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The house stood in the center of the family estate, a silent witness to the secrets, laughter, and pain that had been passed through its walls for generations. The smell of old wood and faded perfume lingered in the air, the kind of scent that made you think of long-forgotten memories and regrets that never quite fade away.Every year, without fail, Grandma Nandi would gather the family for a reunion. No one could refuse. It was tradition. And though the reunion was meant to bring everyone closer, it only ever seemed to pull them farther apart.
The cousins would arrive one by one—some excited to be under the same roof, others walking in with their heads held high, pretending to be indifferent. But there was always a tension in the air, like electricity before a storm. Grandma Nandi was the lightning rod, holding them together with an iron grip, her presence enough to send waves of unease through the family.
Tonight, as the cousins gathered in the dining room, the old house hummed with anticipation. The food was laid out, the laughter was forced, and the weight of something unsaid loomed over the gathering.
Thuli had already made her usual entrance with a dramatic sigh, flipping her hair and rolling her eyes at every glance her way. Kabelo, as usual, walked in with a smile so bright it nearly blinded everyone, the perfect grandson, but the hint of something hollow in his eyes couldn’t be ignored. Mandla slid in late, offering his smooth words and charm like a blanket over the gathering, but beneath his surface, there were hidden motives only some could guess. Sibongile, ever the peacemaker, sat quietly, watching, waiting, unsure whether to mediate or let the storm roll through.
It was supposed to be just another family dinner, but tonight, Grandma Nandi was quiet. Too quiet.
There was something different in her eyes—something dangerous. As the night wore on, the cracks in the facade began to show. Old grudges bubbled to the surface, whispers turned to accusations, and laughter twisted into something darker.
Then, someone spoke a name. A name no one had spoken in years.
And with that one word, the calm that had settled over the family cracked wide open. The reunion was no longer a celebration. It was a countdown.
Someone would leave the table tonight. But who would it be, and what secret would they take with them?
The answers lay within the walls of this house, and the family’s old wounds were about to bleed open once again.
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