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An empty suitcase full of memories.
Once upon a time, in a quaint little town nestled between rolling hills and whispering forests, there lived an old woman named Zungisa . Zungisa was known far and wide for her kindness, her wisdom, and her peculiar penchant for collecting memories.
Every day, Zungisa would embark on walks through the town, her faithful companion, a shaggy golden retriever named Jonas trotting faithfully by her side.

Along the way, she would pause to chat with neighbors, tend to the flowers in her garden, and occasionally, pick up forgotten trinkets that caught her eye. One crisp autumn morning, while strolling through the market square, Zungisa stumbled upon a peculiar sight: a dusty, weather-beaten suitcase abandoned near a vendor's stall. Curiosity piqued, she gingerly opened the suitcase to find it empty, save for a faint scent of nostalgia that hung in the air.

Intrigued, Zungisa decided to take the suitcase home with her, convinced that there was more to it than met the eye. With gentle hands, she polished its worn leather exterior and lovingly lined its interior with soft fabric. Then, she placed it in the corner of her cozy living room, where it soon became a conversation piece among her visitors.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet the mystery of the empty suitcase remained unsolved. But Zungisa was not one to be deterred. With each passing day, she filled the suitcase with her own memories – photographs of loved ones, pressed flowers from her garden, and handwritten letters from days gone by.
As the years went by, Zungisa collection of memories grew, each item imbued with the warmth of her heart and the richness of her experiences. And though the suitcase remained empty to the naked eye, to Zungisa, it was overflowing with the treasures of a life well-lived.

One day, as Zungisa sat by the fireplace, reminiscing over the contents of her beloved suitcase, she realized the true meaning behind its emptiness. It was not a vessel to be filled with material possessions, but rather a symbol of the intangible moments that shape our lives – the laughter of friends, the beauty of nature, the love of family.
#once
© Thabiso Dube