She paced around the living room, and imagined their first meeting, worrying about how he would react. But it was too late to back out now; she had to go through with it.
The following day, Margaret was busy preparing for Colin’s arrival. She meticulously cleaned the house, ensuring every corner was spotless.
She both decorated the kitchen with fresh flowers and set the table with her best dishes. The aroma of a delicious dinner filled the house as she cooked Colin’s favorite meals, ready to warm up and serve when he arrived.
Everything was ready for the romantic evening. Margaret’s excitement and nerves grew. She was just about to sit down and relax for a moment when her phone rang. Seeing it was her colleague, Alice, she answered quickly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Margaret, hi. I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I have a very urgent request,” Alice said, her voice sounding strained.
“I’m listening, Alice. Did something happen at the funeral? Maybe I can help?” Margaret asked, remembering that Alice was supposed to be at a funeral that day. She had requested a day off from work for it.
“I feel so awkward asking this, but my car is stuck nearby,” Alice explained, sounding embarrassed.
“Of course, I’ll help. I’ll be there in ten minutes, don’t worry!” Margaret responded without hesitation.
Margaret wanted to support Alice, understanding that if Alice had called her, it wasn’t just about the car. Most likely, she was struggling to cope with her husband Nathan’s death. So she quickly grabbed her keys and headed out the door.
Margaret drove, and thought about Alice and how hard it must be to deal with such a loss. She hoped that helping Alice would provide some comfort.
Though she was nervous about meeting Colin, she felt a strong sense of responsibility to be there for her friend in need.
When Margaret was at the scene, shefound Alice standing beside her car, looking helpless and distressed. Without wasting any time, she got to work. She attached Alice’s car to hers with a tow rope and quickly pulled it out of the ditch.
The task was surprisingly not difficult, almost as if Alice could have done it herself. Margaret brushed off her hands and turned to Alice.
“All set,” Margaret said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
“Thank you so much, Margaret,” Alice replied, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
As they stood by the side of the road, Alice’s composure crumbled. She broke down in tears, unable to hold back the flood of emotions any longer. Margaret stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting hug.
“It’s just so hard,” Alice sobbed. “Ever since Nathan d_ied, everything feels impossible. I thought I could handle today, but I can’t.”
Margaret’s heart ached for her friend. She knew how much Alice loved Nathan and how difficult the past few months had been for her. “I’m so sorry, Alice. It’s okay to feel like this. You don’t have to go through it alone.”
Alice wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. “Would you walk with me back to his grave? I can’t bring myself to go alone. The guests have left, and I can’t bear the thought of going home to an empty house without him.”
“Of course,” Margaret said softly. “I’ll be right beside you.”
They walked together through the cemetery, the air heavy with the scent of flowers and freshly turned earth.
Margaret supported Alice by the arm, offering silent comfort as they moved between the rows of headstones.
As Margaret gazed around the cemetery, her eyes were drawn to a photo on one of the nearby graves. Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the face. It was a picture of Colin.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She walked closer, her heart pounding, and compared it to the photo she had seen in Colin’s online profile. It was the same person.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
At that point, fear and confusion washed over Margaret. What could this mean? Who had she been talking to all this time? She felt a chill run down her spine.
Margaret carefully took out her phone and sent a message to Colin, her hands shaking. “Hi, is everything still on for today?”
Margaret didn’t know what to think. She was scared, her mind racing with questions and doubts, but she knew she needed to find out the truth.
There had to be some explanation. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, or perhaps there was another explanation she hadn’t considered.
She turned to Alice, giving her one last supportive squeeze. “Alice, I need to go. But please call me if you need anything. I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Margaret,” Alice said, her voice weak but grateful. “You’ve done so much for me today.”
Margaret said her goodbyes and drove home, her thoughts a jumble of fear. As she navigated the familiar streets, she tried to calm herself. She needed to be composed and ready for Colin’s arrival, no matter what happened.
