AMBITION VS THE

BLOODLINE BY PHELISWA MSELE

 “So they now live in Joburg. Those dogs
live such a high life while I can’t even
enjoy my money. I have to pay for the
whole damn family! I’m going to get them.
I’m going to make them pay for every
damn thing and more”

HER

“It’s always them, them, them. Every

damn time! No one ever asks about me
but I have to ask about them. I’m tired of
hearing about their lives, interesting or
not”

JOBURG

“Chrissie! Thando!”
Chrissie: “Yes big sis”
Me: “Don’t mock me! Why is my room like
this? Y’all were wearing my clothes
again?”
Thando: “Yes. We’re sorry. We forgot to
put them back in the wardrobe.”
Me: “Put them back right now!”
The girls pick up the clothes and put them
back in the wardrobe.
Me: “Chrissie fold the clothes properly
before you make me angrier.”
She re-folds the dress she’s holding
angrily.
I leave the room and go to the kitchen.
I find ma Samantha cooking.
Ma Samantha: “You’re back! I’m sure
you’re tired. Go get some rest. Being a
doctor I’m sure it’s tiring.”
Me: “Hey ma. I really am tired but your
daughters made my room a mess. I left
them there fixing it.”
I tell her kissing her cheek.
Ma Samantha: (laughing) “They’re my
daughters now.”
Me: “Yes, they were my sisters when they
were still cute and obeyed me. Anyway
ma I’ll see you later I’m going to see mom
and Kevin. Is Thando going to sleep here
today coz I can go with her?”
Ma Samantha: “Why leave when I’m
preparing supper though? Thando
brought her uniform she’s sleeping here
today.”
Me: “I’ll be here for supper. I won’t stay
long with mom and Kevin.”
Ma Samantha: “Okay sweetheart you can
go, see you later.”
Me: “Bye”
I kiss her cheek once more and go to my
car.
My relationship with ma Samantha has
grown really good and strong. She has
become my second mom over the years. I
live with her, dad and Chrissie. My mom,
ma Nolwandle, lives with Kevin at the
Smith house, well now Khumalo house
because Kevin decided to change his
surname to Khumalo on the ID.
I decided to keep my Mkhize surname
because the Mkhize’s are the ones that
made me the person I am today. Dr.
Mkhize is how I’m known now. This is my
first year working as a doctor and so far
I’m enjoying it.

I arrive at Kevin’s house.

Me: “Mama! Big bro! Dr Mkhize is here!”
I find them at the dining table eating.
Me: “Haibo! It’s not even six yet but you
guys are already eating supper!”
Kevin: “Hello to you too Lihle”
Me: “Hello Kevin hello mom”
I go to mom and kiss her cheek. I try to
kiss Kevin also but he moves away.
Mom laughs at us.
Kevin: “Ma, do you see now what I was
talking about? Lihle seriously needs a
boyfriend coz this thing of hers is not on.
One day she’s gonna kiss me in front of
your future daughter in law.”
Me: “As if you’ll ever get a wife. We
should just accept that we’ll die single in
this family coz wow!”
Kevin: “Especially you. Drought is killing
you bro.”
Mom: “Hayi! Stop it you two. Don’t talk
nonsense. Lihle, make yourself food and
sit down.”
Me: “I promised ma Samantha that I’ll be
back for supper so I can’t eat here today.”
Mom: “Okay sit down at least.”
I sit down.
Kevin: “How’s ma Sam? I haven’t seen her
in two weeks. I can imagine the way she’s
going to shout at me for not visiting. It
seems like the older they grow the more
obsessed with us they become.”
I burst out laughing.
Mom: “You know what, let me go sleep
before I disown you two. Lihle, I’m glad I
saw you baby. Kevin, you’ll wash my plate
okay? Goodnight I love you both.”
Me: “Goodnight.”
She kisses me on the cheek again and
leaves.
Kevin: “So little sis, there’s really no guy
you’re involved with?”
Me: “Nope. Isn’t you said you’ll kill me if I
even think about dating.”
Kevin: (laughing) “Dude, that was eight
years ago!”
Me: (laughing) “Well still. You haven’t
given me permission to date.”
Kevin: “From today onwards you have my
permission to date Dr Mkhize.”
Me: “Thank you so much dad, Dr
Khumalo.”
We laugh at that.
Me: “Well Dr Khumalo I have to go now
before ma Sam shouts.”
Kevin: “And I know her best coz I’m always
the one she shouts at. I actually can’t
believe a kind lady like her can shout so
much.”
Me: “It’s old age” (laughing). “Bye now”
Kevin: “Thanks for coming little sis.”
We hug and I leave in my Renault Clio. I’m
waiting till I work for at least a full year
then I’ll buy my dream car, a G Wagon.

Hey, now that I think about it, I haven’t

told you much about Dr Lihle Mkhize.
Well, I’m still Lihle Mkhize… no erase that.
I’m Doctor Lihle Mkhize. I’m a cardiologist.
I graduated at Wits University. I still live at
home, and I think I’ll move maybe next
year. I’m single…don’t judge. When you’re
studying medicine you have no time for
umjolo (dating). The big part, I’M STILL
AMBITIOUS!! And I have a dream of
owning a hospital one day.

I arrive at home and I find everyone

seated around the table.
Me: “Hey dad”
Dad: “Hey baby girl. Your mother told me
you were at Thabiso’s house. How’s my
son and your mother?”
Me: “They’re good. Kevin’s scared of
visiting because ma Sam will shout at
him.”
Ma Sam: “Of coz I’m going to shout! That
boy hasn’t visited in weeks!”
Dad: “He’s probably busy.”
Ma Sam: “Busy with what? Lihle is a
doctor also but she makes time every
week to visit Nolwandle.”
Chrissie: “Busy with his girlfriend. Big
brother is grown now mom he needs his
space he can’t always be here.”
Dad: “And what do you know about
girlfriends? If I ever find out that you and
Thando are somebody’s girlfriend I’m
going to kill you siyezwana?(do you hear
me?)”
Chrissie: “Yes dad”
Ma Sam: “Let’s eat and stop talking about
killings”
We eat whilst having a small conversation
then I go to bed. The others stay and
watch TV.
My phone rings as I get into bed and I
answer without looking at who’s calling.
Me: “Hello”
“Hello babes!”
Oh it’s Mbali.
Me: “Hi”
Mbali: “What’s up with your zero
energy?”
Me: “I’m tired and sleepy”
Mbali: “Well good thing you’re off
tomorrow. Can you come visit us
tomorrow? We miss you”
Me: “But I wanted to rest tomorrow. And
aren’t Sne and Olwethu going to work?”
Mbali: “No everyone is off tomorrow so
it’s a perfect day to spend together as
friends.”
Me: “Okay what will we be doing?”
Mbali: “Nothing really. We’ll just chill and
catch up as friends.”
Me: “Alright. Should I invite Bee?”
Mbali: “Yes please”
Me: “Okay see you tomorrow then.”
Mbali: “Sure. Goodnight love you.”
Me: “Love you too”
I drop the call and call Bianca. I tell her
about tomorrow’s plans but she says she
can’t make it coz she has a case to prepare
for.

Bianca is a lawyer. A very good one at

that. Snethemba grew up to be a
pharmacist and Olwethu is a social
worker. Being a social worker really suits
Olwethu coz she has a kind heart and
loves kids. Mbalenhle is the only one from
our squad who doesn’t work. She wanted
to be a lawyer but her matric marks were
too low for her to do law. Right now she’s
looking if any restaurant is hiring so she
can be a waitress.
My friends except Mbalenhle all moved to
Joburg after high school and we went to
Wits University together. She only moved
here last year to stay with my friends.

“Sis Lihle!”
I wake up to the sound of Thando calling
me and knocking on my door.
Me: “Yini?(What?)”
I shout from my bed.
Thando: “Mom says come eat breakfast.”
Me: “Okay I’m coming.”
Oh man I really need my own house coz
I’m tire of being woken up so early just to
be told to come eat!
Ma Samantha is that person who wants us
to eat breakfast together as a family no
matter how sleepy or tired you are.

I fix my bed then wear my gown and go to

the bathroom to wash my face. After that
I go to the dining room.
Me: “Good morning”
Dad: “Good morning my daughter.
Bakuvuse usalele yini? (Did they wake
you?)
Me: “Yes”
Dad: (talking to Ma Samantha) “Babe why
didn’t you allow her to sleep? She has to
rest.”
Ma Sam: “You know we eat breakfast as a
family. She’ll go back to bed after eating.”
Me: “No I’m going to spend the day with
my friends.”
Ma Sam: “See? And you say she’s tired.”

I eat breakfast then I wash dishes with

Thando and Chrissie. After that I go take a
shower and wear my short colourful
summer dress and flip flops. I then leave
for my friends’ place.

“She’s here!” Mbali screams as I get off

the car.
They’re seated on the veranda drinking
wine and Olwethu juice.
Me: “Hello to my besties!”
Them: “Hello!”
They stand up and we hug then we all sit
down.
Olwethu: “Awusemuhle Dr Mkhize (You
look beautiful Dr Mkhize)”
Me: “Thank you!”
Sne: “I thought you were coming with Bee
where is she?”
Me: “Oh she said she has a case to
prepare for so she can’t make it.”
Mbali: “Lucky her. That was once my
dream, to be working on cases.”
Olwethu: “Don’t worry you’re going to
find something also.”
Mbali: “I don’t want a job I want a career
just like all of you. Look at you. Lihle is a
doctor, Sne a pharmacist and you a social
worker. You’re all so successful but me,
I’m a nothing.”
Olwethu: “Our routes to success are
different and comparing your success to
ours is just stupid. You don’t have work
now because God is preparing something
bigger for you. Something you wouldn’t
even imagine.”
Mbali: “I hope you’re right.”
Olwethu: “I am right. Now please stop
sulking and be the Mbali we want.”
Me: “Yes please I didn’t get called here to
cry. At least not today.”
We laugh.
Mbali: “Okay ladies! So update me on
your lives please.”
Olwethu: “Now you’re talking! My life is
amazing, especially my love life!”
Me: “Oh no. Can Nico just put a ring on it
already!”
We laugh. Nicolas is Olwethu’s boyfriend.
They’ve been dating since varsity and girl
is in love.
Mbali: “Okay Olwethu since you want to
tell us about your boyfriend no thank you
we’ve heard enough about him. Sne?”
Olwethu: (laughing) “Oh really guys?”
Sne: “Nothing is going on in my life except
for the fact that my brothers are moving
here next week. I actually need your
permission for them to stay here I don’t
know how I forgot to tell you.”
Me: “Which brothers? Abo Nkanyezi?”
Sne: “Yes. I asked mom if they can come
live here so that they can go to the school
you went to Lihle.”
Olwethu: “Why do you want them to go to
that school?”
Sne: “Coz it takes rugby seriously and y’all
know that Nkanyi plays rugby.”
Mbali: “Nkanyi ilo ophaphayo neh? (Is the
forward one)
Me: (laughing) “Yes.”
Mbali: “And your brothers are hot girl I
can just imagine indlela abazodlala ngayo
ngengane zabantu (the way they’re going
to play with people’s children).
Olwethu: “Nkanyi especially.”
Sne: “Yah Nkanyi is the problematic one
but at least he takes his school work
seriously.”
Mbali: “Yeah neh I don’t want him to end
up like me.”
Olwethu: “Okay now it’s Lihle’s turn to
update us on her life.”
Me: “Ugh y’all know I have the most
boring life ever. It’s just work work work
then I go home to my annoying sisters
then on weekends I try to go visit mom
and Kevin.”
Mbali: “Speaking of Kevin…is he single?”
I look at her with eyes wide open.
Sne: “Yeye somebody has a crush.”
Mbali: “I’m too old to have a crush.”
Me: “Well…I think he is single coz
yesterday he didn’t give me any hint of
having a girlfriend.”
Olwethu: “Haibo yazi y’all never told me
ukuthi what happened between him and
Bianca.”
Sne: “Hawu indaba zakudala kanje! (such
old news) They broke up a year ago I
think.”
Me: “Two years ago. Apparently the love
wasn’t there anymore so they called it
quits.”
Sne: “But their relationship was long yoh.
From grade 10!”
Me: “Yeah neh. So Mbali why were you
asking?”
Mbali: “Don’t laugh neh guys but I think I
have feelings for him”
Me: “Whaaaat! Wow girl so you wanna be
my sister in law.”
The others laugh.
Mbali: “I wouldn’t say sister in law coz it’s
just a mini crush which will pass anytime.”
Me: “Okay I hear you. So when did these
feelings develop?”
Mbali: “The time you came here with him.
The guy is just chilled and not judgmental.
When I told him I don’t work he didn’t
look at me in the ‘so what are you doing
with us successful people’ way. He just
treated me like all of you and I loved
that.”
Olwethu: “Ncoh that’s so romantic”
Mbali: “Fuseg Olwethu”
We laugh and we talk about our lives. Sne
and Mbali are drinking wine while
Olwethu and I are drinking juice. It is just a
chilled day and I enjoy spending time with
my friends.

Rrr rrr
That’s my alarm.
I wake up and prepare myself for work.
I’m so happy that I got to spend time with
my friends yesterday. We had so much fun
and we laughed a lot. It was just like old
times.

I first drop off Thando and Chrissie at

school then I head to the hospital.

“Good morning Dr Mkhize”

Says Monica the receptionist at the
hospital.
Me: “Morning Monica how are you?”
Monica: “I’m good doctor. Uhm Dr
Khumalo asked that you come to his office
as soon as you arrive.”
Me: “Do you know why?”
Monica: “No not really.”
Me: “Okay thank you. Have a great day”
I say as I go to Dr Khumalo’s office.
Monica: “You too doctor!”

In Dr Khumalo’s office.
Me: “Good morning Dr Khumalo. I heard
that you asked for me so how may I help
you?”
Kevin: “Really Lihle? Why so formal? Sit
down.”
I sit down on the chair across him.
Me: “So?”
Kevin: “How are you?”
Me: “Kevin I have patients to attend to so
please!”
Kevin: “Okay sorry! Anyway I hear that
yesterday you spent your day with your
friends…how’s Mbali, I mean has she
found a job yet?”
I just stare at him.
Kevin: “I’m talking to you!”
Me: “So, with all the paperwork and the
patients I have to attend to, you call me
here and I come thinking it’s a serious
matter but you ask me about Mbali?!”
Kevin: “I wasn’t even done but you know
what? Leave it. You have been chosen to
go and represent this hospital at a
conference in Cape Town next week.”
Me: “Really? Me?”
Kevin: “Yes you. You are one of our most
hardworking doctors here. It’s only your
first year but you’ve already dealt with
difficult cases and you’ve succeeded.”
Me: “Wow thank you big bro!”
Kevin: “It’s Dr Khumalo”
Me: “O-kay thank you Dr Khumalo.
Anyway about the Mbali issue, call her
and ask her yourself, who knows? Maybe
you’ll impress her. Now, I have to go bye.”
I stand up and walk out leaving Kevin busy
asking what I mean by impressing Mbali.

I’m going to Cape Town! To represent the

hospital! Damn I’m good. Only my first
year but already I’m representing the
hospital. I’m so excited.

I attend to all my patients and do the

paperwork. During lunch, Kevin or should I
say Dr Khumalo comes to ask for Mbali’s
number and I give it to him. So they both
like each other? I have to tell Sne and
Olwethu this.
The week goes by fast and the day for me
to go to the doctor’s conference arrives.
My family and friends are here to see me
off.
Mom: “I’m so proud of you my Dr Mkhize.
You know, this feels like the day you got
the scholarship to study here. I just hope
you don’t run off with a boy again.”
Kevin: “Haa mama! I thought we were
over that. Besides, it’s not like she ran off
with any boy, she ran off with me her
brother.”
Mom: “Yeah whatever Kevin”
Dad: “I’m also proud of you my girl. This
dedication that you have towards your
future is what brought us together and I’m
happy to have found you.”
Kevin: “I’m also a doctor so can somebody
at least pretend to be proud of me?”
Me: “We were proud of you the day you
graduated plus the day you got the
superintendent position so shut up and let
me enjoy my moment.”
Everyone laughs.
Olwethu: “So how long are you going to
be away coz I have news that I want to
share with all of you?”
Mbali/Sne: “What news?”
Me: “I’ll only be gone for two weeks”
Olwethu: “Okay I’ll tell you when you get
back.”
Mbali: “No tell us now”
Olwethu: “No”
Mbali: “Mxm Okay when Lihle gets back
then. Wait…did Nico propose? Where’s
the ring?”
She grabs Olwethu’s hand looking for the
ring.
Olwethu: “Mbali mahn! No Nicolas didn’t
propose.”
Mbali: “Ohho. You’ll tell us in two weeks
time then. But I’m so not interested now.”
We laugh at her.
Mbali: “Serious I was looking forward to
being the maid of honour.”
Kevin: “And I would be walking next to
you as the best man.”
Mbali blushes.
Me: “OKAY now I really have to go.
Goodbye fam”
Thando: “Goodbye sisi.”
Chrissie: “Bye” and she walks inside the
house.
Ma Sam: “Bye baby. Come give me a hug.”
I hug her and mom one more time then I
get in the car with dad. He’s the one
taking me to the airport.

...

The conference in Cape Town is amazing.

I’m learning a lot and I’ve met with the
best doctors from all over South Africa.
Some of which I’ve only seen on TV.

Being away from home actually feels

good. I have space and I am free. I miss
mom and ma Sam’s cooking though but I
don’t miss them…nor my sisters and
brother. Oh man being far from Chrissie
and Kevin is the best! Thando is better coz
she’s quiet and listens to me.

Today’s session is finished and I’m outside

the hotel we’re staying in just admiring
the beauty of Cape Town.
“Beautiful right?”
A voice says behind me. I turn around and
I’m met with a very handsome white guy. I
look at him and damn! The guy is well
built, has beautiful blue eyes and has the
best smile ever.
Guy: “Aaron Smith” he gives me his hand
for a handshake.
Me: “Dr Lihle Mkhize” I say.
Aaron: “Oh we’re including titles I see. Let
me start again, Dr Aaron Smith. It’s a
pleasure to meet you Dr Lishle Mkhize”
I laugh a little.
Aaron: “What? Did I say something
wrong?”
Me: “The way you called my name. Sorry I
like to listen to the way people pronounce
my name coz I want it to be pronounced
exactly the way I want.”
Aaron: ‘Oh I’m sorry. Your name is hard to
pronounce so is it fine if I call you
Princess?”
Me: “You could just call me Dr Mkhize but
Princess is okay too.”
Aaron: “Thank you. So Princess, where are
you from?”
Me: “I’m from Joburg. I’m here
representing my hospital.”
Aaron: “Your hospital?”
Me: “I mean the hospital I work in.”
Aaron: “Okay but you look young to be
representing a hospital already. This
conference is filled with old doctors,
grannies and grandpas so I was surprised
to see someone as young as you. How
long have you been working as a doctor?”
Me: “It’s actually my first year.”
Aaron: “Really? Wow you must be good.”
Me: “Yep I guess I’m good. So where are
you from?”
Aaron: “We’ll talk about me some other
time. Look they’re serving dinner already
let’s go eat.”
We go to the dining hall and Aaron sits
with me and other doctors and we eat in
silence.

AARON

So, I finally have my ticket to entering

Kevin’s life. I’ve done a lot of digging and I
know that that Lihle girl is Kevin’s half
sister. The nigga has done well for himself
huh? A whole superintendent. His house!
Damn! Well it’s my aunt’s house. It’s a
Smith house but that nigga has turned it
into a Khumalo house.
Well, worry no more. I’m here now and I’ll
make sure I get back what belongs to my
family.
I’m sure y’all are wondering why I want to
ruin Kevin’s life. Well let’s see, Kevin grew
up with everything. He went to the best
schools while some of us went to the
worst schools ever. I remember when we
were still kids, 4 years old or so, my father
used to leave me and mom alone for days
and when I asked her where he was, she’d
tell me that he went to visit his nephew.
Every time he left he had goodies with
him that he never bought for me. He died
when I was 7 years old. In my teens, I
asked mom about dad’s nephew that he
always visited and mom told me
everything about how dad’s sister, Angela
left home when he gave birth to a
coloured baby. Apparently my
grandparents were racist. I longed to meet
my cousin until I heard my mom crying
one day whilst talking on the phone with
her sister. I heard everything about how
dad left us no money. He used most of the
money he earned on this aunt of mine and
nephew and supported them because
aunt didn’t have a job. My dad didn’t have
a glamorous job so he didn’t have a will
but before he died he had transferred
more than half of his savings to Angela so
she could take care of Kevin. Mom and I
were left with little money which finished
before I could even go to varsity. My dad
loved his nephew more than his own son
and that’s the reason I hate Kevin.
We had to work hard to get where we
are. I had to hustle on the side in order to
be able to at least have nice clothes and
smell good. If it wasn’t for NSFAS, I would
be a lowlife right now. I’m actually glad I
studied hard. Look now I can charm that
Lihle girl and worm my way into her life
and family.

