The Overcoat

When I head over to my daughter, Hannah Westfield's place for dinner during Christmas Eve, I specifically wear a wool coat for the occasion. Unexpectedly, when Hannah sees me, she pushes me out of the front door instantly. "Mom, why must you buy the same coat as my mother-in-law did? Don't you know that she hates it when others imitate her? Hurry up and take off the coat before she sees you!" Meanwhile, my son-in-law, Thomas Clifford, digs out an old coat and puts it on me. "Mom, there are many relatives visiting our house today. Please spare my mom her pride and don't steal her thunder, okay?" Seeing how sincere Thomas looks, I decide to yield. But as soon as I take my seat, Giselle Johnson chortles in amusement as she stares at the old coat I'm wearing. "Oh Fiona, if you like my clothes, you could've just said so, and I'd give it to you. It's bad if you just steal my old coat from me and wear it, you know? Besides, don't you know that those who imitate always do a bad job at it?" Furious, I'm about to up and leave when Giselle grabs the coat and blocks my way. "I placed two money envelopes in the coat pockets a few days ago. There are 20 thousand dollars in there. Why are they gone after you've worn it? "I don't mind you wearing my coat behind my back, but you must return the money to me right now!"

My mom always said, "I've never played favorites. "You and your brother mean exactly the same to me." She said it so often I almost believed it. Growing up, anything my brother had, I had too. If he got a new pair of sneakers, so did I. If he signed up for coding classes, I was enrolled in the same ones. Even this year, when we came home for the holidays, my mom smiled as she handed each of us a neatly-packaged designer shopping bag. "I picked these out for you two at the store. One for each of you, exactly the same. "These outdoor brands are expensive, you know. A single jacket costs thousands. I'd never buy one for myself, but I don't mind splurging on you two." I took the jacket. It was well-cut, structured, and looked high-quality. A small warmth stirred in my chest. However, when I tried it on, the collar felt oddly irritating against my skin. Frowning, I pulled back the lining to check. There was a ring of yellowed sweat stains around the label, and tiny flakes of dandruff were caught in the Velcro. A faint musty smell lingered on the cloth, mixed with the stale odor of cheap tobacco. It was sour and impossible to ignore.

The Williamson family sets out on a road trip to reach their family for the holidays. Along the ride they run into bad weather, multiple accidents and unnerving strangers. When a near accident forces them off the road, they meet a man who befriends the father. He tells him of this motel not too far up the street, in case they need a place to wait out the approaching snow storm. When the family is forced to find a place to stay, that motel seems to be their only option. Everything seems normal at first, but the longer the stay the more sinister things become until the family is forced to fight for their lives.. will they make it through the holidays? Will the survive this snow storm?

The story unravelled a young man in his early twenties. From work he boarded a bus enroute from Surulere to Aguda. As the journey progressed, he was in thoughts regarding how he would take care of his domestic needs that weekend. He reached home only to be met with the deteriorating situation at home. That weekend, there was a heavy downpour and as a result, his foam was drenched in the rain due to a leaking roof. Justice, nonetheless, went to call his best friend and neighbour to help him wriggle out the water but was directed to the chairman's house where his friend was and that was where he met the woman who changed his life. Being an architect by profession, he designed a tunnel that caught the attention of his boss. In a bid to seek for contract overseas, his boss was granted approval to the contract through this young man’s design. Afterwards, he travelled to the USA to finalize the deal. Upon his return, his boss stumbled on something which revealed the young man’s paternity. Eventually, he turned out to be the son of his rich boss. His mother's whereabouts were revealed. The father, mother and son wedded on the same day. He lived on to enjoy his life afterwards after realizing his covert identity.

Before the world turned to ice, her family came knocking, ready to negotiate the terms of our marriage. They wanted more than commitment. They wanted three million dollars and three luxury homes. My parents shut them down immediately. It was ridiculous. Then, the storm hit. The blizzard sealed us inside the house. With numbers on their side and no mercy to spare, her family took control of everything. The food. The heat. Our chances. When we fought back, we lost. They dragged us outside and left us in the snow. We froze. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back to before it all began.

“I don't need a partner. I only need someone who knows their place.” Darren Wijaya is a young billionaire who commands power and fear in the business world. Behind his seemingly perfect life, however, lie secrets that must never be exposed to the public. One night, he meets Ezra, a university student on the verge of dropping out due to financial hardship. When every door seems closed, Darren presents him with an offer that is impossible to ignore. A luxurious apartment. A monthly allowance worth more than enough to live comfortably. Every expense taken care of. In return, Ezra only has to belong to him. Not as a boyfriend. Not as a partner. Just someone who will always be there whenever Darren needs him. For the sake of his future, Ezra accepts the arrangement. He promises himself that he will never let emotions become involved in a relationship that is, from the very beginning, nothing more than a transaction. But as time passes and he gets to know Darren better, Ezra begins to see the man behind the power—a loneliness hidden beneath authority, scars concealed behind a cold exterior, and small acts of kindness that slowly make his heart waver. The problem is that, to Darren, Ezra is nothing more than a kept companion. At least, that's what he keeps telling himself. Until the day he realizes that losing Ezra is far more terrifying than losing every cent of his fortune.