NO GOOD DEED

By Patrick Karambizi

Jean Paul Ndahiro has always kept an eye on his widowed neighbor, Celia Peréz. At the onset of the pandemic. JP starts shopping and cooking for Celia, whose daughter Mary is neglectful at best. One evening JP rouses Celia from unconsciousness; not recognizing JP, she panics and calls the cops. By the time they arrive Celia has come to her senses, but JP expresses concern about her health to the officers. Mary, furious when Social Services contacts her about her mother, threateningly tells JP off. JP promises Celia that he is there for her, no matter what. The next morning Celia stumbles to JP’s door in immense pain. Before he can get her an ambulance he sees that she has died.