When Raymond, a lawyer with an eccentric flair, stumbled upon a breathtaking woman named Layla, he was instantly smitten. Her beauty left him spellbound, igniting an overwhelming desire to be with her more than anything.
He pulled out all the stops to win her heart. From lavish dinners to thoughtful gifts, he spared no expense. Every morning, he would wait outside her house, ready to drive her to work. His efforts paid off, and she finally relented, agreeing to give him a chance, leading to the start of their relationship.
Everything took a disastrous turn when they had been dating for about a year. One evening, during a seemingly normal date, Raymond dropped a shocking revelation: he was already married with children. This news shattered Layla, leaving her furious. Raymond attempted to reassure her, saying, "It's okay, I'm in the middle of a divorce," but Layla was far from convinced. In a desperate bid to regain her trust, Raymond even presented her with what he claimed were divorce papers. However, upon further investigation, Layla discovered that those papers were nothing more than a clever ruse. With a firm resolve, Layla ended her relationship with Raymond for good. She took some time to gather herself and soon met a guy named Scott. They hit it off and began dating, with Scott proving to be a genuinely nice person. A few months later, Scott proposed, and they got engaged. When Raymond found out about their engagement, he was furious. Instead of accepting reality, he spiralled into obsession, determined to win his Layla back.
He reached out to her incessantly, showering her with letters, flowers, and gifts. In a desperate bid, he even turned to her friends, pleading with them to pass along his messages. Unfortunately for him, none of these efforts bore fruit, leading him to resort to a more sinister approach. He began to threaten her, hurling rocks at her window in an attempt to instill fear, claiming he would send people to harm her. However, his intimidation only pushed Layla further away.
Layla was resolute; she had no intention of returning to Raymond, and her commitment to Scott was still strong. This pushed Raymond into a dark place. In a fit of jealousy, he plotted to ensure that if he couldn't possess Layla, he would make her undesirable to everyone else by hiring someone to mar her beauty.
On a seemingly typical morning, Layla was having breakfast when the doorbell interrupted her meal. She went to see who it was and found two men at the door, claiming to have a delivery for her. Suddenly, one of them hurled a jar of liquid at her face, and they bolted away as she screamed in agony, feeling the burning sensation of the liquid. An ambulance was called and quickly rushed her to the hospital, where she endured two and a half months of surgeries, leaving her with permanent blindness in one eye and partial blindness in the other.
Following her release from the hospital, she sat down for an extensive conversation with Scott, leading them to the difficult decision to end their engagement. They both felt that Raymond was too perilous and posed a significant threat and feared he might attempt to harm Scott next.
After four long months, the police finally managed to find the two men Raymond had enlisted to assault Layla. One of the suspects started singing like a canary, leading both men to confess to their involvement in the crime. They both claimed that Raymond was the mastermind behind the entire operation.
Raymond found himself in court, ultimately receiving a sentence of at least thirteen years behind bars. However, he faced a significant dilemma: his deep love for Layla remained unwavering, and he was resolute in his decision to fight for her love.
While serving his time, he found solace in writing letters to her, sharing his feelings of longing and his unwavering affection. Yet poor Layla was still facing her own battles. Though her attackers were behind bars, she was grappling with near blindness, financial difficulties, and the loneliness of living on her own. She began responding to him, and when Raymond discovered her financial struggles, he started sending her money. While in prison, he had taken on paralegal work, and he sent her whatever small amounts he earned. She relied on that support, which kept their communication steady. Over the course of twelve years, they maintained their connection, and eventually, the day came when Raymond completed his sentence and was released from prison.
After his release, Raymond reconnected with Layla, and he found himself in the spotlight once more. His past actions had made him a local figure of notoriety, particularly for hiring men to attack and blind his ex-girlfriend. This infamy led to an invitation for a live television interview. During the show, in a surprising twist, Raymond turned to the camera and proposed to Layla, capturing the attention of viewers far and wide. To everyone's astonishment, Layla accepted his proposal. Six months later, she married the man who had caused her so much pain, and they embarked on a new chapter together, seemingly living happily ever after.
More than a decade passed, during which Raymond had been unfaithful to Layla with several women, as one might expect. One of these women eventually came forward, revealing that she and Raymond had been involved for four years. However, she claimed that he had recently begun to harass and threaten her with violence, reminiscent of his behaviour towards Layla. This led her to file charges against him, and the case made its way to court. Surprisingly, Layla chose to stand by Raymond and testified as a character witness, asserting that he would never hurt a fly. Thanks to Layla, Raymond was able to evade most of the charges but was convicted of second-degree harassment. The couple continued their marriage, but tragically, about five years after the trial, Layla passed away.
In a bizarre turn of events, many years later, when Raymond had reached the age of ninety-one, he fell victim to his much younger caretaker, who cunningly swindled him out of his 8 million rands worth of fortune just before he took his last breath.
