One Year Later.......

"Why are you dressed like a giant bunny?" Andrew asked walking into the living room where I was drawing designs on my iPad.

"I designed a small one as a Halloween costume for a kid in the movie and I thought why not make a super giant one for me. It's so soft and comfortable."I said smiling at him.

"You're weird."He commented with a laugh taking a seat opposite me.

"Ah but you love me."I said poking out my tongue at him.

"Sad but true."He said and I chucked a pillow at him which he ducked.

One whole year of living with Nina and Andrew and it had done wonders to my life. I had recovered my old self before I lost my heart and I was happy again. Not completely happy but I didn't cry everytime I saw a diapers commercial remembering how I lost my baby or loose my mind whenever I heard the name David. My life was stable now and I owed it all to my friends and family. They had been with me through the whole difficult journey and I would be forever indebted to them.

"I'm going to miss you."Andrew commented.

"Me too but it's time to go back home and besides you're work here is done so I can't stay here on my own."I reasoned.

Nina and Andrew were done with all their projects in South Africa. We had moved around a lot and had lived in all major cities for short periods of time shooting the movies but now we were back in Cape Town. I would have loved to stay longer but they were moving to Botswana for more work and it was time for be to be going back home. A while year away from my family and friends was too long. I missed all of them dearly and I couldn't wait to see them.

"Drew get your ass back in here. These dough won't knead itself." Nina yelled from the kitchen and Drew groaned running his hand over his face.

"Don't look at me, you're the one who married her."I chuckled.

"And I've never regretted it and I never will."He replied getting up to leave.

Andrew and Nina were goals when it came to the perfect couple. Sure they had their bad moments but they worked through them. I liked how Andrew understood that Nina was more of a dominant than a submissive and he loved her anyway. He didn't follow her around like a puppy because he still had his own voice but he allowed her to take lead in most things. Not many men would be able to do that and that's why I admired their relationship. I got jealous sometimes seeing how halo they were and I would never get to have that but for the most part I was happy for them.

"Do you guys need any help?" I shouted when I heard them argue over what dessert to make.

"No we're fine."They replied simultaneously.

I picked myself up my bunny costume and all and went to my bedroom to finish packing. Nina was throwing a going party for all of us and had invited the few friends we had all made. I was not in a partying mood but I wanted to see all my friends one last time before I went back to Kenya.

I had already packed up most of my things but I still needed to get all my shoes sorted out. I was not leaving anything behind. I had a lot of stuff that is purchased and gathered over the year but I was only taking a single suitcase and a carry on with me on the flight home, the rest would be shipped to me later by Nina. I had already donated a lot of stuff and the rest that I couldn't part with which was still a lot was coming with me.

I grabbed a huge box and started packing in my shoes. I had gotten quite the obsession with boots over the last year, seeing as I always wore one around my neck but it was a healthy obsession or so I told myself.

I still dealt with the loss of my baby and the love of my life each day but it had gotten easier as the months went by. Instead of crying myself to sleep on his death anniversary I had recreated our first date only he wasn't there with me. I had taken myself out to a nice dinner and had the same things we had in that date on the rooftop. Later I had stained in a hotel room for a whole weekend watching movies cuddled up in his hoodie. I had missed him the whole time but it had been better than crying and moping around.

After I was done with my shoes I went and packed up the bathroom and decided to take a soak in the tub so I could relax and pass time before it was time to entertain. I know I should have been helping Nina and Andrew in the kitchen but Nina was too bossy while cooking and only Andrew could handle her. She reminded of Monica from friends, she wasn't a neat freak like her but when it came to cooking it's like a little demon was unleashed and you everything had to be done a certain way and I could not deal with that.

I didn't want to get my hair wet so I out on a shower cap. Nina had spent a whole hour in the morning taming my unruly curls and I didn't want to get a mouthful from her for ruining her master piece. Making sure that the water was the right temperature and covered in bubbles I shed off my cloths and slid in holding back a moan of pleasure from how good the water felt. I closed my eyes and leaned back on the tub letting the lavender scent wash all over me calming me.

I was definitely going to miss South Africa. I had been skeptical at first about coming here but it had helped me so much I was actually sad to leave even though I knew I couldn't stay there forever. I don't know how I'd react to going back home where all the terrible memories were but I trusted myself to have healed enough to move on from all the negatives. I knew I would have my bad days but they would be outweighed by all the good and I would focus on those.

After thirty minutes of soaking in the tub, the water started to cool so I decided to get out. I dried my body and applied cocoa butter lotion to keep my skin moisturized. My outfit for the evening was high higher waisted ankara shorts that ended mid thigh, and black bralette. I used a head wrap with the same design as my hair with a big bow on the side. Loop earrings and my necklace were my only accessories. Simple make up of eyeshadow, eyeliner and some lip gloss and I was done. Since we weren't leaving the house I put on a pair of brown strappy sandals to complete the look. Feeling confident enough I left my bedroom and walked into the living room. There wasn't any deco but there was a long table filled with drinks and snacks since people were just here to eat, drink, have fun and say goodbye.

