VOICES UNHEARD

 Chapter One!

Danny returned home late that evening due to the event that had taken place in the company where he worked. He had informed his wife on time prior to that day. He was scheduled to return home at about 9pm, but he was lucky to be about two hours early.

      He knocked on the door for a while without getting any response. So, he proceeded to unlocking the door with the spare key he had. 

He checked his wristwatch as he sauntered in with his suitcase firmly held on his right hand. 

       "Babe. Babe I'm home." He said, locking the door behind him and heading up to the room. On getting to the room, he noticed that there was no one in there. He dropped his suitcase, removed his tie, heaving a sigh of relief.

       "Babe" he called out again, proceeding to the bathroom. "Come on darling, I know I'm home late but..." His voice trailed off when he opened the door and realized that his wife was actually not in the bathroom as he presumed, his heart beat raced.

 He took out his phone from his pocket and dialed his wife's number. It rang for a couple of time without any response from her. 

He got scared, wondering what could have happened that she wasn't home yet. It was past seven already and her office closed by 5pm, he thought.

       He ran back downstairs to the garage, because he didn't check if her car was there when he arrived earlier. He had assumed that she was home and hadn't bothered taking note.

His wife's car was there, packed exactly where it had been that morning like it was never touched. That was so strange to him that he had to force himself to put his emotions under control, so as not to get scared.

       He dialed her number again, but still, there was no response. He sent a text that he was home and she should call back as soon as she could. He waited for a while, desperately expecting something at all.

He was restless, pacing all over the compound. He waited for over half an hour, before making any move to call any of her relatives.

His heart jumped into his stomach when he heard the gate opening. He ran towards the gate and was so happy when he saw his wife walking in. He hugged her passionately for a while, without letting go.

       "Honey, you're choking me." Anna said, trying to loosen his grips. "What's up? She asked quite confused and staring at him like it was so abnormal.

       "I'm sorry. I uhm." He stammered briefly. "I thought I had lost you." He said, almost amidst tears.

Anna stared at him still confused. "Honey, I'm sorry I should have told you that I had some stuff to pick up for a client. It came in late, so I had to wait." She paused for a while, staring at him. "Are you alright? 

He nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah, I am." He said, then cleared his throat. "I'm alright."

        "Okay, if you say so then." She said, walking past him and heading into the house. "Uhm, I got some takeaways on my way home, so we don't have to worry about dinner." She added.

Danny was about to complain about not wanting takeaways, but the thought of what happened earlier changed his mind, so he kept mute and followed behind.