Iâm in an airport bar in Houston, Texas, and Iâm falling apart. Three hours ago, I was in a rented apartment, researching a story I was working on. But now, suddenly, unthinkably, Iâm on my way to South Africa, and I need a drink, urgently.
When the barman hands me my glass of Shiraz I fumble and drop it. It shatters on the floor and everyone looks at me. âIâm sorry,â I say as he mops up the red stain. âMy son just died.â
Back behind the bar, he pours me another glass and slides it over to me with a look of such gentleness I feel the tears welling up. âHeâs called Raphael,â I tell him, unable to use the past tense. âHeâs 25. Heâs a wildlife biologist and environmental activist. Heâs on a physical training course, preparing for a documentary heâs making about poaching. He was running in a group. Then he collapsed. And they couldnât save him.â
At 25, Raphael was in better shape than heâd ever been. How could someone so bursting with health, charisma, joy and plans just stop existing?
FINDING THE WORDS
Writing is how I make sense of things, so on the 27-hour journey to Johannesburg, I began a long letter to Raph, which at some point morphed into a letter from Raph to those heâd left behind, and three years later would morph again, into a book. To this day, I still donât know which of us wrote what. It was as if the two of us, in some dimension of consciousness, had merged.
On the stopover in Dubai, I wrote a mass mail to break the news to those who loved him, with the terrible request that they pass it on. After that, words failed me.
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S OWN ã® August 12, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S OWN ã® August 12, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?