"Where's Nina?" I asked Andrew who was setting down a couple of chocolate cupcakes.

"Taking a shower. Don't touch."He reprimanded slapping my hand away from the cupcakes.

I pouted at him but he just rolled his eyes at me, I had probably overused that look so it stopped having any effect on him.The door bell rang before I could conjure any more faces to blackmail him with.

"The guests are here early... Nope I'm just late."Andrew corrected himself checking his watch.

"Go freshen up I'll get the door."I offered.

"Thank you."He replied and before he could see what I was up to I swiped a cupcake from the tray and rushed to the door."Hey not cool Anisha."He scolded walking towards the bathroom.

I cleared the cupcake in two huge bites beating my personal record of three bites. Looks like I was improving.

I opened the door to reveal Joel, Carol, Susan and Dan.

"Guys hi."I greeted cheerfully hugging all of them one at a time.

We had grown super close over the last year of working together. Dan and Susan were dating, Carol was married and Joel was still looking for Mrs right.

"I can't believe this is the last day I'm going to see you."Joel whined pulling me for another hug.

"You're talking as if I'm dying. We have Skype now and airplanes so we can still see each other."I commented playfully.

"It's not the same."He whined.

"Guys come one in, it's going to be a girl while with this one. Help yourself to the food and drinks." I invited the rest in while still standing in Joel's embrace.

Anyone seeing us holding each other like that would have thought we were dating but we had established pretty early that we would never date. Mine was personal since I would never date again after David, one loss being enough and Joel understood that and respected my wishes. We were now very good friends and colleagues.

Before we could get back in we saw Simon and Natalia walking up the driveway hand in hand.

"Why are they here?"Joel whispered voice laden with distaste.

"I invited Simon, he's my friend and you know he never leaves her behind."I replied.

Joel just rolled his eyes at me and left me standing at the door by myself before the couple could get to the door. He hated Natalia for some reason unbeknownst to me and always tended to avoid her. I didn't like her that much either but I wouldn't go as far as to say that I hated her.

"Welcome, thank you for coming, Simon, Natalia."I greeted them shaking their hands.

I never hugged Simon in her presence after glare I received the first few times she witnessed me hugging him.

"Thank you. We brought wine." He said holding up a bottle.

"You didn't have to but thank you." I replied taking it from him.

I stepped aside to let them in before closing the door behind me. I put the bottle with the rest of them and propped myself on the sofa next to Joel who was happy to pull me into his arms. I was really going to miss him of all people. He had made my work days fun and worth looking forward to. We had toured around the country together on our days off and it had been the most fun.

"Looking forward to going back to Kenya, Anisha?" Natalia asked as she sat by Joel's side.

I knew she wasn't asking to be nice, she was asking because she couldn't wait to get me out of her boyfriend's way sooner.

"Yeah of course it's been a year so I definitely miss my family, friends and my company. South Africa has been welcoming , some more than others but it's finally time to go back home."I replied.

"Nice subtle jab."Joel whispered in my ear having noticed the my slight attack on Simon.

I chuckled and grabbed the glass of water in front of me and took a sip on attempt to play it cool. Before it could become awkward Nina and Andrew joined us.

"Finally our hosts are done trying to make babies, the party can finally start."Joel yelled next to me making most of us snicker at his childishness.

"Yeah and its still my house so I can kick you out."Nina replied with a glare making Joel hide behind me.

The door bell rang diffusing the situation and Andrew went to get the door while Nina served herself a drink.

Thirty minutes later the house was filed with all our friends and colleagues eating, drinking and talking. I mingled around making sure to say goodbye to everyone I had grown close to.

"No goodbye hug for me?"Simon asked when he found me by myself at the desert table.

"I like how my skin looks without bruises so no."I replied and he laughed.

"Come on she's not that bad."Simon defended Natalia like he always did.

Guess love truly was blind. He was ignorant to all her shortcomings even if everyone else around him pointed them out. Maybe he loved her despite all that.

"I am going to miss you, make sure to call when you're in Kenya next time. We can hang out as long as she's not there."I replied.

"It's a deal."He replied and I gave him a warm smile before walking away before Natalia spotted us talking together.

The rest of the night was amazing and I loved each minute of it. My favorite part were the goodbye speeches and watching the videos taking by the camera crew of all of us while we weren't watching over the course of the year. There were some sweet moments, the funny times and of course the emotional ones that left everyone in tears.

By the time everyone left later that night I was fighting off a stuffy nose from all the crying. Promises of keeping in touch had been made and some would be kept while some would just reside in our memories forever. South Africa and all the beautiful souls I had met would always live in my heart for they had helped more than they would ever know.

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Love@Lyssah.