Everything was ready: a set table, flowers, and a delicious dinner. Waiting by the door, her mind whirled with thoughts and emotions, especially the mysterious photograph at the cemetery.
As she waited by the door, peeking out the window, her mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
She couldn’t stop thinking about what awaited her, who was coming to her home, and the mysterious photograph she had seen at the cemetery.
Finally, she saw a car park near the house. Her heart raced as she watched a man step out, holding a bouquet of flowers.
But when Margaret saw his face, she was in sh ock. He didn’t look like the man in the photos at all. Panic set in, and Margaret quickly hid behind the door, unsure of what to do.
Colin approached the door and rang the bell. Margaret remained silent, her mind racing with fear and confusion. The doorbell rang again, but she didn’t move. Finally, Colin spoke, his voice gentle and apologetic.
“I know you’re inside, Margaret. I can understand why you’re not answering. I don’t look like the man in the photos. I’m really sorry.”
Margaret’s heart pounded in her chest. She hesitated, but then she heard Colin placing the bouquet down at the doorstep. “I’ll leave these here and go,” he said. “I’m sorry for the deception. I just wanted to meet you so badly.”
As he turned to leave, Margaret couldn’t take it anymore. She opened the door, her voice trembling. “Wait.”
Colin stopped and turned around, his eyes meeting hers. He looked relieved to see her. “Margaret, I’m so sorry. I can explain.”
They stepped inside, the tension between them palpable. Margaret took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Why did you lie about your appearance, Colin?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Colin looked down, his expression filled with regret.
“It’s hard for me to meet someone. I have almost no experience in relationships. I was very anxious and created a profile with a photo of a handsome man because I thought no one would be interested in the real me. I wanted to tell you many times, but I was afraid you would stop talking to me.”
Margaret listened, her heart softening. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what you look like, Colin. What matters is that you didn’t lie to me about who you are inside.”
Margaret gasped, feeling a pang of guilt. “I lied too. I said I was thirty, but I’m actually older… I’m forty-five. I was worried you wouldn’t want to meet someone so old…”
Colin stepped closer, looking into her eyes. “Age doesn’t matter to me, Margaret. You’re beautiful, and I’ve enjoyed every conversation we’ve had. I’m just glad we’re finally meeting in person.”
A smile spread across Margaret’s face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? We both pretended to be someone else because we were afraid.”
Colin chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Yes, it is. But maybe that’s a sign that we have more in common than we thought.”
Margaret felt a sense of relief wash over her. “Would you like to come inside? We can have dinner and start over, without any lies this time.”
Colin smiled warmly. “I’d like that very much.”
They walked inside together, leaving the flowers on the doorstep as a reminder of their fresh start. As they sat down for dinner, they talked and laughed, sharing their true selves with each other.
The fear and uncertainty began to fade, replaced by a growing connection and understanding. They both knew that building a family couldn’t be based on lies, and this honest beginning was the first step toward something real and lasting.
The post Woman Invites Man She Met Online to Her Home, Then Finds His Photo at a Cemetery Before His Arrival appeared first on Timeless Life.
With the rising cost of living, saving on household expenses has become more important than ever. One major area where Kenyan households can cut costs is on cooking gas (LPG). Whether you use a 6kg or 13kg gas cylinder, simple adjustments in your daily cooking routine can help your gas last longer and save you money in the long run. Here are practical methods to help extend the life of your cooking gas:
1. Use the Right Cooking Pots
Always use flat-bottomed and well-fitting pots with lids. A flat base ensures maximum contact with the burner, making heating more efficient. Lids trap heat and allow food to cook faster, reducing the amount of gas needed. Avoid using small pots on large burners, as a lot of heat escapes around the sides, wasting gas…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
2. Prepare Everything Before Turning on the Gas
Many people waste gas by turning it on before preparing ingredients. Chop your onions, tomatoes, vegetables, and meat before lighting the burner. Once everything is ready, the cooking process will be faster, and your gas will last longer.
