Shancia Speaks: Short Stories Superb!

The scariest concept in this world is friendship and the most expensive commodity is accountability. For too many, funds are insufficient and friendship, unfortunately, comes at a cost. Discernment, therefore is what we pray for when we have been trampled so much that we resemble pureed food, and only the love of God can mould us back to being whole. Luckily, He gives this for free. It is crucial not to use this word so loosely, for not many stand to grab this title, one that holds so much weight, the title of "friend." Friendship has become transactional and unbalanced, the expectancy that you must return the favour is a boulder upon this generation. Masks are worn by day, only to be taken off at night to reveal treacherous teeth and piercing eyes. Monitoring spirits that track you like a motion sensor are the new faces of friends. Celebrating your wins has become an intimate, private affair, a deliberate attempt to obscure, for the eyes of the enemy are sown in the faces of...

There was a time when the usual morning text would make Jennifer flutter, giddy as an idiot, with hopes springing higher than the tides, she liquefied. A fool loyal to a taken man, what joy was there in that? Prancing around like she was doing the world a favour, Jennifer went deep undercover. Blindfolded by lust, and chained by the Eastern Caribbean dollar, she forgot who she was and fell prey to the monster. Materialism shadowed her and plunged her underwater, as he kept his foot on the lump of her throat, there was no coming back for air, respiratory system held captive, he knew where to keep her. Submerged. An avid sinner, crooked and adorned, with a taunting spirit of restless nights and the nervousness of an uncharged phone, he was always about to call. Loving a man at night was the champion of causes and won her gold medals but when the sun came out, Jennifer was last place. She could not be seen, not even in his penumbra. A life fitting, only for a bat. Then, one day, the heart...