JOBURG

It’s the day Sne’s twin brothers arrive

from Escourt. They will come with Kwazi
because he has to buy a few things for his
plumbing business MKHIZE PLUMBING
back in Escourt.
Sne told Kwazi that there’s no need for
him to bring them straight to their house.
She’ll fetch them at the Khumalo house
(Kevin’s house).
It’s 17:00 and at the Khumalo house
there’s Nolwandle, Kevin, Thando and
Christina.
Thando: “We’ve been waiting for forever!
When is bhut’ Kwazi arriving?”
Nolwandle: “They’ll arrive anytime from
now on.”
Chrissie: “They? Who else is he coming
with?”
Nolwandle: “Snethemba’s brothers.”
Thando: “Nkanyezi and Nkanyiso?”
Nolwandle: “Yes.”
Chrissie: “You know them Thando?”
Thando: “Yeah. I know them a little bit.
They’re the same age as Ndumi I think.”
Chrissie: “Oh okay. So mom, are they
moving here?”
Nolwandle: “Yes they’re moving here.
They’re going to be staying with
Snethemba. She could also arrive anytime.
Now stop talking and come help me set
the table.”
As the girls help Nolwandle set the table,
two cars arrive.
Thando tries running outside but
Nolwandle stops her.
Thando: “Auntie! I wanna go hug
bhuti(brother).”
Nolwandle: “You’ve got a lot of time to
hug him right now we’re setting the
table.”
Meanwhile
Nkanyiso: “Yoh yoh yoh! This house is fire
bro! The people here must be filthy rich!”
Nkanyezi: “In Escourt it’s hard to find a
house like this.”
Nkanyiso: “Yeah. So sis Sne, are we gonna
live here?”
Sne: “Sawubona Nkanyiso no Nkanyezi(
Hello Nkanyiso and Nkanyezi) We didn’t
arrive together so please greet me!”
Nkanyiso: “Yoh! Sawubona sis Sne. Are we
gonna live here or not?”
Nkanyezi: “Hello my beautiful, amazing,
successful sister.”
Nkanyiso: (laughing) “Waze wambhuqa!
Muhle lona? (You’re lying to her! She’s
beautiful?)”
Sne: “I’ll slap you Nkanyiso then send you
back to Escourt!”
Kwazi: “Haibo. Let’s go inside before
anyone slaps anyone.”
Sne: “Sawubona Kwazi. I haven’t even
greeted you I’m busy with these idiots.
How are you?”
Kwazi: “I’m good how are you?”
Sne: “I’m good. Thank you for coming with
them. You saved me a lot. I owe you.”
Kwazi: “No you don’t owe me. I enjoyed
travelling with them. Anyway you guys are
family.”
Sne: “Thank you so much.”
The four of them walk insinde the house.
Thando: “Bhuti!” She runs to hug him.
Nolwandle: “Sanibonani.”
Nkanyiso/ Nkanyezi: “Sanibona”
Sne: “Sawubona ma. How are you?”
Nolwandle: “I’m fine how are you my
children?”
Sne: “We’re fine.”
Kevin: “Unjani mfowethu? (How are you
bro)
Kwazi: “Ngyaphila mfowethu (I’m good
bro) how are you?”
Kevin: “I’m good. How’s the business
going?”
Kwazi: “It’s going very well mfowethu.”
Kevin: “That’s good.”
Kwazi: “Chrissie, you’re not gonna hug
your big brother?”
Chrissie: “But you’ll kiss me”
Kwazi: “So you’re too old for a kiss from
your big brother?”
Chrissie: “No but…”
Kwazi: “Thank you. Come here.”
Chrissie goes to Kwazi and he spins her
then kisses her cheek.
Chrissie: “No bhuti!” she screams wiping
her cheek.
The others laugh.
Nolwandle: “Come sit down let’s eat.”
They sit down around the table.
Nolwandle: “Nkanyiso please pray for us.”
Sne and Kwazi laugh.
Nkanyiso: “Haaa Anti ayy ngeke why me?”
Nolwandle: “Because I say so.”
Nkanyiso: “I’ll pray another time. Nkanyezi
awusishaye ngomthandazo lapho (pray for
us)”
Nolwandle: “I said you Nkanyiso”
Nkanyiso: “Eish okay. Close your eyes.”
They close their eyes.
Nkanyiso: “Nkulunkulu…Jesu…eish mfethu
haibo Anti, do we pray to God or Jesus?”
The whole table bursts into laughter.
Nolwandle: “Chrissie, pray for us.”
Chrissie: “Haa ma not me.”
Nolwandle: “Haibo these kids. Thando?”
Thando: “Lord, we thank you for the food
we’re about to eat. May we eat like this
forever and may other families be blessed
like this. Amen.”
Everyone: “Amen.”
Sne: “So Nkanyiso was this hard?”
Nkanyiso: “Phela she’s used to it.”
Sne: “Ayy I give up let me just eat.”
The family eats while having a light
conversation.
Nkanyiso: “So, I don’t remember any
introductions here.”
Sne: “But you’ve already talked so much
so surely you can introduce yourself.”
Nkanyiso: (looking at Thando and Chrissie)
“Okay, I’m Nkanyiso but people call me
Nkanyi. What are your names?”
Kevin: “I also don’t know you but you’re
introducing yourself to girls, mmm.”
Nkanyiso: (laughing) “I was still gonna
come to you.”
Chrissie: “I’m Christina but you can call me
Chrissie and this is Thandolwethu but you
can call her Thando.”
Kevin: “I’m pretty sure Thando would
have loved to introduce herself Chrissie.”
Chrissie: “Yeah whatever.”
Nkanyiso: “It’s a pleasure to meet you
both. Thando, you’re Ndumi’s sister
right?”
Chrissie: “Yes she…”
Kevin: “THANDO not Chrissie!”
Nolwandle: “Snethemba, help me pack
the dishes coz there’s too much noise
here now.”
Thando: “Yes I’m Ndumi’s sister. How is
she by the way I last talked to her four
days ago.”
Nkanyiso: “Seyajola loyo manje (she’s
dating now)”
Nolwandle: “What did you say? Ndumi is
dating?”
Nkanyezi: “He’s lying auntie.”
Chrissie: “Oh the other twin can talk?”
Kevin: “Oh God. Chrissie can you just shut
up for once!”
Chrissie: “I wasn’t even talking to you!”
Sne: “OKAY. We’re leaving now. Nkanyiso,
Nkanyezi get up. Ma, thank you for the
wonderful dinner.”
Nolwandle: “Okay my child. Travel safely.”
Sne: “Thank you. Kwazi, thank you again
for your help.”
Kwazi: “It was a pleasure.”
Sne: “Goodbye”
Everyone: “Bye”
Nkanyiso: “Bye Thando”
Nkanyezi: (looking at Nkanyiso) “AND
Chrissie”
Thando/Chrissie: “Bye”
The three then go to Sne and her friend’s
house.

A week later
LIHLE

Tomorrow I’m going back home. I’m so

happy. I can’t wait to share everything I’ve
learnt with Kevin. Thando called me
yesterday saying she has a massive crush
on someone. It’s her first crush. She said
she doesn’t want to date him though. She
wants to focus on her studies. My little
sister is so innocent though . Not every
grade 8 learner is as dedicated as she is to
her school work.
Chrissie on the other hand! The attitude!
“Ubanjwe I ado loyo (adoloscence got
her)” Mbali says everytime I complain
about Chrissie’s attitude. She talks back to
me. She doesn’t study. She says what’s
the use of studying coz it’s not like she’ll
get As.
Chrissie does not do well on her
academics. It’s not that she can’t, her
problem is that she allows her friends to
influence her. Unlike Thando. She’s also
focused too much on boys that’s why she
doesn’t do well. But it’s just a phase that’ll
pass I guess.

About me now. Well let’s just say me and

Thando are the same. I also have a
massive crush on someone. Aaron to be
exact.
Gosh that guy!! His body, his eyes, his
smile, the way he treats me, everything
about him is just perfect! He’s also
educated, doesn’t smoke, drives my
dream car (just admiring it not that I’m a
gold digger or anything. Girl has her own
money ;)
I hope he feels the same way about me.
I told him that I’m going home tomorrow
and he asked to see me. So right now I’m
preparing myself to go see him.
I wear my knee length black dress and
black block heels. No need to wear suits
now the conference is over and most of
the doctors left today. Some are leaving
tomorrow. I take my handbag and go to
my uber. I miss my car now.
I arrive at the restaurant we agreed to
meet in. As I enter the door, I see him at
the corner table looking all yummy in his
black suit and white shirt.
I head over to him and he smiles as he
sees me. Gosh that smile again! I could eat
him right now. Okay Lihle focus! The way
I’m drooling now I’m gonna trip and
embarrass myself in front of all these
people.
“Good evening.” I say as I arrive at the
table and sit sown.
Aaron: “Good evening how are you?”
Me: “I’m good how about you?”
Aaron: “Nervous.”
Me: “Why?”
Aaron: “Do you see how beautiful you
are? You are the most beautiful woman
I’ve ever met princess. I feel like I don’t
even deserve to be sitting here with you.
You are too beautiful to be sitting with a
person like me.”
#blushing right now
Me: “Thank you.”
That’s all you can say? Really Lihle?
I seriously don’t know what to say.
Aaron: “So, can we order?”
Me: “Yes”
He calls the waiter and I order just a salad
and he orders a full meal with proteins
and all.
We wait for the food over a light
conversation then we eat in silence when
the food arrives.
When we’re done, Aaron is the first to
talk.
Aaron: “So princess, I have something I’ve
been meaning to get off my chest.”
O-kay. My heart beats a little faster.
Me: “Okay, what is it?”
Aaron: “Princess, I think I’m in love with
you.”
Whaaaat! So my crush is in love with me?
My heart is dancing right now. Wait…did
he say he’s in love? I mean I also have a
crush on him but in love? No ways.
Aaron: “Princess…”
Me: (snapping out of my thoughts) “Oh
sorry. Uhm, you’re in love?”
Aaron: “Yes. I know it’s too soon and I
don’t know how I fell in love so fast but I
am.”
Me: “Wow, I don’t know what to say”
Aaron: “Tell me you love me too. Today is
our last day together and I would be
extremely happy if we would go to our
homes as a couple”
Me: “So how are we going to see each
other coz I’m from Joburg you’re from the
Eastern Cape?”
Aaron: “I have a car remember? So I’ll visit
you every weekend.”
Me: “Okay we can date then.”
Aaron: “Really? Thank you so much my
princess”
He comes and hugs me.
After that we go back to the hotel and we
just chill and talk in his room.
Princess is taken now. I’m so happy.

KEVIN
So it’s been two weeks and I haven’t
talked to Mbali. I’m so scared to approach
her. I last saw her the day Lihle went to
Cape Town. At least my sister’s coming
back tomorrow so she’ll help me.
I know she’s first going to rub it in my
face. But that’s cool. As long as I get
Mbali.
I also hope my sister found a doctor
boyfriend there. She needs a good
boyfriend. A boyfriend that’s gonna help
her move past the rape thing caused by
my mot…Angela. I don’t think she has
moved past it because she doesn’t want
to hear anything about rape. When we
watch news and we hear about a woman
who was raped, it just ruins her whole
mood and she cries the whole day. At the
hospital, she doesn’t deal with rape
patients coz it just breaks her.
I’ve told her countless times to go to
therapy but she always says she’s fine, the
rape happened years ago.

LIHLE

Today I’m going home. I’m not as excited

as I was yesterday. I mean, who would
want to go home when they have a
boyfriend! My first boyfriend! Well
technically he isn’t my first boyfriend but
y’all know the story.

Anyway I just woke up and I fix my bed,

take a long bath while day-dreaming
about my boyfriend. I finish bathing and I
lotion my body then wear black tight
jeans, black sneakers, white crop top and
a black jacket on top. I comb my short hair
(I still have short hair since school. Plaiting
and weaves just ain’t me).
I take my phone and open it for the first
time today. Lots of messages come in but I
open the one from my bae first.
Good morning my love. Hope u had a
great sleep. I’m sorry I can’t see u off
today but I hope u travel back home
safely. I love u and I’ll see u next weekend.
This makes my heart melt. When last did I
get a good morning message. Well last
month actually. On payday Mbali sent a
good morning text and I thought it was an
honest one until the next one said So,
since it’s payday today I was thinking my
fave doctor could take me out for drinks
and a bit of shopping. Yeah neh. The
friends I have.
I reply to bae’s text then I look and reply
to the other messages which are mostly
from Kevin, mom, ma Sam, Thando and
Mbali.

I look at my room one more time then I

take my bags and go to the cab which will
take me to the airport.
The drive to the airport is short then I get
on the plane and fly to Joburg.
I find Kevin waiting for me at the airport
and I run to hug him.
Kevin: “Women and drama!”
Me: “You have to get used to drama coz
you’re gonna have a relationship full of
drama with Mbali.”
Kevin: “And I can’t wait for that drama.
Let’s go home so we can start talking
about how you’ll help me get her”

When I arrive home (dad’s house) I find

my whole squad and family there. I wasn’t
expecting that.
Olwethu: “We’re so happy you’re here.
We missed you” she says as she hugs me
after my parents have hugged me.
Mbali: “I didn’t miss you. I just wanted you
to come back so Olwethu can tell us what
she wanted to tell us.”
Me: “Uhm I thought you weren’t
interested in knowing anymore”
Mbali: “Just shut up and hug me.”
We laugh. This is the woman my brother
wants. I wonder how he’ll survive with
her.
All of us sit down around the table for
lunch.
Dad: “So my daughter, tell us how was
Cape Town”
I smile.
Mbali: “Yeye that smile can only mean one
thing”
Sne: “She got a man”
Everyone laughs.
Me: “No I didn’t. And we can’t talk about
men in front of dad!”
Dad: “Well actually I want a son in law
now. And a daughter in law”
Kevin: “Don’t worry dad I’m in the process
of getting you a daughter in law”
He looks at Mbali who’s seated across him
and she blushes and looks down. Yoh! My
friend really likes him. Mbali rarely
blushes.
Dad: “Good. Now Lihle, tell us what you
learned”
Me: “Well Cape Town was amazing! I got
to learn things that I’d forgotten since
med school and that aren’t really part of
my work as a cardiologist. I learnt about a
lot of zoonotic diseases that I didn’t even
know of. New ways to treat patients who
have relapsed, how to be calm when I’m
dealing with a tough case, patients with
chronic diseases. There were med
students who wear taught about
equipment such as defibrillator etc. Oh
and my favourite was learning about
different phobias! Like I didn’t know that
arachibutyrophobia is a thing that exists!
Or rhinotillexomania. There are a lot of
things I don’t know”
Mom: “I have no idea what you just said
but I’m happy that you got to learn so
much.”
Mbali: “Nami angizwanga lutho wemah (I
also didn’t understand anything ma) but
I’m waiting for the man part”
Me: “There’s no man guys”
Sne: “Okay, we believe you for now”
Thando: “Sis please give me your laptop
tonight I want to see the things you
learned there”
Me: “Okay I’ll give you. Nkanyezi and
Nkanyiso how are you?”
Nkanyezi/ Nkanyiso: “We’re good”
Me: “Do you still remember me? I used to
help babysit you and yoh uh uh I don’t
wish for those days back”
Nkanyiso: “But we’re almost the same age
so how did you babysit us because you
were also still a baby?”
Me: “Almost the same age? I’m 25 and
you’re 16”
Nkanyiso: “Nine year difference, same
thing.”
Me: “You must be Nkanyiso. You’re the
stubborn one and you talk a lot’
Nkanyiaso: “Yep, the interesting one.”
Nkanyezi: “Wow”
We just laugh at them.
When we’re done eating and talking,
everyone starts to leave.
I pack my work things, leaving my laptop
with Thando and leave with mom and
Kevin coz I’m sleeping at their house
today.
…

I go to work and we hold a meeting

where I tell everyone what I learned and
we just have a general conversation about
Cape Town.
After work, I go home, pack my few things
then go to dad’s house.
Thando comes running to me as soon as I
arrive.
Thando: “Sisi, there’s something I need
you to explain for me please”
Me: “Is it homework?”
Thando: “Yes”
Me: “Okay let’s go”
Ma Sam: “No come and eat supper first.
You’ll do that after supper”
Thando goes to call Chrissie and dad then
we pray then eat.

“Thank you” Thando says after we’ve

done her homework.
Me: “Where’s Chrissie? Why didn’t she do
her homework with us?”
Thando: “Probably chatting with her
boyfriend or our friends”
That reminds me
Me: “Speaking about boyfriends, tell me
about your crush”
She smiles. My sister is smitten.
Thando: “Well, he’s handsome. He’s doing
grade 10 and he’s really smart”
Me: “Hmm so the smartness charmed you
neh?”
She laughs.
Thando: “Yeah kind of. But I really really
like him”
Me: “So are you gonna tell me his name at
least?”
Thando: “Nope. Never. No one is going to
know who he is. Not even Chrissie”
Me: “Get out of my room then” I say
pouting and folding my arms.
She laughs and leaves.
Today is my fourth day back home and
we’re having a girl’s night at the girls’
house. Olwethu is going to tell us
whatever it is that she wants to tell us.
I knock off work and drive straight to their
house.

Mbali: “Ayy ayy ayy doctor no ways!

Wearing jeans really? Where are your
pyjamas?”
Me: “I didn’t know we were gonna wear
pyjamas. Plus I was too tired to go home
after work so I don’t have any things with
me”
Olwethu: “Come I’ll borrow you my other
pjs”
I change into the pjs then we go to the
sitting room. We arrive and the snacks
and wine are already there. Mbali and Sne
join us on the couches.
We all look at Olwethu.
She looks at us one by one.
Olwethu: “And then?”
Mbali: “Don’t say and then. Talk”
I laugh.
Olwethu: “O-kay. Guys I’m pregnant”
Wow! Straight to the point.
We stare at her not saying anything.
Mbali: “Is it Nico’s baby? Coz mina I’m not
gonna keep it a secret if it’s not his baby.
I’ll tell him in fact let me call him now
coz…”
Olwethu: “Mbali! Yes it’s his baby so
there’s no need to tell him”
I go first to where she’s sitting and jump
on her giving her a big hug.
Me: “Congrats mommy!! I’m going to be
the best aunty ever, actually I’m going to
be the godmother!”
Mbali: “Uyahlanya (you’re crazy) I’ll be the
godmother”
She pushes me off Olwethu and jumps on
her laughing.
Sne: “Guysss! You’ll hurt the baby!”
Mbali quickly moves from Olwethu.
Mbali: “Sorry mommy”
Olwethu: “Don’t worry. She’s barely a
baby”
Sne: “Oh so it’s a she?”
Olwethu: “I don’t know yet but I’m hoping
for a girl”
Me: “Ncoh I can already imagine wearing
matching outfits with her”
Mbali: “Ncoh for what? I want a boy so
that my baby girl can have a decent
boyfriend when she’s grown”
We laugh at her. I forgot to tell you that
Mbali has a baby girl. She’s two. Her name
is also Mbalenhle. We call her Enhle in
order not to confuse them.
Sne: “What if Enhle becomes a lesbian?”
Mbali: “She’s already attracting little
gentlemen. Last week at the clinic a very
cute three year old boy she was playing
with cried for her when we were leaving”
Olwethu: “Well whether they were crying
for her or not my son, if it’s a boy, won’t
date an older girl and Enhle is already a
granny”
Mbali: “So you want him to date gold
diggers his age? At least my Enhle will be
older and more matured”
Me: “So are we seriously discussing
Enhle’s possible future relationship? Come
on man. So Olwethu, does Nico know
about the pregnancy?”
Olwethu: “Yes. He was so excited! I’ve
never seen him so excited before. He
literally spun me around in front of
everyone at the restaurant. Now I just
have to tell Lunga. I hope he’ll be as
excited”
Mbali: “Of coz he’ll be excited for his first
nephew”
Olwethu: “I’m not sure. I think he’s going
to be angry that I got pregnant out of
wedlock. He once told me that he wants
me to get married first before having kids
since my mom is not here to help me look
after my kids”
Sne: “Nico is a good guy. He won’t leave
you. In fact, you’re gonna get married.
You said it yourself that he was excited
when you told him”
Olwethu: “I hope you’re right. I just wish
my parents were here to see their first
grandchild”
Me: “They’re watching you from heaven
and they’re super proud of the person
you’ve become. And I’m sure they’re also
excited about their grandchild. Plus Sne’s
right when she says you and Nico are
gonna get married. That man loves you.
You and that unborn baby are the only
people he has”
Olwethu: “He’s also the only person
besides Lunga that I have. Funny how me
and him got together at the group therapy
because of the loss of our families. Now
we’re creating a family of our own”
Mbali: “I don’t like the first part you said.
If Nico and Lunga are the only people that
you have then what are we, statues?”
Olwethu gives a small laugh.
Olwethu: “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that
way. I just meant that you guys are gonna
have your own families one day and we
won’t get to see each other as we do
now”
Sne: “Yeah neh.”
Mbali: “I wanna go back to being a kid.
This adult life sucks and it hates me. I
don’t have a job, I don’t have a man, I
don’t have a house. If it wasn’t for grant I
don’t know how I was gonna take care of
my baby girl”
Olwethu: “Yeah life was so much better
when we were still kids and my parents
were still alive”
Olwethu and Mbali now both have tears.
Me: “Guys we came here to celebrate our
coming baby. Can we go back to
celebrating?”
Mbali: “Yess! I don’t know why we’re
crying when I’m getting a son in-law”
We laugh and the mood goes back to the
way it was.
I decide to tell my friends about Aaron.
Me: “So guys, there’s something I also
want to share with you”
Mbali: “Don’t tell me you’re also
pregnant. I already have a pair of feet I’m
going to be massaging in the next coming
months but I can’t deal with two no!”
Lord! Where did I find this girl!
Me: “No Mbali I’m not pregnant. But
maybe within the next few months I will
be”
Sne: “So you have a man?”
Me: “Yes! I have a man!”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh” The screaming from
all of them.
Olwethu: “No waysssss! What’s his
name!!?”
Mbali: “Yes what’s his name!? Is he white,
black, or is he coloured? Phela wena you
have a thing for coloureds”
Me: “Really? Kevin is my brother for
heaven’s sake and that thing was long
ago!”
Sne: “Well whatever tell us about your
man!”
Me: “Well, he’s white…”
Mbali: “I knew it! I did say that you and
blacks don’t click”
Me: “Mbali just shut up and let me
continue”
“As I was saying. He’s white, handsome,
charming, sexy and successful”
Olwethu: “What work does he do?”
Me: “Doctor” I say proudly.
“Ooh” They all say.
Olwethu: “Dr Mkhize and Dr…?”
Me: “Smith. Dr Aaron Smith”
Sne: “Smith?!”
Mbali: “Hayi girl. I said you have a thing
for coloureds? No let me correct myself.
You have a thing for FAMILY”
Me: “I’m not a relative to the Smiths.
Kevin is”
Sne: “And Kevin is your brother”
Me: “And my brother is actually a
Khumalo”
Mbali: “But still”
Me: “No guys stop. I’m not a Smith so I’m
allowed to date a Smith”
Mbali: “But…”
Olwethu: “Mbali no.”
The room gets quiet and you can feel the
tension. I stand up.
Me: “I’m going home now”
Olwethu: “But I thought you were
sleeping over?”
Me: “Not anymore. Congrats once again.
Bye”
I go upstairs, change back into my clothes
and leave them all still sitting there. Mbali
and Sne just ruined my mood.
THANDO

“Chrissie! Come we’ll be late!” I shout to

Chrissie who’s doing I don’t know what in
our room.
“I’m here”
I turn around and wow! Is this kid still
doing grade 8?
She didn’t do anything major but I’m her
sister so I can see the little makeup and
the pink lipstick on her.
Chrissie: “Is it too much?”
Me: “No, but why did you put make up on
and where did you get it from?”
Chrissie: “Got it from Khothatso”
Me: “Okay. Your lips are naturally pink so
you can’t really see that you added a bit of
lipstick today. Anyway let’s go”
We go to the car and our driver drops us
off at school.
Khothatso and Amahle our friends come
running to us…or to Chrissie at least.
Chrissie and I have two friends so in total
there are four of us.
I’ve always felt left out in this group but I
can’t find other friends because these
ones will hate me. I’m the only one who
comes out in the top 10 between the four
of us so that alone makes them treat me
kind of differently. I’m also very shy and
quiet whilst they are all loud and
hyperactive. Chrissie is the Beyonce of the
grade 8s. When we arrived the beginning
of the year everyone wanted to be her
friend and all the boys wanted and still
want her.

