Chapter 4 - Mandla

# Chapter 4: Mandla

When I pull into the driveway, the sky is dark and I'm exhausted to my fucking bones. It was a long-ass day fighting a fire we ultimately lost. A shack fire over in Mhluzi, in the informal settlement side of town. We got everyone out, but the fire took everything — one minute a family had a home and all they owned, the next they were standing on the pavement in their pyjamas watching it burn. The homeowners were devastated, and they let us know in no uncertain terms that we failed them.

These are the days when I question my life choices. The days where I feel like my efforts might be better served elsewhere. Our priority is to first save the people and animals. Then contain and eliminate the fire before it can spread. But nights like tonight, it doesn't feel like enough.

As I cut the ignition, a notification lights up my phone.

In between call-outs today, I kept an eye on the security camera attached to Naledi's front door. As I suspected, the bastard had the audacity to not only drive by her place on a handful of occasions, but he also came right up to the door.