3. Use Low Flame When Necessarily
Not all meals require high flame. Cooking on medium or low heat is often sufficient and reduces gas consumption significantly. High flames tend to waste gas because much of the heat escapes without being absorbed by the pot.
4. Clean the Burner Regularly
A clogged or dirty burner produces a yellow flame, which is less efficient and uses more gas. A clean burner gives a blue flame, which is hotter and more energy-efficient. Clean your burner holes with a pin or a wire brush to maintain proper flame quality.
Even a few seconds of wasted gas adds up over time. Always ensure you turn off the gas immediately after cooking. Also, make it a habit to check the regulator and hose for leaks, which can slowly waste gas without you noticing.
6. Cook More Than One Meal at a Time
If possible, cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one session. Reheating meals uses less gas than cooking from scratch each time. This method also saves time and reduces your overall daily gas usage.
7. Use a Pressure Cooker
Pressure cookers trap steam and cook food much faster than regular pots, especially when preparing beans, maize, or meat. This drastically reduces the amount of gas needed for such meals.
8. Use Wind Guards or Shields
Cooking in a windy place can lead to heat loss, requiring more gas to maintain the cooking temperature. Using wind shields around the stove or cooking in a sheltered area helps conserve heat and saves gas.
Conclusion
By adopting these simple yet effective strategies, you can extend the lifespan of your cooking gas and reduce household expenses. Efficient cooking habits, proper kitchen equipment, and routine maintenance of your gas stove all contribute to better gas economy. Make these steps part of your daily routine and enjoy longer-lasting gas and more savings.
Life at sea brings all manner of incredible experiences and challenges, with the proximity to the beauty and power of mother nature offering a view of the world that too few of us ever see.
Among the treasures the sea has to offer in the area are crabs — which happen to be fisherman Alan’s specialization.
But when he and Malory were out at sea with their boat one day, they saw something very different from the crab they were used to — and it was a sight they would never forget. It all began when they came upon a large iceberg, shaped like a mushroom…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Alan and Malory soon spotted something unusual on top of the mushroom-shaped iceberg. At first, they assumed it was a seal, Malory said. They decided to take a closer look — and that’s when they discovered that it wasn’t a seal at all, but rather a creature with four legs that does not normally reside at sea: It was a polar fox.
It’s unclear how the fox ended up there and for how long the poor creature had been stuck there in the middle of nowhere and awaiting a cruel fate. But what’s certain is that the couple knew immediately that they had to do something to help.
According to the girl’s mother, April, her 12-year-old daughter, who was not identified due to her age, will probably spend few years in a juvenile facility before being released home.
The young girl reportedly stabbed her 9-year-old brother, Zendar, to death. It continues to remain unclear why the girl stabbed her brother to death.
The 12-year-old girl will probably won’t spend a day in jail under a unique state law that spares children under the age of 13 of being charged as adults, prosecutors said.
The Mirror reports that an unfortunate incident occurred earlier this year. During an interview with investigators, the mother said that she was in their family home and came rushing into her son’s room to screams, where she came upon blood seeping through the boy’s bedsheets…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
He had been trying to sleep when his sister came downstairs and attacked him. Her daughter reportedly cried and screamed: “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened. It’s some demonic s**t.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
The mother told investigators that she believes medication may have played a role in the tragedy. Prosecutors also said that her mother has not made public what that medication was. If she is found guilty or stipulates, she will likely be sentenced to time in a juvenile facility. Her sentence according to officials will be focused on rehabilitation.
A fundraising page organized by family friends described April’s daughter as a well behaved child with no prior history of behavioral problems.
Told the girl’s mother at the time, ‘I’m very supportive of her and love her very much. They were good kids… they were raised as God fearing children and never had behavioral issues until she was put back on a medication she was off for over a year,’ she said.
She did not specify what type of medication the girl was taking but said, ‘no it wasn’t psych meds’.