Khothatso and Mahle hug us.

Mahle: “Wow Chrissie! You look hot girl”
Khothatso: “Nyezi is definitely going to ask
you out today. Is it Nyezi or Nkanyi?”
Chrissie laughs.
Chrissie: “Nyezi. Nkanyi is also hot but he
seems like a player”
Khothatso: “Obvious he’s also hot. They
are twins remember”
They laugh.
Chrissie: “Yeah yeah whatever but I don’t
want to share so I’ll go with Nyezi”
Mahle: “Well you’d better be fast. Have
you seen how much the grade 10 girls
want them?”
Khathatso: “Even the grade 11 girls
chommie! Wena Chrissie you really have
to act fast otherwise batlago shappa ka
stena girl”
They all laugh meanwhile I’m thinking
about the fact that all of this make up was
for Nkanyezi.
Mahle: “Why are you so quiet Thando?”
Khothatso: “Probably going over the
words for the spelling test”
Chrissie: “Ugh! Why did you have to
remind us about the test?”
Mahle: “I don’t know why that woman is
making us do a spelling test. That’s
primary stuff”
The topic moves on to complaining about
the test and insulting our teacher.
The bell rings and we walk slowly to class.
The first period is English so we do the
spelling test which is pretty simple. No
one should get less than 12. The test is out
of 20. Ma’am tells us that we’ll get our
marks tomorrow. I’m excited because I
know that I’ll get total if I didn’t make any
small mistakes.

I spend both breaks at the library all alone

because I can’t bear hearing Chrissie and
the others talk about Nkanyezi. Yes,
Nkanyezi is the guy I’m crushing on. So me
and my sister are crushing on the same
person! Can life get any worse?
Yep, it can.
Nkanyezi just walked into the library.
He’s heading my way!
“Thandolwethu” he says as he reaches my
table. Not many people call me by my full
name. I’ve been Thando ever since I can
remember.
Me: “Nkanyezi” I say smiling. I’m so
nervous.
He smiles back. I guess I’m the only one
who calls him that.
Nkanyezi: “So what are you doing here all
alone?”
Me: “I’m doing the homework I’ve gotten
so far. I want to rest when I get home”
Nkanyezi: “That’s actually a good idea. Let
me also do mine”
He takes a chair and sits across me. He
takes out a Romeo and Juliet novel and
starts flipping through it. After flipping
through multiple pages, he closes the
book and throws it in his bag.
Nkanyezi: “Hayi I can’t. Studying or doing
homework during daytime is not for me”
I laugh a little.
Me: “So why did you come here to the
library?”
Nkanyezi: “For some peace and quiet. I’ve
had enough of Nkanyiso’s talking for the
day”
Me: “Plus he talks a lot! From what Ndumi
tells me”
Nkanyezi: “So Ndumi told you that they
once dated?”
Me: “Yes she told me. They’ve broken up
right?”
Nkanyezi: “Yes, your sister dumped my
brother”
I laugh.
Me: “I’m sure it was your brother’s fault.
Phela Nkanyiso loves girls too much”
The bell interrupts our conversation and
we have to go back to class.
Nkanyezi: “Bye Thandolwethu”
I smile.
Me: “Bye Nkanyezi”
I arrive in class.
Chrissie: “Where were you?”
Me: “Library”
Chrissie: “Oh okay. My break was boring. I
didn’t see Nyezi”
Me: “Oh”
I know exactly where Nkanyezi was and
who he spent his break with, but I won’t
tell Chrissie.
The day ends and we go home. I am
hoping to see Nkanyezi but I don’t.
Today is Friday! We’re getting our spelling
test marks. I can’t wait! I know I did well.
And another thing I can’t wait for is seeing
Nkanyezi, that’s if I’ll see him.

LIHLE

I didn’t talk to any of my friends

yesterday. They really made me angry.
Tomorrow is Ma Sam’s birthday and we’re
throwing a small party for her. She’s
turning 50. My friends and whole family
are going to be there. Even the ones from
Escourt are coming. From dad’s family in
Escourt only Gogo Ntombenhle (dad’s
aunt) and Mkhulu Ndishi (dad’s uncle) are
coming.

Today I’m not going to the hospital as a

doctor but as a patient. I’m going to
remove my prosthesis hand. I’m putting a
new one on.

I arrive and Doctor Patel helps me. It takes

an hour to do the check-up and put the
new one on.
Dr Patel: “Done. You’re good to go”
I stand up, take my handbag and leave.
As I reach reception, I hear someone
calling my name.
“Doctor Mkhize!”
It’s one of the nurses.
“Doctor Mkhize, there’s a patient that
needs you right now! You’re the only one
available. We need you now!”
Me: “And Doctor Patel?”
I ask already taking off my jacket and
heading to my office to change into my
uniform.
“He’s already busy with another patient
and Doctor Khumalo is delivering Mrs
Mohammed’s baby”
Me: “I thought that baby was due in two
month’s time”
“Premature”
I finish changing into my uniform and
follow her to the ward.
Two other nurses are already in the ward
as we arrive.
Me: “What do we have here?”
Nurse: “17 year old girl, was involved in a
car accident with her mom”
…

“What a day I had! And it was my off day!”

I say throwing myself on the sofa.
Dad: “What happened?”
Me: “17 year old girl was involved in an
accident with her mom. We did checks on
her and found out she has heart
problems, the reason I’m working on her
case. We have to do a heart transplant as
soon as possible but her mom is in ICU
and we can’t find any of her family
members to authorise it”
Dad: “But where are you going to get a
heart this quickly? I thought you had to
wait years for that?”
Me: “Well she’s lucky because the person
who caused the accident is an organ
donor. He died and his family wants his
heart to go to the girl”
Ma Sam: “Wow she’s so lucky. What’s her
name?”
Me: “Diana Rose”
Ma Sam: “So since the mother is in ICU
and the transplant needs to be done asap
what are you going to do?”
Me: “I’ve sent this case to the department
and they are going to have to authorise
this transplant then tomorrow Dr
Hlongwane will do it”
Ma Sam: “Yoh this is tough. She’s so
young! How’s the mother? Do you think
she’ll live?”
Me: “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her. I
was too busy with Diana I didn’t get a
chance to see her mom”
Ma Sam: “I hope they both live”
Dad: “Or they both die”
Ma and I look at him.
Ma Sam: “How can you say that?”
Dad: “I’m not wishing them death. I’m just
saying that whatever happens has to
happen to both of them because it seems
like they only have each other. Imagine if
the kid survives and the mother dies, what
will become of her?”
Me: “Yeah I get your point”
Ma Sam: “This is just sad. Let’s pray for
them”
We close our eyes and ma prays a very
strong prayer.
Me: “Anyway fam I need to get some
sleep. I’ve got a long day tomorrow”
Ma Sam: “Supper?”
Me: “I ate some food on my way here so
right now all I need is a bath and some
sleep”
Dad: “Okay. Goodnight my daughter”
Me: “Goodnight dad, goodnight ma love
you”
I go straight to the bathroom, take a short
shower and head to my room.
I see my laptop on my bed, definitely not
where I left it this morning. Thando must
have been using it again. I need to change
my password.
Speaking of them, I didn’t see her and
Chrissie. I guess they are sleeping at
Kevin’s today. That’s where the party is
being held.

“So when are you going to come back

because you need to be here today?”
That’s my mom.
I had to wake up extra early today and go
to Kevin’s house. I’m helping mom choose
an outfit plus check if everything is ready
for the party which will start at ten this
morning. It’s more of a family gathering
than a party really.
“I’m going to be here a bit late coz there’s
a patient going for surgery today and I
have to care for her after the surgery. But
the surgery is happening at 8 this morning
so by 12 I’ll probably be done with her
then attend to my other patients. I think
I’ll arrive here at about three”
Mom: “Kevin also said he’ll be home late. I
guess I have to understand since I’m the
one who gave birth to doctors”
Me: “Yep you’ve got no choice. I have to
go now I have some admin work to do
before seeing Diana”
Mom: “Diana is the little girl having a
heart transplant today?”
Me: “Yeah that’s her”
Mom: “Samantha told me about her. It is
heart breaking to see a young girl going
through something like this. Let’s pray for
her”
Wow. Diana is a very special patient I
guess. My whole family is praying for her
recovery.
We finish praying and I go to the hospital.
…

I hope the transplant will be a success and

Diana’s new heart will work properly.
We’ve put her in ICU and we’re waiting for
at least three weeks to see if the new
heart works properly.
I’m done with all my patients so it’s time
to go to the party. It’s already four. I go to
Kevin’s office. I hope he’s still here coz I
don’t want to be shouted at alone when I
arrive.
Yep.
They taught us to focus in school so we
can be big things and now that we’re big
things, they shout.
I knock once and open the door.
“I’m so glad you’re still here”
Kevin: “I’m actually packing up now”
Me: “I want us to leave together”
Kevin: “In one car?”
Me: “Yes. We’ll leave the other one here
and we’ll take it tomorrow”
Kevin: “Okay we’re leaving yours”
Me: “Haa why mine?”
Kevin: “It’s small dude. I can’t be
squashing myself in your tiny car when I
have a big car”
Me: “Mxm okay fine let’s go”
We drive back home in Kevin’s Range
Rover.

“Bangena odokotela madoda! O

Mntungwa o Mbulazi! (The doctors have
arrived!)”
That’s gogo Ntombenhle. She’s ululating
like we’re in a wedding.
Me: “Sanibonani ekhaya”
Gogo Ntombenhle: “How are you my
beautiful and handsome doctors? You
know you Lihle, you remind me of myself
when I was your age. You’re the splitting
image of me! Yeyi ngangimuhle! Ayikho
insizwa eyayingangifuni. Nibuze u
Mkhuzeni. Wacishe wangithatha ngaba
umfazi wakhe. Hayike yafika intombi yase
maXhoseni yangithathela indoda yami.
Yeyi ngoba amaXhosa...” (I was beautiful.
There’s no man that didn’t want me. You
can ask Mkhuzeni. He almost took me as
his wife. Then the Xhosa girl arrived and
took my man)”
Dad: “Aunt. Please stop.”
I haven’t even sat down but I’m already
being told about abo Mkhuzeni. Alcohol!
Is there any family that doesn’t have a
drunkard aunt or uncle though?
But they bring life to a party. You laugh
the whole day when you’re with them.
Aunt Ntombenhle is dad’s aunt. My
grandfather’s youngest sister. She’s the
one who told me about my dad years ago.
She’s never been married and I blame that
Xhosa girl. Mkhulu Mkhuzeni is an old
man that lives in our area in Escourt. It’s a
shame they never got married. I like that
mkhulu.
Gogo doesn’t have kids. It’s alcohol,
alcohol, alcohol.
Anyway I go freshen up and change into a
simple dress. I’m so tired. When Diana’s
mom wakes up we’ll have to discuss
payment details. A transplant costs an
arm and a leg. It’s going to take her years
to pay the whole amount. I haven’t seen
her yet I haven’t found time.
I go downstairs and sit with my friends.
Mbali: “Lihle, we’re sorry about the other
day. We didn’t mean to make you angry”
Me: “It’s fine I’m over it”
Mbali: “Thank you”
Me: “So Olwethu have you told Lunga
about the pregnancy?”
Olwethu: “No I’m waiting for him to come
this side then I’ll tell him”
Sne: “When is he coming?”
Olwethu: “In two weeks time”

“Lihle there’s someone here for you”

Kevin shouts from the door.
I go to the door and guess who it is?
“Hey babe”
It’s my man! He came.
I told him a few days ago that I want to
introduce him to my family and he agreed.
Me: “My love”
I hug him at the door.
Me: “Come in”
He comes in and the house is quiet.
Everyone is looking at us.
Me: “Family, this is Aaron, my boyfriend”
Quiet.
Errr.
Ma Sam finally breaks the silence.
“Welcome Aaron. Come sit down”
Mbali: “Nice to meet you Aaron! We’ve
heard a lot about you!”
Aaron: “Only good things I hope”
Sne: “Yep only good things”
Aunt Ntombenhle: “Hayi bathandiwe
abelungu layikhaya! (White people are
loved in this home)” she claps her hands
and continues drinking her castle lite.

AARON

It wasn’t my plan to meet Lihle’s family so

quickly. Just that she begged me and I had
to agree because I don’t want to look
suspicious.
I look around and catch Kevin watching
me. Only few people here seem happy to
meet me.
The father and son definitely aren’t part of
those people.
Well, my aunt’s house! Damn it’s not even
a house it’s a mansion. I can’t wait to live
here with my future wife. Future wife, not
Lihle.
After all the introductions are done I go
and sit with the other men.
“Aaron”
Lihle’s father, Sibusiso says.
Me: “Mr Khumalo”
I don’t really know how to address him. I
see everyone here calls him dad but I ain’t
going to call a man I barely know or even
like dad.
Sibusiso: “My daughter has been through
a lot in the past years. Finding out about
me as a teen, being raped and losing her
grandmother. So if you dare hurt her, I
promise I will kill you with my bare hands”
Well sir it’s not my fault that she happens
to be Kevin’s sister.
Me: “Don’t worry sir I will treat her like an
egg”
Kevin: “Mmm…”
I look at Kevin and he just shakes his head.
He doesn’t like me. That I have concluded.

LIHLE

The party went well. Ma Sam was really

happy and everyone enjoyed it. Well I’m
not sure about Thando and Chrissie. They
were very gloomy. Gogo Ntombenhle kept
on talking about abelungu abathandwayo
layikhaya (white people who are loved in
this family). And my man? Well he spent
the whole evening with dad and Kevin. I
hope they weren’t mean to him. I did spy
on them a few times and it didn’t look
very promising.
Today it’s Sunday and mom, ma Sam,
Thando and Chrissie are in church. I’m
going to the hospital to check on my
patients…especially Diana. Not that she’s
more special or I take her case more
seriously than other patients, but her case
is very critical and she’s one of my hardest
cases so far.
I travel with Kevin to the hospital since
yesterday we left my car here.
My phone rings. It’s my man.
“Babe” I say smiling to myself.
We talk for a few minutes with Kevin side-
eying me.
“What?” I ask Kevin after my short phone
call.
Kevin: “I don’t trust that boy”
Me: “Which boy?”
Kevin: “Aaron”
Me: “You don’t have to trust him it’s my
job to do that and sir, I trust him.
Yesterday I noticed a bit of tension
between the three of you and I now know
it was because of you. FYI, he’s older than
you so you shouldn’t call him a boy”
Okay, I know that was a bit dramatic. BUT
Kevin shouldn’t tell me about not trusting
my man…that’s my dad’s job.
Kevin: “There was no need for that
speech. I didn’t know that caring and
worrying about my sister is a problem.”
Me: “It’s not a problem but the way
you’re talking just shows that you don’t
even want to give Aaron a chance”
Kevin: “I do want to give him a chance and
I will, but there’s this uncomfortable
feeling that I get when I’m around him”
I roll my eyes. What the hell do “feelings”
have to do with my man? It’s my feelings
that matter and girl, or boy I love that
man.
Kevin: “Don’t roll your eyes at me Lihle.
Remember nine years ago I used to feel
some sort of way whenever I was around
you and I confused it for love but it was
actually a sibling bond? I don’t want to
make that same mistake with Aaron”
Me: “Okay bro can we just drive to work
silently please?”
With that, the conversation ends.

THANDO

I passed my spelling test with flying

colours. I got a total. Unfortunately
though I didn’t get to see Nkanyezi on
Friday. I didn’t know having a crush would
be like this. I didn’t even enjoy aunty
Sam’s party because he wasn’t there and I
had wanted to see him. I’m still happy
though that I spent my whole break with
him on Thursday. Just thinking about that
day gives me butterflies!
Okay I’m in church so I should probably
focus and stop thinking about boys.

LIHLE

I’m done with my work for today. I’m

going to meet Bee for an early dinner. It’s
been so long since my girl and I have
talked. I must say, our friendship
weakened after matric when my girls from
Escourt came this side. And it got worse
when she and Kevin broke up.

“Goood eveningggg girl” I say as I hug Bee.

Bee: “How are you babe?”
Me: “Work is killing me”
I sit down and call the waiter.
Me: “Have you ordered?”
Bee: “No I was waiting for you”
The waiter arrives and we order our food.
Bee: “So what is it at work that’s killing
you?”
I tell her about the Diana case.
Bee: “That is so sad. Have you seen the
mother?”
Me: “No I actually haven’t gotten the
time.”
Bee: “Mmm…”
Me: “What? I know that mmm and there’s
something you want to tell me”
Bee: “No there’s nothing”
Me: “Bianca!”
Bee: “Okay! It’s just that that name
sounds familiar”
Me: “Obviously it sounds familiar there
are many Dianas out there”
Bee: “No but she’s…”
Me: “She’s what? Dude talk”
Bee: “I think I’ve met her at the library.
The one at the shopping centre.”
Me: “Oh. Was she with her mother?”
Bee: “Uhm…yeah she was with her”
Me: “Okay”
Our food arrives and we continue chatting
while eating.
Bee: “Sooo…tell me about Aaron”
A smile creeps out of my lips.
Me: “Well, Aaron and I met in Cape Town
at the doctor’s conference”
Bee: “Ooh, he’s a doctor?”
Me: “Yes. And he’s veryyy handsome”
We laugh.
Bee: “I know you wouldn’t go for a rat
face”
We laugh some more and I tell her more
about my man while she complains about
her single boring life.

Olwethu: “Girl, Lunga is coming tomorrow

and I’m so stressed!”
Me: “Don’t stress girl. Lunga will love his
niece or nephew and will be very excited.”
Olwethu: “I hope so coz the pregnancy is
already taking its toll on me. Morning
sickness ain’t no joke”
Me: “It’s all worth it. The sicker you are
during the pregnancy, the prettier the
baby will be”
We laugh.
Olwethu: “Hayike! I know I’m pregnant
and a bit ugly but I’m not stupid”
Me: “I was just trying to make you feel
better!”
I give her a short shoulder hug.
Olwethu: “Tomorrow can you come to the
house so we can tell Lunga together?”
Me: “No problem. What time?”
Olwethu: “He said he’ll arrive around
three”
Me: “Okay I’ll be there”
Olwethu: “I need to go now. Thanks for
the chat. I now feel less stressed”
We hug for the last time and I walk her to
the door.

Next week we’re having a small

celebration to celebrate her pregnancy.
Mom suggested it since Olwethu is an
orphan and has no parent to share the
news with.

I’m dressing up to go to the girls’ house so

I can be with Olwethu when she tells
Lunga the news. It’s seven in the evening
so they’ve had enough time to greet and
just talk. Mbali and Sne went out so they
can give them space and Enhle is with
mom and ma Sam.
I arrive at the girl’s house and Lunga’s
Ford Ranger is parked on my spot. Now
where the fuck am I supposed to park!
This yard is small and can only
accommodate no more than four cars.
I turn my car and park where Sne’s car
usually parks.
I get out the car, take in a deep breath,
and walk inside the house.

Olwethu: “So now what? Should I abort

my baby? Is that what you want me to do?
Lunga: “No I didn’t say that! I’m just
saying you should’ve thought about our
situation before sleeping around!
Slap
I’m standing by the door and the convo
between brother and sister here is tough.
I really don’t know what I got myself into.
Olwethu: “My own brother hates my
baby”
She is now crying. She stands up and
passes me by the door on her way out.
Should I follow her or? No, I’m gonna talk
some sense into this stupid brother of
hers who’s still staring into space after
that slap. I doubt he’s noticed that
Olwethu has left.
Me: “What kind of brother are you?”
He jumps as if he’s seeing a ghost.
Me: “What kind of brother makes his baby
and only sister…ONLY sister cry like that?”
Lunga: “Who are you?”
Me: “Really Lunga? Is that how much
you’ve changed? You make your sister cry
and now you don’t even know her best
friend!?”
Lunga: “Lihle is this you? Damn you look
beautiful”
Me: “What! We’re talking something
serious here and you’re telling me I’m
beautiful?”
Lunga: “Well I have to tell you before I get
a second slap from you”
Me: “Okay whatever. Now why aren’t you
happy for your sister?”
Lunga takes in a deep breath.
Him: “It’s not that I’m not happy, it’s just
that I had hoped she would get married
first before having a baby”
Me: “So what if she’s not married?”
Lunga: (looks around the house) “She lives
with her friends Lihle. How will she care
for a baby in a space that’s filled with
friends and alcohol?”
Me: “We’re not those kind of friends you
know. Mbali also lives with her baby here
and Enhle is growing well. Also, if Olwethu
wants to move out she can do that. She
works right? And Nico will take care of his
baby so Olwethu won’t be a single parent”
Lunga: “How sure are you that this Nico
guy will support them?”
Me: “They’re the only people he has. He
lost his whole family. That’s how he and
Olwethu met. At the group therapy
sessions. Maybe you should meet him.
You’ll see that he’s a good guy.”
Lunga: “Yeah I have to meet him”
Me: “And in the meantime go talk to your
sister. She needs all your support right
now. Crying is not good for the baby and
I’m sure you want your niece to be the
healthiest baby ever”
He smiles.
Lunga: “I cannot wait to play soccer with
him or her”
Me: “Soccer? I’ve heard that you’re the
worst soccer player ever!”
Lunga: “Heard from who? Well whoever
told you has to understand that God won’t
give you all in life. He gave me brains and
looks so he couldn’t give me soccer skills
also”
I laugh.
Me: “He gave me all”
Lunga: “Really? I want to see those skills”
Me: “I’ll show you one day”
Lunga: “Wednesday at 17:00 I’ll fetch you
and we’ll go to the park”
Me: “What?”
Lunga: “Good. Now let me go and talk to
my sister”
With that he leaves.
Is this guy serious? Wednesday?
Wednesday I’m going to have dinner with
my man!

