The Last Elephant Keeper

Part 5

She knew she couldn't unravel the mystery of John at this moment. With a sense of intrigue, she slipped the photograph beside those of Jonathan, and her mothers', opting to carry the mystery with her for now. As she glanced back at the picture left standing on the shelf, a tinge of resentment crept into her heart. These strangers had somehow shared moments with her mother, moments Khumo knew nothing about.

In search of distraction, she retreated to the kitchen, finding some peace in the familiarity of cooking. To her surprise, her mother's pantry was surprisingly well-stocked, bursting with various ingredients. Khumo couldn't help but wonder how her mother had managed to procure all these things in such a desolate area.

She chose the couch as her bed, despite the foul odor that lingered from the chair next to it. She couldn't bear to sleep on her mother's hard bed. She wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, but she also wanted to find some meaning in her mother's life. She wished that the morning would bring her some clue or some sign of life, something that would connect her to her mother and her family.

She rose early the next morning and made some coffee. She discovered some sweet pastries in the pantry and nibbled on them as she gazed at the sun rising over the valley. She felt a mix of emotion as she saw the golden light shine on the grave, and all to familiar knot in her stomach that worked against her taking a look at the sight.

Balancing on a tightrope of emotions, Khumo felt the weight of time pressing upon her. She checked her clock, noticing the faintest signs of perspiration forming on her forehead. The passing train added urgency to her already agitated state. Jonathan was still within reach, and she believed that paying her respects to her mother's grave might fix everything.

As she stepped through the decaying home, her legs felt like jelly, weakening with each hesitant step. The furniture that surrounded her was an eyesore, a reminder of the past's neglect. Rusty and obtrusive, it made a convincing case for tetanus vaccination, but Khumo couldn't be bothered by such mundane concerns now.

Her heart ached with a sense of loss as she moved towards the eastern exit of the home. The surrounding setting seemed picturesque, but all Khumo felt was a surreal detachment from reality. The gravity of her mother's passing held her rooted to the spot, even as the world continued to rush by.

The memories flooded her mind, and she struggled to grasp onto each fleeting moment. She could almost hear her mother's gentle voice, feel the warmth of her embrace, and see the love that had been the foundation of their lives together. The weight of unresolved feelings lingered, regretting the times she had missed, the words she had left unspoken.

Time ticked away, and the passing train's distant sound served as a reminder that she couldn't delay any longer. The opportunity to fix everything with Jonathan was slipping away, but her mother's grave was a beacon, calling her to find closure in her grief and embrace the memories that had shaped her, it felt wrong to just leave out one night there.

Khumo's hands trembled as she reached for the old book on her mother's table, the pages worn and yellowed with time. As she turned the pages, a folded piece of paper slipped out and fell to the floor. Curiosity piqued, she picked it up, unfolding it with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

She read her mother's words, her eyes welled up with tears. She clutched the note tightly to her chest, feeling the weight of her mother's love and pain. Memories of their strained relationship and the unresolved conflicts resurfaced, causing a surge of conflicting emotions.