I turned towards the church and noticed Jarred standing on the steps.

     “Hey, hey, hey! You should be in bed, mister,” I rushed to meet Jarred as he reached the first step.

     “I feel much better than a week ago. Great turn out,” he said.

     I helped him gently down the steps and walked with him through the market. Everyone was happy to see him. Glad he’d recuperated so well. Everyone, with the exception of Pastor du Preez. Jarred extended a hand, but du Preez ignored it. “I’m here only because Emily asked me to come,” du Preez said, turning to Emily beside him.

     “His koeksisters are the best. Try them,” Emily said, handing Jarred one.

     “It’s okay, I’ll pay,” I said, reaching for my wallet. I opened it and took out some small change—                                                         

—and that’s when it happened.

     The ring Daniel gave me fell out of the change pocket.

     I picked it up as quickly as possible.

     “Let me see that.” Jarred said, grabbing it out of my hand. He stared at it, read the inside, then glared at me and held it up. “Where did you get this?”

      My throat locked.

     “Where did you get this ring, Christopher?”

     I took his hand and led him into the church. Inside he whipped about and asked again. “Where did you get this?”

     “I need you to sit down, Jarred. Please sit down.”

     “No. You sit down! How the fuck did you get this ring?”

     “Jarred, I need you to calm down. Please. You might think I’m crazy after I tell you, but I swear it’s the truth.”

     “I’m listening.”

     “Daniel gave it to me.”

     He slammed his fist on the side table. “Daniel? Daniel is dead, Christopher! He died on the 1st September six fucking years ago at ten-fifteen in the morning and was buried in the grounds of the new church three days later and the whole town came to his funeral.” His voice exploded and rendered me speechless. “He is dead and I know because I buried him with that ring!”

     I approached him with consternation written across my face and tried to hug him, kiss his sweet mouth and hold onto him tightly but he pushed me away.

     “Jarred, please. I didn’t know. Before I came to this town, I didn’t know that you or Mary or Daniel even existed. Daniel appeared out of nowhere and offered to help me with the renovations. He helped me with the skirting and plumbing and redecorating. He told me you had been married, that your wife abandoned you and Mary. He told me she killed every little bit of love you had in your soul. I’m not crazy. It’s the gospel truth. Please, you have to believe me.”

     “You expect me to believe that Daniel’s ghost is floating around?”

     “How else would I get the ring?”

     “Do you know how crazy you sound?”

     I nodded. “I have no idea what it all means. I didn’t know he was your boyfriend. He never said. No one ever mentioned his name. I thought he was my neighbor and then yesterday at the cemetery I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. His name on that headstone, the man you once loved. I was scared then and I’m scared now. But it’s the truth, Jarred.”

     Jarred backed away. “I have to get out of here. Away from this place, far away.”

     “Please, Jarred. Please believe me.” I watched helplessly as he headed for the back door of the church.

     “I need to process this. I don’t know who you are, Christopher. All I know is that since you’ve come to town, nothing has been the same.”

     Too shocked to say anything, I watched him leave and sank to the cold concrete floor and wept.