"Now that I knew fear, I also knew it was not permanent. As powerful as it was, its grip on me would loosen. It would pass."
With bated breath, the nation awaited the election of the new president and his proposed plans for the country over the next five years. Change was on the horizon, creating a sense of excitement and uncertainty among the people.
During the recent national elections, political parties spared no expense, pouring record amounts of money into ensuring that their campaigns resonated with and persuaded as many potential voters as they could. Mantoa and a number of other independent candidates had to hustle for financial support and appeal for donations to fund their election campaigns. Smaller political parties also struggled to keep up with the financial backing of larger political parties.
Despite Mantoa's unwavering dedication and hard work, she understood the tough reality of facing seasoned political rivals and the slim chances of winning the national elections. Nevertheless, she fearlessly continued to advocate for the realisation of the "Freedom Charter" during her campaigns, echoing the dreams of those who fought and died for economic freedom for her people.
The country's recent elections wrapped up without any political party winning a decisive majority to lead the country for the next five years. The enduring dissatisfaction of the public with the existing government was evident in the voting, signalling a major change in the political scene. Now, it's a whole new ball game.
In light of the governing party's inability to secure a clear majority, the only alternative to retaining governance was to enter into a coalition with other political parties or independent candidates in order to reach the minimum requirement of 51 percent of the seats in parliament necessary to govern the republic. Having governed the country for the past two decades, this was uncharted territory and a humbling experience for a political party that has governed the country since the dawn of democracy.
It turned out to be a mammoth and an impossible task for the governing party to find a coalition partner, given their bad reputation for corruption and financial mismanagement. It would have been morally wrong for progressive parties to get into a coalition with the outgoing government, as many believed that it was a cesspool of corruption, and it drew away from its original mandate to reverse the injustices of the past. An official from one of the progressive parties likened forming an alliance with the outgoing government to embracing a saguaro cactus and trusting not to get pricked.
Extensive bargaining took place among progressive political parties as they aimed to wrap up coalition negotiations, swear in lawmakers, and elect the president within a maximum of 14 days after the election outcome was announced.
As if guided by the spirit of the forefathers of the struggle for liberation, progressive political parties endeavoured to unite and establish a coalition. With sufficient numbers to constitute a coalition government, they managed to reach a consensus after a week of negotiations. The negotiations were largely harmonious, as the progressive parties' policies shared similar objectives: rectifying past injustices and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens.
Mantoa emerged with a parliamentary seat, surpassing her own hopes and expectations as a newcomer, independent, female candidate in a society fixated on patriarchy and wary of change. She was part of the coalition discussion and subsequent agreements that led to the establishment of the progressive coalition government. She was determined and ready to serve in the coalition government and to improve the lives of the peasants and common people who voted for her.
The rejoicing of progressive parties for finally reaching consensus on how they were going to join hands and govern the country as a coalition was brief when the moment came to address the crucial issue, the next item on the agenda: "Who will be the coalition's nominee for president of the country?". Three parties in the newly established coalition had a higher but equal number of seats, making it challenging for any party to claim rightfulness for the presidential position. All coalition member parties were aware that having their party leader elected and serving as the commander in chief for the next five years would be beneficial for them in the constituency during the subsequent elections in five years. They had to finalise their decision on the presidential nominee before the first parliament session in just two days. An adjournment was proposed considering the time, as it was already late in the evening. It was agreed that the meeting would resume the next day, the eve of the first sitting of parliament.
The adjournment afforded each participating party the time to deliberate on how they were going to tackle the next and final item on the agenda when the meeting resumes.
It was the next day when the public broadcaster announced that they had been invited by the progressive coalition to broadcast live the day's proceedings. This move was to afford the nation transparency at the crucial meeting where a supremely important decision has to be made on the national presidential incumbency. This was a way for the progressive parties to show the nation how transparent the coalition government was intending to be: as the old saying goes, "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
That day held significance, not only for those who participated in the recent national elections but for all citizens of the republic. People were glued to their TVs and radios as if the national soccer team were participating in a Soccer World Cup final. But this day held far greater importance. It marked a crucial juncture in the struggle for the economic emancipation of the previously disadvantaged.
While the past few days have been sombre, that day was particularly significant. It was as if the country was on the verge of a monumental shift, poised to embrace a new beginning. Some called it the calm before the storm.
A deserving recipient of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award. Discover Amanda Lovelace's captivating poetry collection, divided into four parts: The Princess, The Damsel, The Queen, and You. Unveil the author's journey through life in the first three sections, with the final part offering a heartfelt message to the reader. Dive into this poignant book, delving into themes of love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, and inspiration.
