floor. The numbers bled together in his mind, each loss heavier than the last. The thrill that once accompanied every gamble had vanished, replaced by a gnawing anxiety he could neither ignore nor escape. The debts were mounting, and the calls from creditors had grown more urgent, more threatening.

His phone buzzed again—another text from Gail, her concern palpable even through the brief message: “Tshepo, please answer me. We’re worried about you.” He ignored it, knowing that any reply would require honesty he wasn’t ready to face. Tshepo had always been proud, the sibling everyone turned to for advice and support. Now, he was the one hiding, ashamed and desperate.

The house, once a sanctuary for the family, had become a metaphorical prison. Memories of childhood games with his siblings, of laughter echoing through the garden, now tormented him. The con
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  • When the house fell silent    Storms at the gate

    Chapter 26 – Storms at the Gate Sandra’s Breaking Glass The morning sun poured into the kitchen, but warmth didn’t reach Sandra. She had her textbooks open, coffee steaming beside her, but nothing would stay in her head. Her mother’s voice drifted from the living room. “Sandra, hurry, you’ll be late for class.” “I’m not going today,” Sandra snapped, louder than she meant. The whole house froze. Abby appeared at the door, holding his youngest son. “Excuse me?” Sandra’s chest heaved. “I said I’m not going. I’m tired, Baba. I can’t keep doing this. The sleepless nights, the pressure, the—” Her voice cracked. “I can’t breathe anymore.” Abby’s face hardened. “You think life cares about your feelings? You think medicine is easy for anyone? This is what sacrifices look like.” The cup slipped from Sandra’s hand, shattering against the tiles. The sound cut through the house like thunder. “I’m not your trophy!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face. “I’m your daughter,

  • When the house fell silent    A price to pay

    Chapter 25 – The Price of Secrets The Warning at the Gate It was just after dawn when a loud banging echoed from the front gate. Gail, still in her nursing uniform after a long night shift, rushed to the window. Her heart skipped—three men stood outside, their voices loud, their movements sharp. “Tshepo!” one shouted. “We know you’re in there! Don’t make us come in!” Gail hurried to the door, her hands trembling. “Who are you?” she demanded through the bars. One of the men stepped closer, his face marked with scars. “We’re here for what your brother owes. He thought he could play games, but games have consequences.” “I don’t have anything to do with this,” Gail said firmly. “Leave my house.” The man smirked. “Oh, we’ll leave. But next time, maybe your family won’t be so safe.” They turned and walked away, but Gail knew it wasn’t over. Just then, Tshepo stumbled out of his room, rubbing his eyes. “What’s all the noise?” Gail spun on him. “Noise? They came here for y

  • When the house fell silent    Choices and Shadows

    Chapter 24 – Shadows and Choices Morning Shadows The morning light leaked through the curtains in streaks, but it did nothing to lift the heaviness inside the house. Sandra was the first awake. She sat at the kitchen counter, pouring hot water over teabags, staring into the steam as though it could give her answers. Abby stumbled in soon after, still in his robe. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair stuck up at odd angles. “You’re up early,” he mumbled. “I never really slept,” Sandra replied, stirring her tea. “Dreams won’t leave me alone.” Abby frowned. “Dreams? About what?” She hesitated, then looked him in the eye. “About failing. About you being disappointed.” The words lodged in his chest. He opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Tshepo barged in, tossing his jacket onto the chair. He smelled faintly of smoke and cheap alcohol. Abby’s brows knitted. “You didn’t come home last night.” Tshepo shrugged. “Didn’t feel like it.” Sandra frowned. “Where

  • When the house fell silent    Fires Beneath

    Chapter 23: Fires Beneath the Surface Morning Unsettling The following morning began with a strange heaviness. The house was quiet—too quiet. It wasn’t the kind of peace that brought rest, but the silence of people carrying burdens too heavy to voice. Abby sat at the kitchen table, staring into his cup of coffee. The steam rose lazily, but his mind raced. Sandra’s words from the previous day—“Sometimes letting go is the only way to really help”—echoed like a bell he couldn’t unhear. Sandra walked in, already dressed for her early lectures at the university. Her backpack looked heavier than her frame, weighed down not just by books, but by expectation. She paused when she saw him. “Good morning, Dad,” she said softly, cautious as though testing the waters. Abby looked up, his face lined with exhaustion. “Morning, Sandra. You… you going to class?” “Yes. Anatomy today. We’re dissecting cadavers.” She said it without hesitation, but there was a flicker in her eyes—a mixture

  • When the house fell silent    Shadows

    Chapter 22: Rebuilding and Shadows The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the living room. The house was still buzzing with the tension and tentative reconciliation from the previous night. Morning Tension Abby entered the kitchen, coffee mug in hand, already planning his day at the mine. He sighed, noticing Gail scribbling in her notebook at the corner table. “Morning, Gail,” he muttered. “You’re up early again?” “I like to write before everything else,” she replied without looking up. “It helps me think.” Abby shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Think, write… when will you focus on real responsibilities? Medicine, nursing—whatever it is now.” Gail’s pen paused. “I am focusing, Abby. Just… in ways you don’t see yet.” Abby grunted, unaware that the tension he was imposing on everyone else would soon ripple even further. standards. “I’ve been managing on my own. I know you didn’t know, but I wanted you to see that I can h

  • When the house fell silent    Confrontation

    Chapter 21: The Confrontation The air was thick with anticipation, like the calm before a storm. The family had been avoiding each other for weeks, each one lost in their own struggles, hiding truths they could no longer hold. But tonight, Mother had called a meeting—one she knew they couldn’t ignore. Gathering in the Living Room The family trickled into the living room, a mix of hesitation and resentment hanging in the air. Gail arrived first, notebook clutched tightly against her chest. She could feel the tension radiating off her siblings. Abby walked in next, suit slightly rumpled, eyes darting to the floor. He avoided his wife’s gaze, knowing it would ignite another argument before the meeting even started. Aubrey, always poised, stepped in last. His three children trailed behind him, whispering to each other nervously. Even with wealth and comfort, Aubrey’s family was far from perfect, and the subtle tension in his home had traveled with him. Mathapelo entered, alrea

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