KEVIN

Me: “I look good right? The tie, collar,

everything?”
Lihle: “For the thousandth time yes! Now
go please. I also want to get ready for my
date”
Me: “You and Aaron have been dating for
a while so he won’t care even if you show
up with a dress full of soup stain”
Lihle: “And Mbali won’t notice if you show
up with spinach between your teeth. The
girl is smitten”
Smitten? Okay I guess I’m good. Today I’m
taking Mbali on our first date and I’m
nervous as hell. I can’t wait to see her. I
know she’s gonna dress to kill. I hope she
shows off those long legs.

My date went well. The dress my babe

was wearing! Those creamy thighs! I had
to book us into a hotel because I couldn’t
bear the men at the restaurant staring at
her.
This issue of not working is taking its toll
on my babe. She had such big dreams
growing up.
I wanted to help her and get her a job at
the hospital, even if its cleaning, but she
said no she ain’t doing that. She’s going to
get herself a job without a man’s help.
That made me love her even more. The
fact that she’s not with me because of my
money or connections.

LIHLE

Dress…check.
Shoes…check.
Handbag…check.
Lipstick…check.
Damn! I’m hot!
Aaron’s gonna faint when he sees all this.
“Lihle! Aaron’s here!” mom shouts from
downstairs.
Okay, let me check myself one more time.
All good.
I walk slowly down the stairs and watch
Aaron stare at me with wide eyes.
Mom: “Wow! Is this you Lihle or some
celebrity from a magazine?”
Me: “It’s me mom” I say as I reach
downstairs.
Mom: “You look beautiful my girl”
Me: “Thank you mom”
I turn and look at Aaron who looks like he
hasn’t even breathed.
Mom: “Okay let me go”
Me: “Babe!”
Aaron: “Oh I’m sorry babe. Damn you look
amazing!”
I blush.
Me: “Thank you. You don’t look too bad
yourself”
Aaron: “I’m nothing compared to you. I
have to say, red was made for you”
Me: “You’re making me blush”
Aaron: “I’m going to make you blush the
whole day babe. Let’s go”
As we turn to walk out, guess who enters
the door? Lunga! I suddenly remember
about the soccer skill thing.
Lunga: “Hello. Lihle, you look beautiful”
Me: “Thank you”
Lunga: “Too beautiful for a park. I’d
suggest you take off that dress if you love
it. And also because I look like an ugly
duckling so I want us both to look ugly”
Aaron: “Park? What are you talking
about?”
Lunga: “Oh Lihle didn’t tell you? She’s
going to show me her soccer skills
because apparently God gave her all skills
and talents”
Aaron: “And who are you?”
Lunga: “A friend…Lihle, are you sure about
going like that?”
Me: “Uhm, Lunga, we can’t go today coz
as you can see, Aaron and I are going on a
date”
Lunga: “This is your man?”
Me: “Yes”
Lunga: “Oh, I expected something better”
Aaron: “What the hell do you mean?”
Lunga: “Okay MamNtungwa omuhle. You
can go with this man of yours. I guess me
and you will go tomorrow. Again, you look
beautiful”
Aaron: “You’re not going anywhere with
my girl”
Lunga just looks at him and then leaves.
Aaron: “Since when do you have male
friends?”
Me: “It’s Olwethu’s brother Aaron. Can we
go please?”
I see he’s still annoyed. He asks for my
hand and we walk out the door hand in
hand. Ngathi sihamba kwi red carpet
shem!
…

“Oh shit babe your body is so sexy!”

I’m laying on the bed stark naked. It’s that
moment that I’ve been dreading. My heart
is beating so fast.
Aaron goes over me and starts kissing my
neck slowly. He’s breathing heavily, I can
feel his warm breath on my neck. He
slowly moves his hands up my thighs. I
press my thighs together as he reaches my
cookie.
“Aaron” I say softly.
“Sshh babe, relax, I won’t hurt you. Open
just a little”
“No Aaron, you can’t touch me there”
“Don’t worry babe, I promise I won’t hurt
you”
He rubs my thighs and pushes them apart
slowly.
“I’ve been hungry for so long” he says.
“I’m hungry, and I need you to fill me up”
That’s what those rapists said the day they
took my virginity from me.
“No Aaron…I can’t” I push him off me and
start wearing my clothes.
“Did I do something wrong babe?”
“No but I can’t do this, not today. Bye”
I walk out the room and exit the house.
As I exit, I remember that Aaron fetched
me so I don’t have a car right now. Who
should I call now? Kevin? No he’s with his
woman. Olwethu? No wait… Lunga! Yes! I
call Lunga and he agrees to come fetch
me. Aaron will have to forgive me.

Lunga: “Your night ended pretty early”

I say nothing as I get inside his car outside
Aaron’s gate.
Lunga: “I see y’all had a bit of a workout”
I look at my shoulder and see that my bra
strap and dress strap are a mess.
Lunga laughs. This guy!
Lunga: “So is he that bad that you just had
to leave?”
Me: “Can you be quiet please?”
Lunga: “I’ll be quiet when I feel the need
to. Right now I want to talk and you’d
better also talk if you don’t want me to
drop you off here in the middle of
nowhere”
Wow.
Lunga: “So you don’t want to tell me what
happened?”
I don’t answer him.
We reach robots and he takes a turn
opposite the one going home.
Me: “Where are we going now Lunga?”
He keeps quiet.
Me: “Lunga!”
Still quiet.
Me: “Really? We’re too old to be playing
that game”
Lunga: “Can you please keep quiet in MY
car”
Me: “Urgh!”
I roll the car sit till it’s down then I lie
back. I see a smile on his face.

We drive silently for 30 more minutes

then the car suddenly stops. I get up and
looks like we’re in a hotel.
Lunga: “Come let’s go”
I have no energy to fight him so I do as he
says.
We pass by reception and he greets the
lady there. We walk up the stairs with him
greeting the hotel workers who all seem
to know him. We finally reach a room and
he opens and we get in.
He takes off his t-shirt and gets in another
room which I think is the bathroom while
I’m just standing there. The water is
running so it’s definitely a bathroom. I get
tired of standing so I sit on the edge of the
bed.
The bathroom door opens and the guy is
just wearing a towel. Hmm the abs! Damn
I gotta say this guy is hot!
“Stop lusting me please”
“Wh..what no! I’m not lusting you. Why
the hell would I lust you!”
He just laughs and continues applying
lotion.
Lunga: “Close your eyes I need to wear my
underwear”
I roll my eyes first then close them. After a
while I open and he’s just staring at me.
Me: “Why didn’t you tell me you are
done?”
Lunga: “I just wanted to admire your
beauty…no I actually needed those two
seconds of peace”
I can’t stop myself from smiling when he
says that.
Me: “I need to bath. And where am I going
to sleep?”
Lunga: “I don’t know”
He opens the covers of his bed and gets
in…facing away from me who’s still sitting
on the edge.
Me: “Lunga!”
Lunga: “What?”
Me: “Ngizolalaphi? (where will I sleep)”
Lunga: “I don’t know, now can you keep
quiet I’ve had a long day driving at night
fetching a girl I barely know”
This guy!
I take a quick shower then wrap myself in
a towel. I search through his wardrobe
and find a t-shirt of his and track pants
and I wear them.
Now sleeping. There’s a couch here so I
take one blanket from him and sleep.
AARON

That bitch! She refused to sleep with me!

Me! And then she leaves with that Lunga
guy! I see that guy wants her so I have to
move fast with my plan.
Rrr rrr
Who’s calling now?

“Babe”
Oh.
Me: “Babe, it’s been a while”
“Isn’t you’ve forgotten about me”
Me: “No babe I’m sorry for not calling all
this time. It’s just that this girl has been so
obsessed with me and so annoying”
“Okay how’s everything going? Is the plan
still on point?”
Me: “Yes everything is going well. Very
soon that house will be ours”
“Good. In two days I’m coming there”
Me: “What? No babe you can’t come
everything will be ruined”
“Don’t worry. No one will know about us.
We’ll act like strangers”
Me: “Okay. I’ll see you in the afternoon
though because I have to go some bitch’s
party”
“I love you”
Me: “I love you too”
The call ends.
Now let me see where Lihle went with
that guy. Good thing I put a tracker on her
phone. Now I can see everyday what she
is up to.
CROWN HOTEL? So she went to a hotel
with that guy! Let me call Linda.
Me: “Linda are you working this week?”
Linda: “Yes sir I’m working”
Me: “Good. There’s someone who just
came there tonight. Her name is Lihle
Mkhize. I want to know when she booked
a room there and how many times she has
slept there this week”
Linda: “Okay sir let me check…uhm sir
there’s no one by the name of Lihle
Mkhize here”
Me: “Search Lihle Khumalo”
Linda: “…nothing sir”
Me: “Dammit! Okay search Lunga…fuck I
don’t know his surname! Just search
Lunga”
Linda: “I’m finding two Lungas. Lunga
Radebe and Lunga Mthembu”
Me: “Shit I don’t who’s the one I’m
looking for. Did any of them come with a
girl?”
Linda: “Lunga Mthembu has been staying
alone here this whole week but today he
came with a very beautiful woman. Lunga
Radebe is here on business”
Me: “I guess the one I’m looking for is
Mthembu. Do you by any chance know
who the woman is?”
Linda: “Uhm…I’m not sure but I think she’s
a doctor at the hospital. Yes! Dr Mkhize”
Me: “Okay. Thanks for your help Linda.
You can expect your payment anytime
from now.”
Okay. So she’s really cheating on me uh?
She’s going to regret it and I’m going to
make sure of it. The plan was to hurt Kevin
only but now that bitch is embarrassing
me so the whole damn bloodline is going
to feel my wrath!

LIHLE

“Nyezi bring me the balloons!”

It’s Olwethu’s small baby shower today!
I’m so excited! First baby shower I’m
attending and planning. We never did one
when Mbali was pregnant with Enhle coz
we were still in varsity and were broke as
hell.
Mom: “This is beautiful. You did well my
girls”
Ma Sam: “Just that it’s yellow. Olwethu
should tell us the gender because I hate
this yellow thing. Pink or blue would’ve
been more beautiful”
Me: “Don’t worry today we’ll know thw
gender. I hope it’s another girl so that
Enhle will have someone to play with”
Mbali: “Hayi! Enhle needs a man not a
friend. Friends are snakes”
Me: “And where the hell are you coming
from? You disappeared since morning”
Mbali: “I was busy”
Mom: “And where is Kevin? He was
supposed to be here with the cake many
hours ago”
Me: “Mbali, do you by any chance know
where Kevin is?”
Sne who is decorating in the corner
laughs. The look Mbali gives me!
Mbali: “How the hell am I supposed to
know? Futhi go to your man he’s here”
I look out the window and there’s my
man’s car entering the gate. I drop the last
two baloons I’m holding and rush outside.
“Babe” we hug as soon as he gets out the
car.
“I’m not late right?” he asks.
Me: “No you’re not. Olwethu hasn’t
arrived”
Aaron: “When’s the party starting?”
Me: “As soon as Lunga and Olwethu get
here”
Aaron: “Okay”
Things are still a bit awkward between us
since that night. I know he’s mad at me
but he’s pretending to be okay.
Speaking of that night, I need to return
Lunga’s clothes today. Apparently that t-
shirt I took is his favourite and he’s been
bugging me to return it ever since. When I
woke up at his place the next morning, I
was in his bed next to him! When I asked
him how I got in his bed he said when he
woke up in the middle of the night he felt
sorry for me so he lifted me and put me in
his bed. I pretended to be angry but I
wasn’t. I found it really hot that he lifted
me up. And don’t look at me like that…I
did say the guy is HOT.
Aaron: “Babe what are you smiling
about?”
Oh shit.
Me: “Uhm I’m just thinking about…uhm
about Olwethu’s baby. I can’t wait to
know the gender”
Aaron: “I bought something for the baby”
He goes and takes out a gift from the
boot. He gives it to me.
Me: “Oh what’s in here? Am I allowed to
open?”
Aaron: “No mommy will open”
Me: “Come on. I won’t take the whole
thing out”
Aaron: “No. Now go put it with the other
gifts before I take it from you”
Me: “Okay fine. Here they arrive anyway”
Lunga’s car drives in. Aaron and I quickly
rush to the house.
We sit around the table waiting for
mommy and Lunga to come. We decided
on not screaming “surprise!” because that
can be dangerous. The mommy can get so
scared to the point if giving birth or having
a miscarrieage so we’re not taking that
risk.
They finally come in. We all say nothing.
Olwethu: “Hello, I didn’t know we were
having a party. Who’s birthday is it? Oh no
don’t tell me I forgot someone’s birthday!
Lunga, why didn’t you tell me to bring a
gift?”
She hits Lunga on the shoulder as they sit
down.
Everyone around the table laughs.
Lunga: “Ouch! Do you see me carrying a
gift?”
Mom: “Okay let me stop this sibling fight.
Olwethu, this is all for you my girl. It’s a
small baby shower if you want to call it
that. We did it to show you that you’re
not alone in this…”
Nico comes in.
Ma Sam: “And where the hell do you
come from? Olwethu, are you sure you
want him to be your baby daddy? No
wonder you’re pregnant, he was late to
take his freakin thing out”
The table burst out laughing.
Nico: “I’m sorry ma. I got off work late”
Kevin comes in with Bee.
Mom: “Oh here are others. Where do you
come from together?”
I turn to look at Mbali. The look on her
face!
Kevin sees Mbali’s face.
Kevin: “Oh we just met at the gate and
she helped me carry this things after
parking outside”
Mbali’s face softens.
Mom: “As I was saying, Olwethu, we want
you to know that you’re not alone in this.
If ever you need help, we’re here for you.
As we’re here we are all a family. I know
how losing your parents feels like. I also
lost my father at a young age. You must
have felt alone and like the world came
crashing on you, but from now on you
must know that you have mothers in me
and Samantha, sisters in Lihle, your
friends, and those two little rascals, a
father in Sibusiso and a brother in Kevin,
Kwanda and Aaron. We love you and I
love that baby in your tummy more”
Olwethu is now crying and Nico is by her
side holding her in his arms. She cries
everytime her parents are mentioned.
Ma Sam: “You too Lunga. You have a
family in us”
Lunga nods and gives out a small forced
smile.
Ma Sam: “Okay! Today is about
celebrating so Kevin sit down and girls
help me bring the food.
We bring the food and all sit down.
Mom says a short prayer and we begin
eating while having a general talk.
There’s a knock on the door and mom
shouts “come in” coz no one here seems
willing to leave their food to open the
door.
We all look at the door as a very beautiful
woman who seems about our age says
hello with an accent that is not South
African and sounds familia. She is white
and has long silky hair that has been dyed
black.
Mom: “Come sit down”
She says that to the woman and she hands
her a plate. The woman sits next to Aaron
because there’s an empty chair next to
him.
I look at her and I definitely know this
woman. From where I don’t know. We all
keep quiet waiting for her to talk.
Woman: “I’m so glad it didn’t take me
long to find this house. Lihle, I’m so glad
to see you again my friend”
I’m confused. Everyone around the table
is.
Me: “Friend? Who are you?”
Woman: “You’ve forgotten me?”
Me: “You do look familia but I don’t know
where I know you from”
Woman: “I’m Tiana, your friend from
Singapore?”
Oh my God!
Me: “Tiana! This is really you? Oh God I
now remember! Dad, it’s the girl that
helped you find me”
Dad: “Oh! I also now remember her. How
are you my girl?”
Tiana: “I’m good papa”
Dad: “What are you doing here in South
Africa?”
Tiana: “I’m here on work papa. And my
boyfriend lives here so he’s also one of
the reasons I’m here”
Aaron coughs.
Me: “Are you okay babe?”
Aaron: “Yeah I’m okay. This juice just
choked me”
Me: “Juice? And what is bothering you so
much that you choke on juice?”
He gives out a small laugh.
Aaron: “Nothing babe. Just work stress.
Uhm, can you pass me the green salad”
I pass him the green salad and before I can
ask him about work there’s a knock on the
door.
Kevin: “Who’s that now?”
Ma Sam: “Just go open the door”
He goes to open the door and I feel my
heart stop as I see the monster at the
door.

ROSE

I had decided years ago that I would never

come back to Joburg. This place…this
place changed me. I don’t know whether
it’s this place or desperation that made
me do what I did. After everything that
happened nine years ago…I told myself
that I would never bother the Khumalos
again, especially Lihle.
But I had to come see her. I had to come
thank her for saving my daughter. I don’t
think she knows that Diana is my daughter
considering the look on her face when she
sees me at the door.
Me: “Hi…”
Lihle’s brother: “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING HERE?!
Lihle’s father, mothers and Bianca stand
up.
Sibusiso: “Get out of my house right!”
Me: “I’m not here to cause any trouble. I
just came here to talk to Lihle”
One of Lihle’s mothers speaks. I don’t
know which one is her biological mother. I
think it’s the black one though because if
it was the white one Lihle would’ve been
coloured. The white one is speaking.
“Talk to Lihle about what? After
everything you and that witch did, you
think you can come here and talk to
Lihle?!”
Me: “I just want to thank her”
The black mom is silent and just crying
holding Lihle who’s also crying. I figure
that’s her biological mom.
Sibusiso: “Thando, you and your friends go
upstairs”
The teen children, two girls and two boys,
stand up and go upstairs with their plates
full of food.
Me: “Lihle, I know that you want nothing
to do with me. I also didn’t want to bother
you. But I just had to thank the doctor
who saved my daughter’s life”
Sibusiso: “Who’s your daughter? My child
doesn’t know any daughter of yours, let
alone save her”
Me: “Diana. Diana Rose. She’s my
daughter”
Lihle looks up for the first time since she
saw me enter the house.
White mom: “Diana is your daughter?”
Me: “Yes. She’s the reason I helped in
kidnapping Li…in doing what I did to Lihle.
I needed money to help her heart
problems but unfortunately I got arrested
and couldn’t help her that time”
Everyone is quiet.
Me: “Lihle, I’m so sorry for what I did. If I
could reverse the time I would. Thank you
for everything you’ve done for me and my
daughter. We didn’t deserve your
kindness. Thank you
Khumalo…Mkhize…thank you family.
Bianca, thank you for helping me arrive
here today and get this chance to
apologise and thank Lihle. Once again, I’m
sorry Lihle. Goodbye”
Tears are now rolling down my eyes. I turn
around and walk towards the door.

LIHLE

Seeing her brought back all the memories

that happened when I was in Grade 10.
The kidnapping… the rape…Singapore… I
couldn’t even look her in the eye.
So…so Diana is Mis…Rose’s daughter?
Diana Rose. Why didn’t I see it all along?
The surname, that was all I needed to see.
“Babe are you okay?” That’s Aaron.
I look up and instead of seeing him my
eyes meet with Bianca’s first.
“You! You brought her here!”
Bee: “She just wanted to apologise Lihle”
Me: “Apologise? After everything she did
you bring her to my house and you tell me
she JUST wanted to apologise?! You didn’t
even ask me if I’m ready to see her”
Bee: “You weren’t gonna agree to see
her!”
Me: “Then why did you bring her if you
knew I wasn’t gonna agree?!”
Dad: “Girls please, calm down”
Me: “No dad! This girl here…”
Bee: “Girl? So now I’m a girl? Ever since
your friends came here I became nothing
to you!”
Mbali: “Ehh, singenaphi manje thina la
(what do we have to do with this
conversation now)
Ma Sam: “Mbali. Lihle, Bianca stop this
now”
I don’t even listen to Ma Sam.
Me: “So just because of that you called
that witch here? What is it revenge?”
Bee: “I told you, she just wanted to
apologise!”
Tears just roll down my eyes. I look at
Bianca one more time and go upstairs to
my room.

AARON

Perfect. This is exactly what I needed.

Everything in this family is a mess so it’s
the perfect time to strike. No one will see
it coming.
“Babe, have you finalised the plan?”
Me: “Yes, everything is ready. The boys
are just waiting for me to tell them when
it’s time to strike”
“Good. I can’t for when we move into our
new house”
Me: “All in due time. It will happen all in
due time”
She leaves the room just as my phone
rings.
“My love”
“Babe, how are you?”
“Very good love. How about you?”
“I’m good. Is everything going according
to plan?”
“Yes it is. I just need to ask a few
questions from you then everything will
be perfect”
“Questions about what?”
“You’ll know when we meet tonight,
We’re still on right?”
“Yes”
“Good. Bye, I love you”
“I love you too”
Call ends.
Great. Now I need to go.
“Babe! The hospital just called. I’m
needed there right now a patient just
came in and there’s a shortage of doctors”
She comes in the bedroom.
“Oh I forgot you’re on call. Okay what
time will you be back?”
Me: “I won’t be back tonight. I’ll be back
tomorrow around nine in the morning”
“Okay. Let me pack a shirt and pants for
you”
Me: “Thank you babe”
I love this woman. You see her, I’m gonna
wed her. I’m doing all of this for her and
our future children.

I arrive at the hotel and she’s already

there waiting for me.
Me: “Babe, sorry I’m late”
Her: “Don’t worry, I’m the one who
arrived early”
We kiss for a whole two minutes.
Me: “Mmm, let’s go continue this in our
room”
We go to reception and they walk us to
our room I booked for tonight.
I made sure to book a place far from my
house, her house and the Khumalo
Mkhize house whatever the hell that
family is called. I also made sure not to
book at the same hotel as that Lunga guy.
I feel so sorry for everything that’s coming
his way. He earned it by sleeping with my
girl. I hate Lihle but that doesn’t mean I’ll
allow anyone to chow her when I myself
don’t know how she tastes like.
“We’re here”
She grabs my machine as she kisses me
and sir springs right up. Man it’s been a
while since I’ve done this. I kiss her right
back as I squeeze her butt and the session
begins.

LIHLE
He hasn’t called to check up on me since
that day Rose came to my house. Lunga,
my friends and family have checked up on
me every single day. I need to go see him.
In fact, let me go now.

“Where are you going Lihle?”

