“..Time hadn’t been kind to Anna-Maria van Vuuren. She knew that as she looked at herself in the hall mirror downstairs.
Her roots were showing, her dress had seen better days, and her heels were scuffed. Leaning forward towards the mirror she pressed a hand to a cheekbone. The skin around her eyes was thin and stretched. Her face was pinched and pale. Her eyelids were permanently puffy from all the crying.
It had taken a lot for her to come. They’d argued again last night. She’d begged him not to send her. She’d make a plan, she always made a plan, didn’t she? There were other options.
But he said he’d drag her there himself if she didn’t go. He’d gone to all the trouble to find the address, and she was going – she was fucking well going!He was snarling as usual as he thrust a twenty rand note into her hand in the morning.
‘Just make sure its done, ‘ he said, and slammed the door in her face.
She used to get complimented on this dress. Even he thought she looked pretty in it On how it suited her height and build.
The trim of roses down the center was faded, but still enough to make her look taller, and slimmer, like she once was.
Anna-Maria turned around and noticed in the mirror the hem of the dress had come undone. She swore under her breath, looking up to the staircase. It had probably caught on something as she stumbled off at the bus stop.
The back of the dress dragged behind her.
Like the tail of a dog between its legs.”
t
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