The seven tales included in this anthology are all set in the vibrant early 1960s, when colonial control gave way to independence. In addition to the beautiful young Sierra Leonean who alarms her community with her drastic action, they also depict the complex lives of a diverse population, including a leper who survives another day of beggary, an expatriate couple facing a headless staircase and their own existential crises, a villager who has fallen on hard times and laments how he feeds his family, a British colonial officer and a traditional chief who fear a diminished status as they confront a dramatic change in their chiefdom, and so on.
"This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface."
Amplifying phenomenal women from across the African continent and its global diaspora as they speak to empowering, experimental, and inspirational experiences of sex, sexuality, and relationships.
From a small city-state in the early 1600s, the Kingdom of Dahomey grew to be a significant force in West Africa two centuries later. The expansionist plans and dualism where every male role has a female counterpart of its rulers were well-known. This led to the growth of women as royal guards, elephant hunters, and, ultimately, warrioresses, who had a significant impact on society. Up to the end of the nineteenth century, Dahomey's kings relied on the agoji, a group of fierce and fearless warrioresses, to protect their country. French invasion in the area was resisted by King Bhanzin and his elite agoji soldiers, but they were eventually defeated by the superior weaponry of the adversary. Despite Dahomey's conversion to a French colony, the women defenders' legacy lives on in the country's history.
This book delves into how environmentalist and developmentalist ideas affect the indigenous population and their socio-economic status in the DRC. It specifically looks at the Batwa pygmies, who were displaced from Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Eastern DRC and now reside in the mountainous region. The book also examines how they currently obtain natural resources like land, forests, and water and maps out the conflicts that arise.
"The pioneers in my family went to Rhodesia just before the Boer War in 1896, travelling on one of the first trains to Bulawayo. My father and uncle left home in 1928 going up to Northern Rhodesia to work on the copper mines. My grandfather opened up new gold mines in Penelonga and built the house at Manchester Gardens in the Eastern Highlands of Rhodesia. He ranched, mined, gambled and raised a family of five boys and a girl in an Africa that was very wild and primitive. My great grandfather was born in England, travelled in the Wild West of America before ending up in Cape Town where his daughter married my grandfather and travelled north. My mother arrived in Africa from England in 1936 under the auspices of the 1820 settlers club and travelled up to Northern Rhodesia where she met my father. My friends and I went to boarding school in Lusaka and many of us went on to achieve great things in life. The mining towns of the Copperbelt and the many old characters that lived in Rhodesia form a large part of the backdrop of my life. My wife, on an impulse, accepted a job with the copper mines in Zambia in 1968 as a young girl. She knew many of the characters in these stories and knows how likely the unlikely tales are. Out of all this comes a wealth of reality and myth that cannot possibly go untold."
This bestselling relationship self-help book investigates and reveals how powerfully addictive unhealthy relationships can be - but also gives a very specific programme for recovery from the disease of loving too much, a problem that plagues women everywhere.
The Land Is Ours describes the journey of South Africa's first black lawyers during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Despite aggressive colonial expansion and land dispossession, these men believed in a constitutional system that respected individual rights and freedoms, and they used the law to fight against injustice.
Echeruo has good ear. Regardless of the tale they tell, his stories are filled with heart, wit, and beauty, and his characters are expertly drawn.
Bra Zakes illustrates the outcomes of crossing boundaries: elements that are viewed as unclean and detrimental to the harmony and sanctity of a group, society, and culture are examined; forbidden topics, irrational beliefs, traditions, and ethical principles are scrutinized and occasionally parodied.
Botho Pere must leave his wife Nthatisi and their two kids in Lesotho after landing a job as a miner in South Africa. Following nearly three years without hearing from Botho, the industrious Nthatisi is left to look after their family. Ultimately, though, the fragile thread that has been holding them together could come undone by their secrets. Some of Botho's troubles are of his own making, while others are rumored to be caused by witchcraft, especially with the mysterious Mokoto always lurking on the periphery. Then one day, Botho decides to take control of his own fate.
There are eight traditional African tales in this anthology. These enduring tales of bravery, wisdom, wit, and heroic deeds are adorned with exquisite hand-sewn collage artwork embellished with African beads.
A poetry book that will simultaneously make you laugh and cry. Gabrielle G. portrays various love stories in her debut collection of poems, from the first spark to the final heartbreak, and she puts the agony we've all experienced into words.
Born White Zulu Bred narrates the experiences of a white youngster and his brother brought up in poverty in a Zulu community in rural South Africa during the apartheid period. Creina and Neil Alcock, their exceptional parents, abandoned a life of privilege to live and serve the impoverished people of Msinga, making their welfare their primary concern.
Don't expect a great day; create one.
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Keep it Clean, Respectful and Constructive.
Zdravo, htio sam znati vašu cijenu.
Cheating Koutney, she cheated to her demies. Lessons to be learned. If only she remained loyal to her husband.
Hola, quería saber tu precio..
Rayray is a savage.
I enjoyed Love In The Skies. ... I can relate :(
Mzizi wa Kenya
Is it fear, love or stockholm syndrome