Me: “To see Aaron”
Mom: “Did he call you to come see him?”
Me: “No but I need to talk to him about
something”
Mom: “What?”
Me: “Yoh mom it’s between me and him!”
Mom: “Are you speaking like that to me?”
Me: “Sorry”
I walk out and Kevin is in the garage also,
coming back from work.
Kevin: “Where are you going?”
Me: “Not you also”
I open the door of my car and drive out to
Aaron’s place.
I arrive and hoot at the gate but it seems
like he’s not here. Now where can I look
for him? Hospital, yes.
I drive to the hospital where he works. I
never told you but Aaron moved from the
Eastern Cape to here. He works here full
time now. We don’t work in the same
hospital though.
“Good evening” I greet the receptionist.
“I’d like to see Dr Smith”
Receptionist: “Who are you? And why are
you looking for Dr Smith so late in the
night?”
Me: “Is he here or not?”
Receptionist: “I can’t tell you that if you
don’t tell me who you are”
Yoh drama! I can’t stand for this. I try to
walk past her to Aaron’s office but she
stops me.
Receptionist: “Sisi I asked who are you?
We can’t have Dr Smith’s hoes coming
here acting as they please”
Did this girl just call me a hoe? Just as I’m
about to respond Dr Fiji, the
superintendent of this hospital comes
towards us.
Dr Fiji: “To what do I owe this honour of
having one of my favourites here at my
hospital?”
Me: “Dr Fiji, how are you doing?”
Receptionist: “Ma’am, you know this girl?”
Dr Fiji: “Girl? This Zandile, is Dr Lihle
Mkhize from Khumalo Medicare Hospital.
Her family owns the hospital and she’s
one of the best doctors there. Not only
that but this is her first year but she’s
worked on the hardest cases you can
imagine. Just a few weeks ago, she
worked on a young girl, I’m sure you
remember her, the one we transferred
from here to K-Medicare who was in an
accident and also had a heart condition”
Receptionist: “Oh”
Me: “Yes. I’m one of the best DOCTORS,
Miss Receptionist”
Zandile walks back to her desk with a tail
between her legs.
Me: “Dr Fiji, I’m actually here looking for
Dr Smith”
Dr Fiji: “Dr Smith is not here tonight”
Me: “Oh…okay. Do you have any idea
where he could be?”
Dr Fiji: “I actually had the impression that
both you and him were at Champagne
Sports resort tonight”
Me: “Champagne Sports? Why would we
be there?”
Dr Fiji: “He told me he’s taking you out
there tonight. Apparently it’s your
birthday. Happy birthday by the way!”
I’m so confused. But I play along. I smile.
Me: “Thank you. Uhm, it’s probably a
surprise. He’ll come fetch me at home. Let
me rush there now before he arrives and
doesn’t find me.”
Dr Fiji: “Oh man I just ruined the
surprise!”
Me: “No worries. You actually helped me.
Thank you and bye Dr Fiji”
Dr Fiji: “Bye. Visit us again. US, not Aaron”
I fake a laugh.
Me: “I will”
I pass by reception before I walk out.
“Bye Zandile” I say. She says nothing.
Me: “Is that how you treat all visitors.
Maybe I should go and tell Krishna”
Zandile: “No I’m sorry. Please don’t tell Dr
Fiji”
Me: “Well then next time you’d better
treat me with the respect I deserve as
your senior otherwise uzowukhomba
lomsebenzi”
Zandile: “I’m sorry Dr Mkhize”
Me: “Bye”
Zandile: “Bye”
I walk out. I’m tired of receptionists acting
like they’re better than the rest of us.

I arrive at Champagne Sports. As I park my

car, I walk slowly towards reception
checking out other cars here. Maybe I’ll
spot Aaron’s car.
There it is! Aaron’s Mercedes. So he is
here.
“Good evening Tanita”
Tanita: “Dr Mkhize, how may I help you?”
Me: “There’s a visitor I’m looking for here.
Aaron Smith”
Tanita: “The doctor?”
Me: “Yes”
Tanita: “He checked in here tonight”
Me: “Was he alone?”
Tanita: “Dr Mkhize…I can’t share that
information with you”
Me: “Come on Nita. It’ll be worth it”
She looks around making sure none of the
other workers see her. She gives me a key
with room number 14.
Tanita: “This is the key to his room. Please
don’t get me in trouble Dr Mkhize”
Me: “Don’t worry Tanita, I just want to
talk to him”
I walk around looking for room 14.
I finally find it and as I unlock it hear a
sound. Who the hell is he with?
I take a deep breath and walk in.
“Aar…..”
Aaron

Shit!
“Lihle! Babe!” I shout as she walks out the
door. How did she know I’m here? This
was not part of the plan.
Sne: “Babe, leave her. She’s just being
dramatic”
Me: “I think now it’s time to do what we
really came here to do”
Sne: “Urgh okay. Lihle just ruined a
perfect thing”
We take turns having a quick shower then
sit on the bed to have our discussion.
Me: “Okay! So babe, tell me everything
you know about Lihle, even her deepest,
darkest secrets”
Sne: “How am I supposed to know Lihle’s
deepest, darkest secrets?”
Me: “She’s your best friend”
Sne: “No she’s not. None of them is my
best friend. I hate them especially Lihle”
Me: “Why do you hate her?”
Sne: “She stole my life! I’m the one who’s
supposed to be living at that mansion. I’m
the one who was supposed to win that
competition. I’m the one who was
supposed to “bring the money home” as
they said. But she…she stole all that from
me”
Me: “But things would’ve been different
for you . You’re not Kevin’s sister
remember?”
Sne: “I know. But me and Kevin would’ve
fallen in love and gotten married and I’d
be living the best life right now…no
offence to you”
None taken.
Me: “Okay. Tell me about your other
friends”
Sne: “Why?”
Me: “Well they were not good friends to
my babe and they supported Lihle instead
of you. So maybe I should make them
pay”
Sne: “Pay how?”
These questions are starting to irritate me.
Me: “I’ll think of something. All I know is
they’ve got to pay for what they did to my
babe”
Sne: “Especially Lihle. Make sure she pays”
Oh babe you have no idea.
Sne: “Where can I start?...well, Mbali.
Mbali is a dumb bitch who thinks the
world revolves around her. She thinks
she’s the prettiest but the girl doesn’t
even have a job. And now that she’s
dating Kevin she thinks she’s the queen”
Me: “Mmm tell me about her and Kevin.
Does he love her? And how did they
meet?”
Sne: “She stole him from Bianca. She loves
him and I think he loves her too”
Interesting..
Me: “Tell me about Olwethu. She’s
Lunga’s sister right?”
Sne: “Yes. Lunga’s sister. The same Lunga
who slept with your girlfriend”
Me: “Lunga slept with Lihle? Who told you
that?”
Sne: “We heard from the horse’s mouth.
Well she said they didn’t have sex but we
all know that’s not true”
I take a deep breath.
Me: “Okay tell me about Olwethu”
Sne: “Well besides that she’s an orphan
and she’s pregnant there’s really nothing
else to know. She’s actually not bad. She’s
the sweetest”
Me: “Nico? Anything you know about
him?”
Sne: “Nico is just a great guy who’s also an
orphan”
Me: “When’s Olwethu giving birth?”
Sne: “Anytime from now on. She’s already
nine months pregnant”
Mmm…I have to have her watched as
from today. Lunga’s going to wish he
never crossed paths with me.
Me: “Thank you babe. You’ve helped me”
Sne: “What are you going to do?”
Me: “I’m not sure for now babe. Let’s
sleep now”
I’ve gotten all I wanted from Sne. I just
want to sleep so I can leave and go to my
real babe. My future wife.

LIHLE

I’ve been on his chest since I arrived here

sobbing and threw myself on him. It’s
been an hour now laying like this on his
hotel bed.
Lunga: “Are you okay now to tell me what
happened?”
Me: “He’s cheating on me”
I’m still on his chest and I’m so much
calmer now.
Lunga: “Who?”
Me: “Who else can it be? Aaron!”
Lunga: “Oh”
Me: “Is that all you’re going to say?
“Oh”?”
Lunga: “What do you want me to say? I
can’t lie and say I feel sorry for you when
I don’t”
Me: “What? How can you say that? So
you’re happy when you see me
heartbroken?”
Lunga: “Being heartbroken is the only
thing that makes you come to papa”
Me: “What pa…”
He’s smiling.
Me: “Seriously? You’re busy making jokes
at a time like this?”
Lunga: “Well what do you wanna make?
Babies?”
His hands start touching every part of my
body…

Thando: “It’s so early in the morning I

don’t want to talk about this”
Chrissie: “If you don’t want to talk about it
then answer my damn question! Why are
you such a h#e?!”
“Haibo! What’s happening here? Who’s a
h#e?” I ask entering the kitchen.
Chrissie: “Sis Lihle, she’s dating my crush.
Sisters don’t date each other’s crushes”
Thando: He’s also my crush!”
Chrissie: “But you never told me about it!”
Thando: “How was I supposed to tell you
when you never give anyone a chance to
talk? It’s always you you you! Even at
school you abandon me and talk to your
girlfriends!”
Me: “Okay that’s enough! I have way too
much stress to be stressed by teenage
boyfriend issues. Listen here, you’re both
too young to be dating you should be
focusing on books…”
“At least I got it balanced”
Me: “Shut up Thando! Since you’re
fighting over this boy, I want you Thando
to break up with him…”
“Haa but sis…”
Me: “No buts. He’s driving you both crazy
right? I want you to break up with him and
wena Chrissie that doesn’t mean you
should then go after him. None of you will
date him. And if I hear or see you fighting
two fighting again, or hear that any of you
is dating him, I’ll tell dad”
Chrissie: “But sis Lihle, Nyezi was mine
first”
Me: “Oh so it’s Nyezi? It’ll be very easy to
find out if any of you is dating him. I don’t
care whether he was yours first or last fact
is none of you will date Nkanyezi or
Nkanyiso for that matter. Siyezwana? (Do
you hear me?)
Thando/Chrissie: “Yes”
I walk out of the room leaving them
standing there sulking. I have way too
many problems to be stressed by teens.
Speaking of problems, I need to drink my
morning after pills before another
problem is created. Yes! I slept with Lunga
yesterday! For the first time since those
men raped me, I had sex. I enjoyed it and I
wish he was the one taking my virginity.
For so long I was so scared to sleep with a
man or even date one. My friends were
telling me each and everytime they got
boyfriends or slept with them…how much
fun they had, how nice it is to be love,
how embarrasing their first time was. But
last night Lunga changed all that. I felt so
safe in his arms. For the first time I felt
safe in a man’s arms. Maybe Aaron
cheating on me wasn’t do bad at all.
Because of him I finally found someone I
love. Lunga and I are officially dating!
As for Sne. She moved out of the girl’s
house early this morning. Apparently a
few harsh words were exchanged
between her and Mbali. I don’t care about
her. She’s always been jealous of me so
she can have Aaron. I just feel sorry for
the twins who now have to stay at
boarding school because of this. At least
they’re still attending the same school.
I wonder what Sne said to the girls.
Olwethu couldn’t finish telling me because
she said she was feeling pains…oh my
God! Pains! She’s already nine months
pregnant, so she’s going into labour!
Let me call Mbali.
I ring her twice but she doesn’t answer. I
decide to call Lunga.
“Babe, I can’t talk right now. Olwethu’s
going into labour”
“Where are you?”
“Your hospital”
“Have you gotten any help?”
“Yes. And Nico is on his way here. Can you
also come please. I’m so stressed and I
need you here”
“Okay I’m on my way”
I drop the call, take my car keys and rush
outside to my car.
“Tell mom I’ll call her. Olwethu’s giving
birth!”
I say to Thando and Chrissie as I pass them
in the sitting room…still sulking. I don’t
even wait for their response.
I wonder if it’s a girl or boy, I hope it’s a
girl! No a boy is better! Okay I just can’t
wait to see him or her! This is all I’m
thinking on the way. We ended up not
knowing the gender of the baby since
Olwethu’s party was ruined. I’ve assigned
Diana’s case to another very good doctor
here. She’s getting better anyway. Maybe
she’s even been discharged I don’t know.
“Monica, hi hi hi. I’m rushing to my friend
who’s giving birth right now we’ll talk
later”
Monica: “Diana left a letter here for you”
Me: “Diana? Why? Give it to me I’ll read it
later”
She hands it to me and I rush to the labour
ward.
“Lihle!” Mbali screams and hugs me.
“Your babe is dying of stress here. Tell him
that Olwethu and the baby are gonna be
alright”
I laugh when I look at Lunga who’s sitting
on the bench with both his hands on his
cheeks.
“Why do you look like someone has
died?” I ask him as I sit down next to him
and wrap my arms around his waist.
He faces me and lays his head on my
chest.
“I’m scared. What if he doesn’t survive?”
he says.
Me: “Don’t worry. He…wait did you say
he?”
He looks up to me and smiles.
Lunga: “Of course she was gonna tell me.
I’m her brother”
I scream and call Mbali who has moved
away from us.
Mbali: “What! What’s wrong? Is the baby
okay? Mxm I don’t even know the baby is
Olwethu okay?”
Me: “Enhle’s getting a man!!!!! It’s a he!”
“Ahhhhhhhh” Mbali jumps and screams.
“I knew it I knew it I knew it!”
Lunga: “Nibanga umsindo ngiphethwe
ikhanda (you’re making noise I have a
headache)”
Mbali rolls her eyes at him and starts
screaming all over again. Everyone at the
hospital is now looking at us.
“Dr Mkhize!”
I turn around and it’s Dr Patel.
Dr Patel: “What’s up with the noise? You
know we’re not supposed to scream like
that. If you don’t stop you and your
friends will have to leave”
Me: “I’m sorry Dr. We are just too excited
but we’ll stop”
Dr Patel: “Another reason I came to you is
because we need you in ward three”
Me: “Need me as a Dr?”
Dr Patel: “Yes. Please go change into your
uniform the nurses will be waiting for you
in the ward”
Lunga: “But right now she’s here to
support her sister in law who’s giving
birth”
Lunga. Did he have to say sister in law?
We’ve only been dating for less than 24
hours.
Dr Patel: “I’m sorry sir but this is what Dr
Mkhize signed up for when she decided to
join medicine”
With that he leaves.
Me: “I have to go guys. I don’t have a
choice. Call me as soon as you’re called to
see the baby. And Mbali, call mom also. I
promised to call her but now I’m going to
be busy”
Mbali: “Okay I will. Why did we even come
to this hospital? See now you’re leaving”
Lunga: “You also left me and went to see
Kevin. We’ll see you later babe. I love you”
Me: “I love you too”
I head to my office.
…

“He’s so cute. Can I have him”

“Don’t worry babe very soon we’ll make
our own”
“Urgh sies man there’s a baby here”
We laugh. Mbali will always be Mbali.
Nico: “Babe, thank you so much for giving
me this gift. He’s perfect”
Olwethu smiles and tears up.
Mbali: “Ncohh this is so cute. What’s his
name?”
Nico: “We’ve decided on Siphosenkosi
Adams”
Me: “That’s such a beautiful name. What
do you think malume ka Siphosenkosi?”
Lunga: “It’s beautiful”
Olwethu: “Are you crying Lunga?”
I look at him and his eyes are teary.
Lunga: “Everyone, if you don’t mind can I
please talk to my sister for a minute
alone?”
Nico: “I’m not leaving my baby”
Lunga: “Please bro. You can stand at the
door or look at your baby through the
window. I just need a minute with my
sister”
We all leave and leave them alone.
After about five minutes Lunga calls us
back in.
Me: “When is Dr Patel discharging you?”
Olwethu: “He said we’re healthy so we’ll
be leaving with you today”
Mbali: “Which house will you be going to?
Mama N ans Ma Sam want to see the
baby”
Olwethu: “Can they come tomorrow?
Today I’m too tired. We’re going to Nico’s
house”
Mbali: “Okay I’ll tell them”
Lunga: “We’ll drive you though”
Nico: “No. I’ll drive them. You three can
come with us in your own car”
Lunga: “Okay Lihle, Mbali and I will drive
in my car”
People with big cars! What if I wanted to
drive in my own car?
Dr Patel comes, checks the baby and
Olwethu one last time and discharges
them.
We help them pack up and then go to our
two separate cars, Olwethu, Siphosenkosi
driving with Nico then Mbali and I driving
with Lunga.

“I can’t wait to change those nappies! And

teach you how to change him”
“How will you teach him when you’ve
never even held a baby yourself? I’ll teach
you both”
Mbali and I are talking having fun when
the car suddenly brakes almost throwing
Mbali through the windscreen. Then we
hear gunshots going off.
“OLWETHU!!” I hear Lunga scream. The
gunshots stop and I raise my head to see
Lunga screaming trying to open Nico’s car
which is filled with holes.
Mbali: “What’s happening?”
She’s just as confused as I am.
Me: “I…I…I don’t know. Lunga”
I rush out of the car pushing Mbali off me.
When I get near Nico’s car, it becomes
clear what happened.
“Senkosi! Oh my God no no no! Senkosi!”
I run to the back seat and I find his
wrinkled self with his eyes wide open.
“You’re okay! You’re okay!” I lift his up
and hug and kiss him with tears running
doen my eyes.
“Noooo! Olwethu! Vuka! Wake up!
Olwethu! You can’t do this. Not here not
like this. Olwethu!”
I look outside the window. Mbali is
jumping from shaking Olwethu to shaking
Nico, screaming to them like they can hear
her.
Lunga. Lunga is just… Lunga is not crying.
He’s seated with bent legs in the middle of
the road, staring at a non existent object
in front of him.
There’s traffic behind us. People are all
around us. Some with their phones out.
Some crying. Some looking at the scene in
front of them with pity.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens fills the
whole place. People start moving back
into their cars.
Paramedics surround Nico and Olwethu.
Mbali is still besides them. Not screaming
anymore but tears are still very much
falling.
I look at the paramedic checking
Olwethu’s pulse. He shakes his head.
I turn to the one checking Nico’s pulse,
hoping and praying. She also shakes her
head.
So this is it. Olwethu is gone. Nico is gone.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
“Sisi, give me the baby” I hear someone
saying that and feel the Senkosi being
taken away from me.
“No, not him. Don’t take him. Olwethu,
Olwe… Olw…”

“She was the sweetest of us. She had the

kindest heart. She was my best friend.
Why mom? Why did God choose her?
She… she had a baby ma! They didn’t even
spend a day together!”

“I’m so sorry babe. I know this is hard”

“You know nothing Lihle! You’ve never
lost your parents and your sister! You’ve
never been the only one left in your
family! I’m alone now Lihle, I’m all alone.”
“I’m here. Senkosi and I are here. We’ll
always be here”
“Promise me that you won’t leave us. You
can’t leave us Lihle. I need you by my
side.”
“I won’t leave you. I promise”
He’s laying on my chest. He has not looked
at me once. My chest is wet though. He’s
crying. This is the first time since
Nicolwethu’s death (Mbali came up with
that) that he has actually cried. We’ve
been staying together since their funeral
and we’ve never even been outside.
Nicolwethu’s funeral was last Sunday. We
buried them next to each other, and my
family helped Lunga pay for the funeral
expenses, even though he refused at first.
We couldn’t locate nor get hold of Nico’s
family, so we buried him. He was family
anyway. He was my brother.
Me: “I love you Mvelase kaGuda, baba ka
Senkosi”
He turns to me and smiles with his eyes
still wet.
“I love you so much more MaMkhize,
mama ka Siphosenkosi”
He lies back down on my chest.
“Will you marry me?”
What? Did I hear right?
Me: “What?”
Lunga: “Please marry me”
This guy! No kneeling, no ring.
Lunga: “I will buy the ring tomorrow”
Me: “Uhm…okay I’ll marry you”
He gets up to look at me with the most
beautiful yet saddest smile.
Lunga: “I love you nkosikazi ka Qhudeni
uMthembu”
Me: “I love you so much more soka lika
MaMkhize”
Lunga: “Really? Soka lika Mamkhize? Is
that the best you could do?”
Me: “Says someone who just asked me to
marry him in the weirdest way ever”
We laugh.
Lunga: “It was also not my plan to ask you
like that. But you said yes and that’s all
that matters”
Me: “When are we fetching our baby? I
miss him”
Lunga: “I need to find out who killed my
sister first”
Me: “No Lunga. You have to forget about
that and focus on Senkosi”
Lunga: “No I want to find them and kill
them like they killed my sister”
Me: “Leave that to the police. Please
babe”
Lunga: “Did Olwethu have any enemies?
My sister was so sweet though. Or was it
Nico’s enemies? Or an ex girlfriend who
was jealous of Nico and Olwethu’s
relationship?”
Me: “Lunga stop it”
Lunga: “But if it’s an ex girlfriend how am I
going to find her? Lihle, where are Nico
and Olwethu’s phones?”
Me: “Lunga stop it! No! You have a baby
to focus on not some revenge nonsense!”
He just keeps quiet and lies back on my
chest.

AARON

Lunga, check. Now Kevin, and with Kevin

I’m going to get my house.
I see that Lihle and Lunga are now an
official couple. Good for them, they
deserve each other anyway.
Now. How will I start with K…
Ring ring
Urgh! It’s this bitch. Can’t she see that I’m
done with her? My job with her is done.
I answer the phone.
Me: “Snethemba”
Sne: “Why don’t you answer my calls now
babe? Or call me?”
I roll my eyes.
Me: “I’m sorry babe. I’ve just been busy”
Sne: “Too busy for your babe?”
Me: “I said I’ve been busy”
Sne: “Okay tell me. Are you responsible
for Olwethu and Nico’s death?”
Me: “No why would you think that?”
Sne: “Because you hate them?”
Me: “No I do not hate them. Look, I didn’t
kill your friend and her man”
Sne: “Why were you asking me about
them that day?”
Me: “I told you. I want to take revenge for
you”
Sne: “So their murder was for me?”
You know what…
Me: “Yes. Their death was for you. I did it
all for you babe”
Sne: “But to kill them Aaron? I know I said
I wanted the revenge but to kill them?
That was just too much. I’m now an
accomplice to murder. What if you get
caught? I’m also going to be arrested”
Me: “Listen here Sne. Nobody is going to
get caught. Nobody is going to be
arrested”
Sne: “But…”
Me: “No! We are safe. You got your
revenge so you should be happy. Also, no
one and I mean NO ONE should know
about this. Now, as I said, I’m very busy so
I have to go”
Sne: “Okay”
She drops the call. Now I don’t know why I
even included her in this. I see she’s going
to be a nuisance.

LIHLE

Oh my phone is ringing.
“Tiana! Hi!”
“Lihle! I’m so sorry for calling late. I
thought you might need some space”
“No man don’t worry. I actually did need
some space you know, me and Lunga”
“How is Lunga? Actually, both of you. How
are you?”
“It still feels so unbelievable that Olwethu
and Nico are gone. It’s going to take quiet
a while before we can be our normal
selves”
“I’m sorry. It must feel…actually I don’t
know how it feels and I hope I never have
to lose you. I don’t know if I would survive
if I was in your shoes”
“Well I actually have no choice. I have to
try to survive and I have to be strong. For
Lunga and Senkosi”
“Senkosi?”
I smile.
“Nico and Olwethu’s baby. I’m now his
mother. And Lunga is basically his dad no
more uncle”
“Ncohh. Senkosi. What does that name
mean?”
“It’s actually Siphosenkosi in full and it
means God’s gift”
“Such a beautiful name with such a
wonderful meaning! He is definitely God’s
gift. I just might steal that name when me
and A… when I have my own baby”
“Is that your way of telling me you’re
pregnant?!”
“No man! I’m just saying whenever I have
a baby, not now”
“What’s wrong with a baby now? I mean
you’re working and seems like you’re in a
stable relationship as well”
“Uh uh. The man’s gotta put a ring on it
first”
“Yes ma’am! The man’s gotta put a ring on
it! Well said! Speaking of men, I can’t
believe you’ve been here for weeks and I
haven’t met him”
She coughs and then laughs.
“You’ll meet him very soon”
“Actually, why don’t you and him come
over for lunch tomorrow? We’ll have a
triple date. Me and Lunga, Mbali and
Kevin, you and…”
“Uhm..Abraham! Me and Abraham”
“Does that mean you’ll come? I’m not
taking no for an answer”
“Okay where?”
“Lunga’s new house. I’ll text you the
details”
“Okay no problem. Anyway, I have to go
now kawan. It was good talking to you.
I’m glad you’re okay”
“Thank you for calling friend. Bye”
Just as I drop the call I hear Senkosi cry. I
just put him in his cot fifteen minutes ago!
My baby loves arms shame!
“Shhh sthandwa sami (my love). Daddy
won’t let you cry when he’s here. You’re
so handsome, just like daddy”
Senkosi smiles.
“No not that daddy. Not the one in
heaven. Me. Nico was handsome as
well…ayy man what am I saying? Never
and I mean never compliment another
man okay? I ain’t having a gay son…”
I laugh so hard they see me at the door.
How can he say that to a child. Lunga
though.
Me: “You remember you’re speaking to an
infant right?”
Lunga: “Look bro, she was listening to
men talk. Women! That’s how they are”
Me: “Lunga! That’s a baby. You can’t
speak such nonsense”
Lunga: “It’s not nonsense I’m teaching him
how to be a man, and warning him about
women. Nina nisile kabi (Y’all act very
smart)”
I’m laughing so hard I fart. I stop laughing
immediately.
Lunga is now the one laughing.
Lunga: “You’re gonna suffocate my child.
Go to the bathroom”
I laugh, a small laugh now.
Me: “It doesn’t even smell”
Lunga: “Leave me and my son and go to
the bathroom, that fart might have
pushed a little something out”
Me: “Haaa Lunga”
I leave him laughing hard and actually go
to the bathroom to check myself.

AARON

The second part of my plan is ready for

execution. By this time tomorrow, the
Smiths…or Khumalos will be planning
another burial.

LIHLE
“Urgh I can’t believe I’m going back to
work tomorrow!”
Lunga: “And since when do you not love
going to work?”
Me: “Since I had a baby. Yazi I should
actually be on maternity leave. I’m a new
mother”
Lunga: “Well lucky me I’m on maternity
leave. A whole four months!”
Me: “This is really weird. I should be on
the four months leave. I’ll talk to Kevin
about this. He has to give me leave”
Lunga: “Why didn’t you talk to him
yesterday in Sandton?”
Me: “I forgot. Dad made me forget all that
by all the advice and asking if I really love
you”
Lunga: “And what did you say?”
Me: “I’m still here aren’t I?”
Lunga: “Is the ring still there? Give me
your hand”
I give him my hand.
Me: “He also told me to tell you to hurry
the hell up with the lobola coz what we’re
doing here is vat n sit”
Lunga: “I’m actually ready for the lobola.
The problem is finding uncles who will
represent my family. You know that
Olwethu and I were mom and dad’s
children we rarely visited aunts and
uncles”
Me: “Oh yeah Olwethu never spoke about
any other family except you four. So have
you spoken to any of the family
members?”
Lunga: “I’ve tried speaking to aunt Petunia
but she just complained about how my
parents forgot about them and how dad
stopped caring for them when he met
mom”
Me: “Eish. That’s all they care about.
Money. She should have complained to
your dad her brother not you. You have
nothing to do with their issues”
Lunga: “I guess I’m paying for my father’s
sins”
Me: “Caring more for his own family than
them was not even a sin. Has any of them
asked about Senkosi?”
Lunga: “Nope”
Me: “So now they are punishing a baby for
dad not giving them money? Urgh man
that’s just childish!”
Lunga: “Don’t get so worked up babe. I’ll
make a plan. I’ll fix all this and pay lobola
so that we don’t have to vat n sit
anymore”
Me: “You don’t have to stress yourself too
much though. I’ll explain the situation to
dad and he’ll understand why we stay like
this”
He turns to me.
Lunga: “No don’t tell him anything. I said
I’ll fix this and pay lobola as soon as
possible”
Me: “But telling him will lessen the
pressure”
Lunga: “I don’t care about the pressure.
Just don’t tell him anything please. You
should not even be involved, lobola is for
men”
I raise my hands in surrender.
Me: “Okay! I’m going to stay out of it. I
was just trying to help though”
He looks at me then looks away without
saying anything.
Me: “Let me go check on the baby”
Lunga: “Your phone is ringing”
I go back to the bed and answer.
Me: “Hello dad”
“Lihle, come to the hospital now”
Me: “Why? What’s wrong?”
“It’s your friend…your brother’s girlfriend”
My heart starts beating fast. I sit down at
the edge of the bed. Lunga moves closer
to me and holds my shoulders with both
his hands.
Me: “Mbali? What’s happening with her is
she sick?”
“She’s been shot”
Me: “Sho…shot? What? When? How”
“Just come to the hospital. Not your
hospital the other one”
Me: “Whe…dad? Dad!”
He has dropped the call.
I throw my phone behind me and put my
hands on my face.
Lunga: “Mbali has been shot?
Me: “Yes. And dad says I must come to the
hospital. I’m scared. I’m scared babe.
What if she’s… she’s…”
Lunga: “She’s alive. If she was dead dad
would have told you in person not call
you. Let’s go to the hospital and support
your friend”
Me: “Okay. And Senkosi?”
Lunga: “Is ma Sam also at the hospital?”
Me: “I don’t think so”
Lunga: “Then we’ll leave Siphosenkosi
with her”
Me: “Okay”
I pack three nappies, a full tin of milk, two
bottles, and baby wipes in Senkosi’s bag.
Lunga carries the bag while I go take
Senkosi from his cot. We go to the car and
drive to ma Sam’s place.

Ma Sam: “Hey! I was waiting for you. I

knew you’d come drop Senkosi here”
She says as she opens his bag checking the
things we packed.
Ma Sam: “Three nappies?”
Me: “Yeah we’ll come back as soon as
possible. I’m not planning to stay at the
hospital”
I put Senkosi on the sofa and go back to
the car. We drive silently to the hospital
with me praying inwardly for mu friend to
be okay.
We arrive at the hospital and dad, mom
and Kevin are seated on the benches.
Kevin is seated exactly the way Lunga was
seated the day Olwethu was giving birth.
Lunga and I go to him and sit next to him.
Me: “What’s happened? Is Mbalenhle
okay?”
Kevin: “Dr Fiji said she’s okay but we can’t
go in there yet. I tried to go in but they
didn’t let me! I’m a doctor dammit they
should allow in!”
I wrap my arms aroud his waist.
Lunga: “Maybe it’s for the better. You
won’t be able to focus and you’ll make
mistakes”
Me: “Yes you know how it is. You can’t
help a family member”
Kevin: “But…”
Me: “Shhh. I’ll go talk to Dr Fiji”
I stand up and go to Dr Fiji’s office.
Me: “Dr Fiji”
Dr Fiji: “Dr Mkhize! Come in”
I walk in her office and sit down across
her.
Me: “Dr Fiji, I’ve come to ask about my
friend. Is she alright?”
Dr Fiji: “Your friend? Mbalenhle Thango?”
Me: “Yes”
Dr Fiji: “Unfortunately I can’t tell you that
Dr Mkhize. You know how it is. I can’t
share a patient’s personal information. I’m
waiting for her family”
Me: “I am her family! I’m her best friend.
And my brother’s her boyfriend!”
Dr Fiji: “I need her parents first then they
can decide whether to tell you or not”
Me: “Okay”
I stand up and head towards the door ut
she stops me”
Dr Fiji: “Dr Mkhize” “You can tell your
brother that his girlfriend is going to live”
I nod and go back to my family. They all
look at me waiting for answers.
I shrug.
Me: “I couldn’t get anything. They’re just
waiting for Mbali’s parents first”
Everyone breathes heavily in
disappointment.
Me: “Kevin”
He doesn’t look at me.
Me: “Kevin Dr Fiji said she’s going to live”
He looks at me and for the first time since
I arrived here his eyes are filled with hope.
I smile at him but he doesn’t smile back. I
guess it’s too early for that.
Me: “Lunga, we need to go. I think they’ve
run out of nappies”
Lunga looks at me for a few seconds then
says “okay”.
I hug Kevin and say goodbye to him and
my parents. Mom asks to go with us so we
can drop her off at her house.
We drop mom off, fetch Senkosi and go
home.

Lunga: “She’s going to be okay my love”

I’m crying on his chest.
Me: “Why is this happening to my friends?
First Sne left then Olwethu and now
Mbali. Am I next? Is the person who shot
Olwethu and Mbali also going to shoot
me?”
Lunga keeps quiet for a little while then
says, “I won’t allow that! I won’t allow
anyone to shoot or hurt you. I promise”
I say nothing and continue crying on his
chest.

MBALI

I look down as I see him come inside. I

know this is the end of us. At least I got a
chance to be with him, something I’ve
dreamt of ever since I met him for the first
time at age 16 the day Lihle was found
from the kidnapping. He stole my heart
that moment. He was crying and so
emotional but I guess I loved him still. I
couldn’t tell neither him nor any of my
friends back then because Lihle was in
love with him. Don’t ask.
When he finally asked me out earlier this
year, I was so excited it felt like he was
asking me to marry him.
Now that we’ve come to our end it feels
like my heart is being ripped apart slowly.
I’m going to make everything easier for
him and break up with him. I know he
won’t want to date me since I’m like this
but I also know he won’t want to hurt my
feelings by breaking up with me.
“Babe” he cups my face with his one hand
and holds my face with the other.
Me: “Hi”
I’m still looking down.
Kevin: “Look at me baby”
I raise my head and look at him straight in
the eyes. I can’t stop the tears that fall
from my eyes.
Kevin: “I love you. I love you Mbalenhle”
I cry more.
Me: “But I’m like this”
Kevin: “So? You’re still the same
Mbalenhle I love”
Me: “I think we should break up”
Kevin: “No baby I love you. We can’t break
up. Anyway why should we break up? I
love you and you love me”
I try to calm myself down.
Me: “Kevin. We’ve barely dated long and
already I have so much baggage. I don’t
deserve you. You need someone who’s
baggage free. Not someone who has a
child and now I’ll be walking in a
wheelchair for the rest of my life. You
don’t even have a child of your own. I
don’t work and considering my situation
now I don’t think I will ever find work. I
can’t expect you to stop living your life
and look after my child and me.”
He tightens his grip on my hand.
Kevin: “Babe listen. I don’t care that you
can’t walk…”
Me: “But I care”
Kevin: “Shhh listen to me. Mbali, when I
first loved you and when I asked you to be
mine, I didn’t love you because you could
walk or because you are beautiful…okay
maybe the beauty had a little bit to do
with it…”
I smile a little.
“I loved you because…I don’t even have a
reason. I just love you. I knew about Enhle
when I asked you out so why would she
be a problem now. You didn’t work when I
asked you out so why would it be a
problem now. I love you Mbalenhle and
you not being able to walk doesn’t change
a single thing. In fact I’m a teensy bit
happy because that means I’ll get to spoil
you more and touch my assets more”
I laugh.
Me: “You’re crazy”
He smiles.
Kevin: “I can’t wait to bath you and dress
you and kiss you whenever I want because
you won’t be able to run away from me”
I laugh more. I’m now calmer.
Kevin: “It makes me happy seeing you
laughing”
Me: “So you still love me even though I’m
a cripple?”
Kevin: “I love my cripple”
Me: “So we’re no longer breaking up?”
Kevin: “I never wanted to break up”
Me: “I’m still deciding on whether to
break up or not because it seems like I’m
going to be raped every single day since I
can’t walk”
Kevin: “Aah come on babe. Not rape, just
a little spanking here and there, a little
groping…”
Me: “Shut up”
We break into laughter.
We finish laughing and it gets serious
again.
Me: “Babe”
Kevin: “Yes babe”
Me: “I’m thiking of going back home”
He looks at me.
Kevin: “Why what’s wrong now? We’re
not breaking up right so why do you want
to go home?”
Me: “I won’t be able to stay alone at the
house with Enhle. I won’t afford the rent
and I’ll be on a wheelchair now how will I
go upstairs. We used to share the rent
with Olwethu and Sne and now that
they’re gone I need to leave the house”
Kevin: “Come stay with me please. The
house is big enough for you and Enhle to
come live with us”
Me: “No what will ma Nolwandle say? No I
can’t”
Kevin: “Ma N doesn’t mind. She’s actually
the one who suggested that you come
stay with us. We were talking about it as a
family yesterday and we all agreed”
Me: “Oh my God I now feel like a burden
to your family”
Kevin: “No you are not. You are part of the
family. So please come stay with us”
Me: “I’ll think about it and I have to talk to
my parents about it”
Kevin: “They also don’t mind. We talked to
them yesterday. At first they refused and
said they’re leaving with you but my
smooth talker father persuaded them into
letting you and Enhle stay with us”
Me: “What did he say? Because my dad is
not easily “smooth talked””
Kevin: “That’s between me, my dad and
your dad”
Me: “Come on tell me”
Kevin: “Nope”
I sulk turning around facing away from
him with some difficulty because of my
legd.
Kevin: “You’re angry now? Huh?”
He touches my butt and squeezes it.
Me: “Kevin! Stop it”
I turn back around to face him. He laughs
at me.
Kevin: “Women are so dramatic”
I roll my eyes and we argue about what he
just said.
KEVIN

I had a great day with my babe today but

sadly the visiting hours ended and I had to
leave her. I really love her and I’m
planning on marrying her.
I told her parents I want to pay lobola and
that’s why they allowed her to stay with
us. I have the money and in two weeks
time I’m paying her lobola. I’ll tell when
she comes out of hospital in two days.

I’m on my way to Lunga’s house. We have

to talk about everything that has
happened this month. The shooting of her
sister and her boyfriend and the shooting
of my girlfriend. This can’t be a
coincidence. It has to be one person.
“Bro”
“How are you doing bro?”
We do handshake.
Me: “Eyy it’s rough dude”
Lunga: “We have to find out who is behind
this”
Me: “My sister has left right?”
Lunga: “Yeah they’ve left. Come let’s go
sit”
We go to his living room and he hands me
a beer.
Lunga: “So, anyone that a score to settle
with you?”
Me: “I don’t know you know. And if there
is a person that is after me, how do
Olwethu and Nico enter into all of this?”
Lunga: “Mmm yeah neh. If the person is
after me and you, we can’t have the same
enemy right?”
Me: “Yeah it’s just impossible. We’ve only
known each other for less than a year. But
then who is behind this?”
We sit quietly for a while each drinking his
own beer from the bottle.
Lunga: “What if…what if the person is not
OUR enemy?”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Lunga: “Look here. The person shot
Olwethu, and then shot Mbali. What if
these women have an enemy and he or
she is tagetting them one by one?”
I think about this.
Me: “What about Nico?”
Lunga: “Maybe Nico just happened to be
at the wrong place at the wrong time. And
his death could have been an added
bonus since he was Olwethu’s boyfriend”
Me: “I hear you and you could be right.
But if that person is an enemy of them,
then it means my sister is also in danger!”
Lunga: “Shit! She can’t go out of the house
alone anymore. Let me call her and check
if they’re alright”
He goes to his bedroom to call her while I
remain in the sitting room thinking about
all this.
So this person is after the girls? Olwethu is
gone, Mbali is in hospital, so only Lihle is
left. Oh and Snethemba! Snethemba…
“They’re alright”
Lunga says coming down the stairs.
Me: “Where are they?”
Lunga: “They’re at ma Nolwandle’s house.
They went to visit her and Enhle”
Me: “Do you have any idea what
happened between the girls and
Snethemba?”
Lunga: “Snethemba their friend?”
I nod.
Lunga: “No I have no idea. All I know is she
moved out and wass insulting them that
day”
Me: “Did she come to Olwethu and Nico’s
funeral?”
Lunga: “Uhm, I didn’t see anything much
that day and I don’t remember seeing her
either”
Me: “I also didn’t see her”
Lunga: “Why are you asking about her? Do
you think…”
Me: “I don’t know bro. I’m just trying to
piece everything together”
Lunga: “Where is she anyway?”
Me: “I have no idea but I’ll have to go to
her work one of these days and talk to
her”
Lunga: “This is bad. I cannot lose my wife
also. I already lost my sister and almost
lost my baby”
Me: “I also can’t lose my sister and
girlfriend. What if the person who shot
Mbali knows that she is still alive and will
go back to finish her off? I need to go back
to the hospital”
I stand up putting the beer bottle on the
coffee table.
Lunga: “What are you going to do when
you arrive at the hospital?”
Me: “I’m going to sleep there. Mbali is
being discharged tomorrow so at least it’s
one day”
Lunga: “Okay bro I also need to go fetch
Lihle and Siphosenkosi”
Me: “We’ll travel in my car. I’ll drop you
off at home then you guys can come back
in Lihle’s car. Unless you have another
plan?”
Lunga: “No that’s a great idea. Thanks”
We go to my car and drive off.
IN A JAIL CELL FAR FAR AWAY

“Eyy magriza. How’s it? Why do you look

so stressed? This is jail man nobody
stresses. Look you are even ugly man”
“Just leave me alone Stitch. I don’t have
time for your nonsense”
“Jy mis jou seun huh? (You miss your son
huh?)”
“Yeah. He’s a doctor now. He has never
visited me. Not even once”
“Eish hade magriza (sorry grandma) that’s
life. One moment they’re there the next
they’re not”
“Maybe he’s married now and has a
family of his own. He has probably
forgotten that I exist”
“Stop complaining man. You’re going out
this afternoon and you’ll finally see your
son”
Magriza takes out a picture of her son and
looks at it.
Stitch: “This your son?”
Magriza nods.
Stitch: “Damn man he’s a snack! He’s
coloured even! Last time I had a coloured
this white lady took him from me. White
lady like you. With long white hair”
Magriza: “Blonde hair. Blonde not white”
Stitch: “Whatever man same thing. So you
kept this picture hidden for eight years
straight? Ayy uyibhoza magriza (you are
the boss grandma)”
Magriza stays quiet.
Stitch: “You should come introduce me to
him when you get out. Coz me…me I’m
going to be here for long man. I killed a
man, a coloured man”
Stitch laughs by herself.
Stitch: “He was cute just like your son. I
don’t even know how I bagged him. But I
was hot man. He called me his prinses.
Then the white lady with long white hair
came”
Magriza opens her mouth to correct her
but stops. It’s useless. She’s been
correcting her for the past eight years but
she never listens. She still says white.
Stitch arrived here a year after Angela
arrived. Stitch taught Angela how to
survive in jail. Angela was slow though
then she nicknamed her “Magriza”.
Magriza and Stitch have been together
since Stitch’s arrival and Stitch has gotten
more stitches on her face than you can
imagine. Hence the name “Stitch”.
Stitch: “I killed for that. I killed him for
choosing the white lady with long white
hair over me. I stabbed him. I stabbed him
three times then stabbed her vagina”
Stitch has been telling this story for the
past eight years. Guess she truly loved the
coloured man.

AARON

“Yes yes yes! Everything is going well

according to the plan and in less than two
weeks I’ll have my house and living the life
I deserve!”
“But Mbali is better now”
“Haha you see that…yeah she’s still alive
but she’s so useless. More useless than
she was before.”
“What do you mean? Is there something
you’re not telling me?”
“Well babe bring the wine and glasses. We
need to celebrate our victory and our
getting closer to reaching our goals!”
She fetches wine and two glasses.
Her: “Now tell me what happened”
Me: “Well babe. Our Mbali did not die.
The bitch survived but guess what? She
lost her ability to walk! She’s going to be
in a wheelchair now and going to keep
Kevin so busy I’ll take his house as easy as
one two three”
Her: “Wow. Seems like her being disabled
is going to help us more than her being
dead”
Me: “Yes! At least she’s being useful in
some way”
We laugh.
Her: “And her baby? Is she still living with
her?”
Me: “They’ve moved to the Khumalo
house. Her and her baby. Kev is a dad
now.”
Her: “He’s going to be so busy and
distracted living with his mom, child and
cripple girlfriend”
Me: “Exactly what we want”
I hear a knock at the door.
“Who’s that disturbing our celebration?
People are just jealous man!” I whisper to
my babe and she laughs.
I go open the door.

Lihle: “Hey I’m so…Tiana? Tiana what are

you doing here?”
Tiana stands up and goes to Lihle who just
let herself in.
Tiana: “Hi Lihle. Let me formally introduce
you. Babe, this is Lihle, my ex friend whom
you know veryyy well. Lihle, this is my
man Aaron, whom I’m also sure you know
pretty well”
Lihle just stands there shocked.
Tiana: “Hey missy! What are you doing in
my man’s house?” she asks snapping her
fingers near the face of the shocked Lihle.
Lihle: “When did you two start dating?”
Tiana: “Before you even came into the
picture”
Lihle: “What? So you started dating before
I dated him?”
Tiana: “Before you knew him honey”
Lihle: “What the hell! You know what, I
don’t care. I just want my jacket”
Lihle walks to go upstairs but stops when
she sees the chart on the coffee table.
Damn!
Lihle: “What’s this? What are my family’s
pictures doing on this chart?”
She looks at us.
Tiana: “It’s none of your business. Just go
take your jacket so you can leave”
Lihle walks to the chart and examines it.
Lihle: “Why is Olwethu and Mbali’s picture
crossed? And why is there a circle on
Kevin’s picture? And the house? What the
hell is going on here?!”
I walk towards her.
Me: “Lihle just leave”
Lihle: “It’s you isn’t it? It’s you! You are
the ones who shot them! Oh my God!”
Shit now what?
Me: “No that’s not what this chart is
about I didn’t shoot anyone”
Lihle: “You killed my best friend! I need to
go”
She’s crying and she walks towards the
door but I pull her back.
Me: “You’re not going anywhere”
Lihle: “Wha…”
Tiana: “Yep you’re not going anywhere.
We can’t have you going around
blabbering ruining our plans”
Lihle: “What plans?”
Tiana: “Sit”
Lihle remains standing.
Tiana: “I said sit!”
LIHLE

I go and sit on the sofa.

Me: “Are you keeping me hostage?”
Tiana laughs.
Tiana: “Call it what you want fact is anda
tidak akan ke manamana (you are not
going anywhere)”
I look at the chart again and I can’t believe
they would do this.
I look at Aaron.
Me: “Why?”
Aaron: “Because of your stepmother”
Me: “My stepmother? What did ma Sam
do?”
Aaron: “Not that one. The other one”
I’m so confused.
Me: “I don’t have another step mother”
Aaron: “Angela”
I feel my heart skip a beat.
Me: “That woman is not my mother nor
my step mother”
Aaron: “Well whatever but it’s because of
her I’m doing all this.
I think for a second.
Me: “How do you even know Angela and
what did she do?”
Aaron: “You forget I’m a Smith hey?”
What…no
Me: “What? So you are…you are related
to Angela and Kevin?”
Aaron: “Yes. I can’t believe you were so
stupid you didn’t notice that”
Wow. They asked me. I remember my
friends asking me about this and I got
angry.
Me: “So all this time you were using me to
get to the Smiths?”
Aaron: “Correct”
Me: “Good thing I dumped you and dated
Lunga!”
That angers him but he tries to calm
himself down.
Aaron: “Well you should be happy now
because your cheating caused your
friend’s death!”
Me: “What do you mean? Aaron what the
hell do you mean?”
He laughs. Tiana laughs too.
Aaron: “No more gloating now hey?”
Tears fall down my eyes.
Me: “Aaron what do you mean?”
Aaron: “Killing your friend and her
boyfriend wasn’t even part of the plan.
They’re not even Smiths. I did it all to get
back at Lunga for taking my girl, you from
me”
Me: “He didn’t take me I went to him”
Aaron: “Well you made a big mistake
because people are now dead”
I’m trying to control my tears but the
more he talks the more it hurts.
Me: “You didn’t even love me Aaron! So
why did it matter if I cheated on you!”
Aaron: “No one cheats on me Lihle! No
one chooses another man and gets away
with it! My own father already chose your
stupid mother and brother over me and
my mom and that was enough! Look, we
struggled when my father was still alive
then when he died he left all his money to
Kevin and Angela. They didn’t give us a
cent to bury him. My mother died poor
dammit! All because of your mother and
brother. Now that they’re rich they don’t
even come visit and check on their family”
Oh so this is why he’s here. To get back at
Angela.
Me: “Kevin was young. He didn’t know all
that. And you can clearly see that he
doesn’t know anything even now because
he doesn’t know you”
Aaron: “How was he going to know me
when he was busy eating sweets bought
by father and I was stuck with pap and
cabbage?! Huh? Why doesn’t he ask
himself about his extended family?
Everyone has got an extended family and
he doesn’t ask himself about his?!”
Me: “Angela told him that they were
chased out of home when she gave birth
to him because he had black genes. That’s
why Kevin didn’t ask about his extended
family. He hates them because they were
racist”
Aaron: “But I also didn’t know anything
then. I was also still young. Does he think
his cousins are also racist and were
involved in chasing him and his mom
out?”
Me: “He doesn’t remember you. He
doesn’t know you”
Aaron: “Well that’s not my fault”
Me: “So shooting Mbali was to punish
Kevin”
Aaron: “Correct. You’re actually not that
bad”
I look down and think about all this.
Me: “And now you’re going to kill me to
punish him because Mbali didn’t die?”
Just before he answers, the door opens.
“Babe!”
What! What the hell is going on here?
Snethemba?
Sne stops when he sees Tiana and me.
Sne: “What are you two doing in my man’s
house?”
Tiana: “Babe who’s this?”
Sne: “Babe? This is MY man”
Tiana: “Aaron, what is this girl doing in my
house?”
They both look at Aaron for answers. I also
look at him.
Aaron: “Tiana babe, this is the woman
that helped me get to Kevin’s girlfriend
and Lunga’s sister”
What?
Sne: “I’m the woman now Aaron? I’m your
babe for heaven’s sake!”
Aaron looks at Sne.
Aaron: “Look Sne, I’ve gotten what I
wanted from you. Whatever me and you
had is over so can you please get out and
leave my house”
Sne looks shocked. I’m enjoying this
drama so I decide to add my piece.
Me: “Did you really think you could betray
your friends and be happy? This man here
played you. He played you like he played
me. That is what you get for helping him
in killing my…your best friend”
Sne looks like she’s about to cry. She tries
begging Aaron but with Tiana there Aaron
doesn’t even look at her.
Sne: “Babe please. Think about this”
Aaron: “Get out Sne”
Sne: “Aaron”
Aaron: “I said get out!”
Tiana: “Get out of my man’s house!”
Tiana pulls her and pushes her out of the
door with her screaming Aaron’s name
over and over.

KEVIN
“How was spending your day with your
best friend?”
I ask Mbali as I throw myself on the bed.
Mbali: “It was amazing. I missed spending
time with her without getting interrupted”
Me: “Mmm…I hope you weren’t talking
about men here”
Mbali laughs.
Her: “Maybe a little”
Me: “So Lihle comes here to influence
you? Nx I need to talk to her”
She laughs again.
Mbali: “I’m joking. All we were talking
about was you, Lunga and Sipho”
Me: “Good. I almost called Lunga to tell on
her”
Mbali: “That’s so childish”
She laughs and my phone rings.
Me: “Lunga”
Lunga: “Sho bro is Lihle there?”
Me: “No why?”
Lunga: “She hasn’t arrived and it’s already
late”
Me: “Let me ask Mbali” I turn to Mbali.
“When did Lihle leave?”
Mbali whispers to me. “Just before four”
Me: “She left here just before four. Have
you tried calling her?”
Lunga: “Yes but her phone is off and
Lihle”s phone is never off ever since we
had a baby”
Mbali interrupts me.
Mbali: “I remember she said she’ll pass by
Aaron’s first place then go home”
Lunga: “Aaron’s place? For what?”
Mbali: “To fetch her jacket she inherited
from her grandma. She said she couldn’t
fetch it when she and Aaron had just
broken up so she’s fetching it now”
Lunga: “I’m going there right now.
He drops the call.
Me: “I’m also going”
I tell Mbali as I stand up.
Mbali: “Why?”
Me: “Lunga sounds angry and considering
the time it has taken for Lihle to get back I
fear something might just go wrong”
Mbali: “Okay. I love you and please don’t
do anything stupid”
Me: “I love you too”
I kiss her on the cheek before I leave.

LIHLE

They’ve kept me here for four hours now.

They’re still fighting about the Sne issue
and I have to sit here and listen to their
rubbish.
I tried to leave but then they decided to
tie me to the table in handcuffs.
“Why didn’t you ask for my help? I was
close to Lihle so I would have been able to
get you all the information Sne gave you!”
“I didn’t want to involve you in my dirty
dealings”
“So telling me about how you killed them
is not involving me? Or what we’ve just
did, holding her hostage? Am I not
involved or perhaps it’s not dirty?”
“Babe I’m sorry”
“You just wanted to sleep with her admit
it”
“That’s not true babe”
“You don’t love me do you? You’re just
using me then when you finally get the
revenge you want on this family and also
get the house then you’ll dump me just
like you did Sne”
Yoh. Now they’re going to argue about
love with Tiana claiming Aaron doesn’t
love her and Aaron telling her all these lies
men tell us. Honestly, I’m tired of this and
I want to go home to my baby.
“Can you please let me go I have a baby to
care for!” I scream at them interrupting
them.
Tiana: “You should have thought about
that baby before coming to another
woman’s house to fetch a stupid jacket”
Me: “My jacket is not stupid. What’s
stupid here is you thinking that Aaron
loves you. Wake up baby girl, this man
loves no one but himself”
Aaron tries speaking but I continue.
Me: “And you know what’s more stupid?
It’s him thinking he’ll get my mother and
my brother’s house. Listen dude, angeke
uyithole! (You won’t get it)”
Aarons fake laughs.
Aaron: “I think you’re the one stupid for
calling that house your mother’s house.
That house is my aunt’s house. Your
mother is just a broke ass who left the
villages, where she belongs, to live in a
young boy’s house who’s not even her
stepson. I think sometimes she forgets
that she’s not married to your father, that
sexy white granny is”
He continues fake laughing and getting me
angrier and angrier.
Me: “At least my mom will die living in a
big house with a fucking rich daughter
who’s not bitter about the past. What
about your mom Aaron? Did she die like
that? Did she die happy?”
He clenches his fists.
Aaaron: “Don’t talk about my mother like
that!”
Me: “So it’s nice when you insult other
people’s mothers but you don’t want
yours to get insulted? You know, at least
my father looked for me and loved me
even though I was already a teen. Your
father didn’t even love you as a young boy
and yet you expected me to love you and
fall for your games…
Slap
My cheek. I feel it getting hot. Aaron just…
Aaron just slapped me.
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST DO?!?”
In the midst of my hot cheek, I hear the
door opening with force and see Lunga
and Kevin in front of me.
Lunga has a gun pointed on Aaron’s head.
“You son of a bitch think you can slap my
wife? You think she’s still yours?”
Aaron: “What the hell are you two doing
in my house?”
Kevin is untying me. He’s calmer than
Lunga.
Kevin: “Why is my sister tied up?”
Aaron: “I said what are you two doing in
my house?!”
Gunshot!
Tiana and I scream and I go on my knees
trying to avoid getting shot.
I look across me and Tiana has done the
same thing.
I look up and see that Lunga shot the roof.
Lunga: “Before I start shooting each of
your body parts one by one, I want you to
tell me why, why you slapped my wife”
Aaron laughs.
Aaron: “She missed daddy. You’re not
giving it to her right”
Gunshot!
Aaron screams. I look up and Aaron’s leg is
bleeding. He has fallen down and is now
sitting on the floor on his butt holding his
leg moaning in pain.
“Baby!” Tiana tries to go to him but Lunga
points the gun at her and gives her that
“Don’t you dare” look.
Tiana remains where she is and cries
silently.
Lunga: “I hate asking the same question
over and over” His attention is now back
to the man on the floor.
Aaron is still moaning in pain not even
looking at Lunga.
Lunga shoots again at the roof and we all
jump.
Aaron: “Okay okay! I’ll tell you the truth.
Just promise you’ll let my woman go”
Lunga: “You didn’t negotiate anything
when you slapped my woman and now
that yours is in danger we have to
negotiate?”
Aaron: “Okay. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt
her please”
Lunga remains silent just pointing the gun
at him.
Aaron clears his throat.
“Uhm look, I’m no danger to anyone here.
All I came here for was to get my house
then live happily. The killings were never
part of…”
Kevin: “Whoa! Killings? What killings?”
I notice both Aaron and Tiana widen their
eyes. Guess Aaron wasn’t supposed to
mention that part, as if I was going to let it
go just like that.
Aaron: “Uhm…as I said, I’m sorry…”
Lunga: “What killings?”
Both Lunga and Kevin are now breathing
heavily and Kevin’s skin has turned red.
Hell is about to go down layikhaya.
ANGELA

I’m out. I’m finally out of jail. The world

has changed so much. It feels good to
breathe fresh air. Not the air
contaminated with all the horrible crimes
that were done there.
I can’t wait to see my son. I’ve decided
that the first pplace I’m going to is to my
house to see him. I’m not going to waste
anymore time it’s been long enough.
I actually wish he was the first person I
saw outside the prison gates. But
unfortunately that was just a wish. I have
to travel by taxi all the way to Joburg. I’ll
probably arrive at my house in five hours.
That’s so long. How will I survive with all
these people staring at me like it’s the first
time they see a white person ride on a
taxi. It’s just so stuffy here.
Nine years ago I didn’t even know where
the rank was now I’m here sitting on the
same seat with chickens! The person on
my right literally has a chicken on his lap.
It’s in a box but it’s feet are sticking out.
It’s been so long since my G Wagon days. I
was a millionaire. Mercedes manager
knew me but the arrival of Lihle changed
all that. The wrong girl won that
competition. If another girl had won I
would still be fucking rich probably a
billionaire now.
I’m no longer there though. I have
changed. All these years in jail made me
realise that life is about more than just
money. All these years without seeing my
only son made me see the importance of
family. I’m going to do my best to make
him forgive me for the past. He has to
forgive me.

My house. It hasn’t changed one bit. It’s

still as beautiful as I left it. More beautiful
in fact. I was expecting it to be in ruins by
now. I know how lazy my son was. Maybe
there’s a woman now. Could it be? Can
my son really be married with kids.
I see a small body running outside to pick
something…maybe toy up.
My son has a child! Kevin has a child! It’s a
little girl who seems around two years old.
My granddaughter. She runs back to the
house taking her toy with her. A lot has
really changed.
I walk slowly towards the gate. I take a
long breathe before I enter the gate, put
my foot on the concrete.
I take another breathe at the door then
knock. What if Kevin opens for me?
What’s he going to say?
“Gogo someone is at the door!”
I hear a small voice shout inside.
It’s probably my grand… wait, gogo? Isn’t
gogo granny? Yes gogo is grandma. But
then that means there’s a another woman
in my house. Or did Kevin sell the house
after my arrest? That would explain why
the house looks so good. And the little
girl.
“Hello” my thoughts are disturbed by the
little girl at the door.
I look at her. She’s definitely not Kevin’s
daughter.
“Gogo is still washing her hands. Come
inside” the little girl says.
I walk inside.
“My name is Mbalenhle. But you can call
me Enhle because people call me that.
What’s your name?”
I look around my house. It has changed
only a bit since I was here. Most of the
furniture is still the same. The paintings I
bought on my trip to Italy are still there.
My ornaments on the sitting room are still
there. One is missing though. The house
doesn’t look like it was sold to another
family.
I feel a hand poking my thigh. I look down
at the little girl.
“I asked you what is your name?”
“Enhle we don’t speak like that to adu…”
I turn around to the person speaking and
it’s…
Me: “Nolwandle?”
Nolwandle, standing right where she
stopped when she saw me looks at me
with shock and a little bit of fear.
Me: “Nolwandle where’s Kevin?”
Mbalenhle: “Daddy went to uncle Lunga’s
house!”
Daddy? I look at this little girl. So it’s
Kevin’s daughter?
Nolwandle: “Enhle go to your mom”
Enhle: “But gogo this woman hasn’t told
me her name!”
Nolwandle: “Enhle!”
Enhle crosses her arms, pouts and goes
out. Kids!
Nolwandle turns to me.
Nolwandle: “What are you doing here
Angela?”
Me: “I came to see my son. And as far as I
remember this is my house”
Nolwandle: “This is Kevin’s house. You
have no right to be here. After everything
you did to my daughter, you cannot be
here”
This is what I feared. Being reminded of
what I did in my past.
Me: “Nolwandle please. I just came here
to see my son. It’s been nine years since
I’ve seen him please. I don’t want to talk
about the past right now”
Nolwandle: “Your son is not here”
Me: “Where is he? Please I want…I need
to see him”
Nolwandle: “I don’t know”
Me: “Nolwandle please. I’m begging you I
need to see him. He’s the reason I came
here just hours after my release. Please”
Nolwandle looks at me then shouts
“Mbalenhle”.
Just when I’m expecting the little girl to
come running, a woman on a wheelchair
comes in.
“Ma”
She opens her eyes wide when she looks
at me. Seems like she knows me. Who is
she?”
Nolwandle: “Mbalenhle where is Kevin?”
Mbalenhle: “Why? What do you want
with him?”
Nolwandle: “She wants him”
She points at me with her head.
Mbalenhle: “Angela?”
Oh she knows me.
Nolwandle nods.
Mbalenhle: “What do you want with
him?”
She looks at me and it’s clear that she’s
scared that I want to do something to
Kevin.
Me: “Kevin is my son. He needs to know
that his mom is back”
Mbalenhle looks at Nolwandle waiting for
her approval. Nolwandle nods.
Mbalenhle: “He went to Aaron’s house
with Lunga”
Me: “Who’s Aaron?”
Mbalenhle: “Lihle’s ex boyfriend”
I look down when hearing the name Lihle.
Nolwandle: “What are they doing at
Aaron’s house?”
Mbalenhle: “After leaving here Lihle
passed by Aaron’s house to fetch her
jacket and she hasn’t gotten home so
Lunga and Kevin went to look for her
because it’s very late now”
Nolwandle: “When did they leave?”
Mbalenhle: “Four hours ago. It’s been long
you know they should have been back by
now”
Me: “Call them and check if they’re
alright”
Mbalenhle looks at me first before taking
her phone on her chair and calling.
Nolwandle and I wait anxiously.
Mbalenhle: “Kevin is not answering. Let
me try Lihle”
She calls Lihle but she doesn’t answer
also.
Nolwandle: “Try Lunga”
Mbalenhle: “I don’t have his number”
Nolwandle takes out her own phone from
her pocket and calls Lunga who also
doesn’t answer.
Mbalenhle: “Ma I think something’s
wrong”
They are staring to panic and I’m also
worried about my Kevin.
Me: “Let’s go to that Aaron’s house”
The both look at me first then say okay
simultaneously.
Mbali: “Who’s going to drive? I can’t drive
and mom can’t drive”
Me: “I’ll drive”
She gives me keys and tells me it’s Kevin’s
Polo Vivo car keys.
I can’t believe he still has the car I bought
him for his 18th birthday.
Mbali: “What about Enhle?”
Me: “I think you have to stay behind with
her Nolwandle”
Nolwandle: “No! My daughter is out
there”
Me: “So now what must we do because
Mbali is the one who knows the directions
so she can’t stay behind?”
Mbali: “And it’s going to take too long if
we take her to ma Sam’s place”
Nolwandle: “Thando and Chrissie are
doing a project with their friend who lives
nearby so we’ll leave Enhle there”
She goes to fetch Enhle from her
playroom and comes back with her and a
small bag which I assume has her
toiletries.
We then drive first to the friend’s house
to drop Enhle off then to Aaron’s house
with Mbali directing us.

LIHLE

Kevin: “WHAT KILLINGS ARE YOU TALKING

ABOUT?”
Kevin has taken out his own gun now. For
the first time since they arrived here he
now seems very angry.
Aaron doesn’t say anything so Kevin
points the gun at Tiana. Now Lunga has his
gun pointed at Aaron and Kevin has his
pointed at Tiana.
She’s so scared and crying.
Tiana: “Babe tell them. Please. Tell them”
Aaron: “Okay! Okay! I’m the one who sent
people to shoot your sister and her man”
Lunga just stares at him with his gun still
pointed to him but his body seeming weak
like he will fall anytime.
Kevin: “What..”
Me: “That’s not all. Tell them everything”
Aaron looks at me before proceeding.
Aaron: “I wanted to punish you Lunga, for
stealing my woman and sleeping with her.
As for shooting Mbali..”
Kevin: “You did what?!”
Aaron: “I wanted to punish you Kevin.
Taking the house from you wasn’t going to
be enough”
Gunshot
Kevin and Lunga have both shot Aaron’s
left leg at the same time.
Tiana and Aaron scream.
The door suddenly opens.
“What the hell is going on?!”
I turn around to see mom and… and…
Angela?
Kevin: “Mo… mom?”
We’re all looking at Angela now.
Angela: “What is going on here?”
She walks towards Aaron.
Angela: “Is this…Is this you Aaron?”
Aaron who’s face is filled with tears, sweat
and snot cries “aunty”.
Kevin: “Aunty? Angela why the hell is this
dog calling you aunty? And what are you
doing here shouldn’t you be in jail? What
is going on?!”
Things start to make sense.
Me: “Oh no..
Lunga: “Babe what’s wrong?”
He comes to me and kneels besides me.
Me: “Are you two working together?”
I look at Angela and Aaron.
Me: “Was this whole thing planned?”
Angela comes to me and tries to take my
hand but I shake her off.
“Don’t touch me!” I say.
Angela: “Lihle, no. That’s not what is
happening. Aaron is my brother’s son so
of cause I know him”
Kevin: “Brother? So this man is my
cousin?”
Angela: “Yes. But I have no idea what’s
happening here I swear I’m not working
with him”
“What the hell?! He’s dying!”
We all look at Aaron and he’s getting very
weak.
Lunga: “Let him die he killed my sister”
Mom who’s next to me jumps in shock.
Mbali: “What? Aaron shot Olwethu and
Nico?”
Kevin: “Yes babe. He’s the one who shot
all three of you”
He walks to her at the door.
Mbali takes in a deep breath.
Mbali: “But he must not die”
Lunga: “Oh you’re on his side? Just
because you survived means he must also
survive? My sister died because of him
dammit!”
Kevin: “Don’t you dare speak to my
woman like that!”
Mbali: “Shut up! We’re all on one side..
Lunga: “And her?”
He points to Angela.
Lunga: “Is she the same Angela that got
my woman raped?”
Me: “Babe..”
Lunga: “Is that your mother Kevin?!”
Mbali: “I SAID SHUT UP LUNGA!”
We all look at her. Damn that wheelchair
sure hasn’t changed a damn thing about
my friend. She looks at all of us then talks.
Mbali: “Listen. We’re all on one side. I
know that you all want to punish this dog
and kill but death is just an easy way out.
He needs to go to jail and pay for his sins
and we need to see him pay. Killing him
doesn’t guarantee that he’ll go to hell.
God might just feel sorry for him and take
him in”
Mbali…even in serious situations she has
to say something stupid.
Mbali: “I know that you’re hurt and angry
about all that he did but if he dies we’re
all going down. As you can see my
situation I cannot go to jail. Lunga, who
will Senkosi be left with if you go to jail?
You and Lihle are the only people he has. I
think we should just call the ambulance
and the police then go back to our
children and lives while he rots in jail.
Lunga, you’re a lawyer and you’ll make
sure that he rots in jail”
Me: “I agree with Mbali. We can’t let him
die. We have to watch him suffer”
Lunga: “Now that you speak about our
children I understand. But shooting him
and going to jail is not enough”
Kevin: “Yes. My wife cannot go to jail. We
can’t leave our children”
Mbali: “Then let’s make sure he’ll never
forget what he did”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Mbali looks around at all of us.
Mbali: “Kevin, Lunga, make sure he never
walks again. Make him a cripple like he
made me”
Lunga gives out a small laugh and shoots
straight at Aaron without wasting any
time. He shoots him legs continuously
going from one to the other until I stop
him.
Me: “He’s lost enough blood! Stop!”
I pull him away.
Me: “Mom call the ambulance!”
Mom calls the ambulance and I look
around at everything that is happening.
Lunga is walking around with his gun on
his hand fuming. Kevin is seated on a chair
next to Mbali with his thoughts far away.
Mbali is on her chair, her thoughts also
far. Mom is still seated where she found
me when I first came in. Angela is…Angela
is doing the same thing as me, looking
around. Our eyes suddenly meet.
I quickly look away. I still hate her.
“Lihle” she says from where she’s
standing.
I don’t look at her.
Angela: “Lihle I’m sorry”
I ignore her and watch Aaron who is
slowly passing out. I can’t even help him.
He’s just the same as this woman who is
trying to apologise. Someone is missing… I
look at everyone again..
Me: “Where’s Tiana?”
Everyone turns to me and scans their eyes
around the house.
Mbali: “The door is open”
We all look at the door.
Me: “Do you think…”
Lunga: “No she wouldn’t. She didn’t go to
the police trust me”
Me: “How do you know? What if we get
arrested what about my baby? Ma plz just
go. Angela take mom home”
Lunga: “You’re also going home. You and
Mbali. Kevin and I will deal with this”
Me: “Promise me you’ll come back home”
Lunga: “I’ll come back. I love you”
Me: “You didn’t promise Lunga”
I’m holding his cheeks with both hands
and he’s trying to wipe my tears with his
hands.
Lunga: “I’ll never leave you and
Siphosenkosi. I promise”
He kisses me and signals for mom to come
take me. Mom comes and pulls me by my
hand while Angela pushes Mbali’s
wheelchair. Mom has my jacket on her
other hand. I have long forgotten about it.

…
“Lihle I’m sorry for everything I did to you.
I’m sorry for ruining your high school
years. I was blinded my money but
because of my selfishness I lost
everything. I even lost my only son. Kevin
doesn’t want anything to do with me”
Me: “I don’t blame him”
Angela: “Yeah. I also don’t blame him. I’m
the worst mother ever. But I need to tell
him I love him. I need to”
I watch the emotional and crying Angela.
It’s been a week since she arrived and
Kevin has been ignoring her like crazy. I
have also been avoiding her but mom said
I must talk to her in order for me to heal.
She said that after putting her in hospital!
Yep! My mom tried to stab Angela but
luckily Angela managed to move away and
got stabbed only on the arm. Mom
wanted revenge. After that incident they
had a very long talk and are now civil with
each other. Civil.
Me: “So what must I do?”
Angela: “Talk to him please. Tell him I
have something very important I need to
tell him”
Me: “I can’t tell him if I don’t know that
important thing”
Angela: “I’m dying soon”
I look at her.
Me: “Dying from what?”
Angela: “I got diagnosed with heart failure
while in prison. So I have to apologise to
him before I die”
I’m starting to feel sorry for this woman.
But I’m not about to help her. Even if she
were to come to the hospital I’m never
helping her. She put me through hell.
Me: “Okay I’ll try to talk to him”
Angela: “Thank you so much”
Me: “So is that why my mom talks to you
now? Because you’re sick?”
Angela: “I think so. But I also apologised to
her, your father and your other mother”
Me: “Oh okay”
We sit in silence for a while until she
breaks that silence.
Angela: “I like my daughter in law”
Okay. I was not expecting that.
Me: “Kevin loves her”
Angela: “I see that. When did they start
dating?”
Me: “A few months ago. Before she used a
wheelchair”
Angela: “And the wheelchair didn’t
change anything between them?”
“No Angela I got my father’s genes. I love
my family through thick and thin I don’t
turn on them because of certain
situations”
Kevin walks through the door and stands
right in front of his mom. Angela stands up
and tries to hold his hand but he pushes
her hand away.
Angela: “I’m glad you got a better heart
than mine. And I’m glad nothing changed
after Mbali was shot because that woman
is an amazing woman and mother. She’ll
be a great wife”
Kevin: “Why Angela? Why did you do it?”
Okay. I see he has moved to another topic
which doesn’t need me so I stand up and
leave them in my room to talk.

“Girl what’s happening up there?”

Me: “I don’t know I left just before the
conversation got hot”
Mbali: “Yoh I hope no one gets killed”
We laugh but our laughs are filled with
sadness.
Mbali: “Have you forgiven her?”
I think about that question for a while.
Have I forgiven Angela? Can u really
forgive her that easily? Maybe I can coz
it’s been eight years since that incident.
I’ve had eight years to heal.
Me: “I don’t know whether it’s forgiveness
or I just feel sorry for her”
Mbali: “Feel sorry for her? Why?”
Me: “She’s sick. That is what she wants to
tell Kevin. And also that she loves her”
Mbali: “Sick from what?”
Me: “Heart failure”
Mbali: “What’s that?”
Me: “It’s a condition in which the heart
does not work properly. It’s very serious
and people who are diagnosed with it
mostly live about five years then die. It’s
as serious as cancer and you can imagine
what cancer is like”
Mbali: “Yoh. A disabled girlfriend and now
a sick mother. What’s happening!?”
Me: “Yah neh”
Just then someone knocks on the door. I
stand up to go open.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Lihle. Can I talk to you and Mbali?
Please”
Me: “Why? You want to stab us in the
back again? Who are you working for this
time?”
Sne: “I’m working for no one. Please I
want to apologise to you and Mbali”
“Apologise? Will an apology make my legs
work again? Will an apology bring back
Nico and Olwethu? Will it bring back
Senkosi’s mommy? Huh? Will it bring back
Olwethu?!?! Snethemba will any apology
bring back Olwethu?!”
Mbali has come to the door and opened
the door wider so she could see the traitor
who’s standing outside the door.
Sne is crying now.
Mbali: “So you think tears will make us
feel sorry for you? Bro I’ve seen tears to
last me a lifetime because of you so those
tears of yours have no effect on me”
Sne: “I’m…I’m sorry guys. I’m sorry for
eve…for everything. I just wanted to tell
you that I’m leaving. I was fired from work
and I have no one here anymore so I’m
leaving”
Me: “As if we care. Just leave”
Mbali: “Mxm”
Sne: “I’m sorry…
“Leave my home! Ungaphinde ubeke
imiconjwana yakho la ngoba uzojika
usuwumlotha” I say. I’m now so angry.
Sne turns around and walks away.
Mbali: “I hate you Snethemba Mtshali!”
Snethemba turns to look at us one more
time before going out the gate.
Mbali is also crying.
“What’s happening?”
Kevin goes to Mbali and kneels before her
asking what’s wrong. I run to my
bedroom, lock myself in and sob into my
pillow.
A few minutes later mom knocks on my
door.
Mom: “Lihle please nana open the door”
I stand up to go open after minutes of her
begging.
“Mom!”
I throw myself on her as soon as I open
the door.
She catches me into a long hug and holds
me while walking us to the bed.
Mom: “Cry. Let it all come out my love”
I sob onto her arms until I have no tears
left.
Mom: “Talk to me. We haven’t had a deep
talk in a while”
Me: “Mom everything is going wrong.
Everything! Olwethu is dead. Nico is dead.
I’m a mother. I know nothing about being
a mother mom! Lunga is going through
pain and I don’t know how to help him.
He’s trying to hide it but I can see it in his
eyes that he’s in pain. Then there’s Mbali
who can’t walk. My own friend betrayed
me and played a huge role in all of my
pain. Angela is back and I’m expected to
forgive her. I don’t know what to do mom.
Even things are not going well at work. My
patients are dying”
Mom holds me tighter. She’s sniffing hard
so I guess she’s crying also.
Mom: “Aaron brought you pain my love.
So much pain. It hurts me that I can’t
make it all go away. It hurts to see my
child go through so much pain. Especially
knowing that the pain will never fully end.
You lost people very close to you. The pain
of losing them will always be there. Some
days it’ll be strong and you’ll cry yourself
to sleep. Other days it’ll be better. I hate
to tell you this but you have to be strong
my baby. You have to be strong for
Senkosi and Lunga. You’re all they’ve got”
Me: “Why does everyone say that? I know
that I’m all they’ve got but I also need
someone to comfort me and be there for
me”
Mom: “That’s why I’m here. I know the
stress of being a mother and I’m pretty
sure being a wife is hard too”
Me: “But I’m not a wife. I’m just a
girlfriend. What if Lunga decides to marry
another woman mom? After everything
that has happened what if he decides to
marry someone else?”
Mom: “He won’t. You’re his wife already”
Me: “No I’m not. A ring doesn’t mean
anything”
Mom: “I’m not talking about the ring”
I look up at her.
Me: “What do you mean?”
She smiles.
Mom: “Lunga has paid lobola”
I sit up quickly.
Me: “What? When? How?”
Mom: “One question at a time! This
Wednesday when Kevin left you in charge
of the hospital…he was attending the
negotiations at Escourt”
Me: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me?”
Mom: “Lunga didn’t want to stress you.
He knows you were going to worry about
it the whole week”
Me: “Who was representing him?”
Mom: “One of his uncles”
Me: “It must be the nicer one he told me
about”
Mom: “Yeah I think it was him. So are you
happy?”
Me: “Yesss! I’m Lunga’s wife! I’m Lunga’s
wife for real! So how much did he pay for
me? Hundred thousand? Five hundred? A
million? I know I’m worth millions. Or did
he pay in cows? 120 cows are a good
number for me. I’m a doctor and I was
kind of still a virgin when I met him. Mom
tell me!”
Mom: “Yoh when did you become so
happy? You were in my arms crying just a
few seconds ago. But I’m happy to see you
happy. But I can’t answer all those
questions you know they don’t concern
you”
Me: “Mom come on!”
Mom: “Uh uh”
She stands up and walks to the door.
Me: “So you’re really going to leave me
hanging?”
Mom: “Yes and get dry”
Me: “What?”
She walks out.
I’m still stuck on the get dry. Get dry.
Ohhh! Hanging…get dry…pegs…oh. Mom
though.
SNETHEMBA

They didn’t forgive me. My own friends

can’t even look at me.
Oh Olwethu! What did I do. What did I do.
Why did I listen to Aaron? Why did I
believe him?
But it’s all your fault. If not Mbali and her
drama, it was Lihle and her stupid career.
Nobody cared about me. I was also as
successful as her but nobody gave a damn
care! Not even you. Yet you were the
sweetest.
But I didn’t mind hearing about you and
Nico. You had been through so much and I
couldn’t hate you. You were finally happy
but because of my pettiness you died. I’m
sorry my friend. I’m sorry Olwethu.
I’m going to make this all right. I’m going
to give myself the punishment I deserve. I
promise.

LIHLE

“Girl I’m officially Mrs Mthembu!”

Mbali: “Yesss! Mrs Lunga Mthembu! I’m
so excited as the maid of honour!”
Me: “Who said you’ll be the maid of
honour?”
Mbali: “Uhm…obviously I’ll be the maid of
honour there’s no one else. Unless you
want those sixteen year old sisters of
yours. Sies! Kids as maid of honour is just
disgusting”
I laugh. I’m sure you are wondering why
I’m still at home. I should be with my
husband and child. I also want that but my
husband…yes husband insisted on me
staying here for one more day. I think he’s
planning something coz he even told the
time in which I must arrive at the house
today.
Me: “Okay Mbali you’re the maid of
honour”
Mbali: “Yes haw”
We stare at each other for a few seconds.
Mbali: “Look at us. We survived. And now
you’re getting married”
Me: “Yes and very soon it’ll be your turn. I
can’t believe you’re my sister in law. Eight
years ago when Miss Mnguni told us
about the competition who would’ve
thought that it would lead to this point
right here right now”
Mbali: “All that ‘bring the money home’.
It’s a pity we’re no longer four like those
days”
Me: “Yeah”
There’s silence.
Mbali: “Lihle, you know out of all of us
you’re the only one who’s still left a full
piece”
Me: “What do you mean a full piece? You
and your stupid use of the English
language sometimes!”
I smile then listen to her.
Mbali: “Well Olwethu is gone. Snethemba
is dead. I’m in a wheelchair, my legs are
dead. You…you are still the full you”
Me: “That’s not true. A piece of my heart
is gone. Gone with Sne. My innocence was
taken at 16 years old by men I do not
know who were helped by a woman
whom I live with”
Mbali: “Yoh Joburg! Safika sibane manje
sibabili (we were four when we arrived
and now we’re two) Is this what growing
up is about? Losing people and a piece of
yourself every few years?”
Me: “I don’t know but this…this is not
what I signed up for when I decided to
grow up”
Mbali: “I don’t even work. I’m not the
independent woman I promised myself to
be years ago. I depend on a man Lihle. I’m
such a disappointment”
Me: “No you’re not a disappointment. It’s
not your fault that things turned out like
this. You’re still going to achieve your
dreams, you’re 25 not 70”
Mbali: “Well I feel 80. Even 80 year olds
can walk”
Me: “Mbali no. Don’t do that. Just
because you can’t walk doesn’t mean you
won’t achieve your goals”
She says nothing.
Me: “I have a business idea”
Mbali: “Really? What is it? This time it’s
gonna succeed coz you have all the money
you need. Damn my friend is getting
richer!”
Me: “It has nothing to do with money”
Mbali: “What is it?”
Me: “Before I tell you, I need to ask you
something”
Mbali: “Okay shoot”
Me: “Do you like business?”
Mbali: “Obviously yes. Remember I
wanted to own my own firm back then?”
Me: “Oh yes I remember! Would you ever
want to work with someone or do you
prefer having your own business without
any partners?”
Mbali: “I would love to have my own thing
coz niyahlupha boh ma partners! But I
wouldn’t mind having partners as long as
we get along and they’re good partners.
Why are you asking all this you want to
buy me a business yini?”
She laughs.
Me: “Something like that. I want you as
my partner”
She stops laughing and looks at me.
Mbali: “Lihle are you serious or is this one
of your jokes?”
Me: “Since when do I have jokes? You’re
the comedian around here remember?
Mbali I want to start a home for disabled
children. I want you as a partner because
you know how it’s like to be disabled. If
you agree to be my partner, you are going
to be in charge of everything because I am
busy at the hospital I won’t have time”
Mbali stares at me.
Mbali: “Lihle you’re serious. You want me
to be your partner? Me? Oh my God. Yes!
Yes I’ll be your partner. I’ll do anything. Oh
my God Lihle!”
I smile at the teary Mbali.
Me: “You won’t change your mind?”
Mbali: “No why would I”
Me: “Well partner and CEO of Olwethu
Uthando Home for the Disabled, I will
send you the paperwork and arrange a
meeting so that you can sign everything”
Tears fall down her eyes.
Mbali: “Olwethu Uthando”
Me: “Yes. In memory of our best friend
Olwethu”
Mbali: “Lihle! Man you’re the best friend
anyone could ever ask for I love you so
much”
I walk to her and hug her.
Me: “I love you too. Promise me we’ll
never fight. We’ll never betray each
other”
Mbali: “I promise. Life is too short for hate
and betrayal. I promise I promise I
promise”
Our hug is long and full of emotions..
Mbali: “Does Lunga know about this?”
Me: “Yes he knows. He got so emotional
when I told him a few days ago before the
Aaron drama. Kevin also knows”
Mbali: “It’s such a wonderful thing. So am
I allowed to make suggestions?”
Me: “You’re the CEO so obviously yes”
Mbali: “Okay. I don’t know whether I’m
being too forward or not but I’m thinking
how about we have like a main name?
Like the main branch name, it could be
Olwethu Uthando then under it we’ll have
different homes for different purposes,
say a home for the disabled, a children’s
home, an elderly home?”
I like that idea.
Me: “Okay babes I’m already happy with
you being the CEO! I love that idea!
Olwethu Uthando being the main name
then there can be...uhm… Nicolwethu
home for the disabled, Nicolwethu
children’s home, etc.”
Mbali: “Yes! Exactly what I’m thinking”
Me: “I’m gonna enjoy this project”
Mbali: “Me too. I already have so many
ideas”
Me: “We’ll discuss it all when you’re
officially the CEO”
Mbali: “No problem I’ll write it all down”
Me: “I’ll also write down my ideas so I can
be prepared”
Mbali: “I’m a CEO! Thank you Lord!”
MBALI

I am a CEO! Mbalenhle Thango is officially

a CEO! I can’t thank Lihle enough for this.
She has made my goals possible.
We signed everything yesterday and we’re
now waiting for the builders to finish
building the home. It’s so huge! It can
accommodate over 300 people! We’re
going to change so many people’s lives.

“I’m proud of you babe. This… this is

beautiful” Kevin says as he pushes me
down the red carpet. It’s the day of the
launch of the Olwethu Uthando branch
and opening of Nicolwethu Home For The
Disabled.
Me: “Thank you my love”
He’s pushing me slowly as we’re admiring
the beauty of the place and the beauty of
the people here. Everyone is dressed so
beautifully but the place is the most
beautiful of all. It’s simple yet elegant. I
decided everything since I’m the most
stylish one between me and Lihle. In fact,
if I had working legs I would be the most
beautifully dressed.
I look good today though. In my new silver
wheelchair which Kevin surprised me with
a few days ago. I’m wearing a long black
dress with a bit of sparkles and a long slit.
I also have on silver heels which are also
sparkly. I may be on a wheelchair but
damn I look fine!
“Miss CEO, you’re needed at the table
with all the investors” Lihle says walking
to us in her black and white cowgirl print
short dress with black heels and a
handbag of the same design. My girl looks
beautiful and different from everyone else
here.
Me: “Okay I’m coming. Babe please take
me there”
Kevin pushes me to the table full of
investors and a few people whom I don’t
know. I have a short chat with them
before being called to say a few words.
“A few weeks ago, if anyone had told me
that I would be here delivering this speech
and being the CEO of Olwethu Uthando, I
would have laughed on their face and told
them to stop lying. I would have actually
been angry at them because I would have
thought they were mocking me because I
can’t walk. I remember Olwethu saying
that I don’t work because God has bigger
plans for me, plans I didn’t imagine and
she was right. Standing here feels like a
dream… oh did I say standing? I see those
looks I’m joking I mean sitting. When
Lihle, my best friend, the founder of this
whole branch first asked me to be her
partner I thought she was joking but no
she was serious. For the first time Lihle
was serious! I’m joking Lunga she has
always been serious about you. Being
unable to walk has taught me a lot these
past few months. But one of the most
important things it taught me is that life is
short. Life is too short to not live your life
to the fullest. Life is too short to feel sorry
for yourself just because you can’t walk or
see or talk or whatever. Our lives don’t
depend on our senses or organs and the
loss of one thing doesn’t mean the end.
Be happy, live happily and follow your
dreams. Find someone you love and who
loves you back just the way you are, as
beautiful as you are. Find friends who will
support you through not only anything but
on everything that you go through. Forget
about those legs, forget about those eyes,
forget anything that is pulling you down
and focus on the positives. You can’t walk,
well guess what? You get spoiled rotten
and lifted up all the time. You can’t see?
I’m happy for you because you don’t get
see all the rotten snakes of this world. The
point is don’t let what happened to you
define you. Be you, the world will have to
adjust. Now, Nicolwethu Home For The
Disabled is for any beautiful human being
out there who feels like the world has
turned on them and needs a safe place.
It’s open to those who want to live here
temporarily or until they find their feet.
You’ll be comfortable and safe here. Now
everyone, to the founder Dr Lihle Mkhize
and the CEO, Miss Mbalenhle Thango. To
Olwethu Uthando itself, cheers!”
Everyone raises their glasses and hands
clap. As I try to push my wheelchair, Kevin
quickly comes to me. He takes a mic and
speaks.
“Everyone, before you go eat and chill
with friends I’d like to say a few words”
Everyone goes quiet and listens to him.
“Congratulations to my sister, Lihle and
my woman, Mbalenhle for this beautiful
work they are doing. I am very proud of
them. They are role models to every black
girl out there. Now, the real reason I came
up here. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you
all to witness this. I could have done it in a
hotel, a restaurant, a park, but, I wanted
to do it at the my woman is most proud of
and in front of all of you.”
What’s he talking about? I’m so confused.
Kevin comes to me and kneels…Oh my
God! Is he doing what I think he’s doing?
“MaThango, sthandwa sami, will you
marry me?”
Yesssssss! He’s proposing!
I’m lost for words. I wasn’t expecting this.
Me: “Yes! Yes I’ll marry you”
He puts a very beautiful expensive looking
diamond ring on my finger. He then comes
close to me and we kiss.
People scream and clap.
“Now you can all go eat while I go eat my
wife” People laugh and start moving to all
different directions.
Me: “You could’ve at least done a speech
you know. How we met, how grateful you
are for having me in your life, how much
you love me, and then said will you marry
me”
Kevin laughs.
Kevin: “I’m saving all that for our wedding
day”
Me: “Oh, have you started practicing your
vows?”
Kevin: “I’ll speak from the heart. And you
need to start looking for a dress”
Me: “I’ll be the most beautiful bride ever!”
Kevin: “Yes you will be. So, how about we
go and celebrate?”
Me: “What about the launch?”
Kevin: “Lihle will handle it”
Me: “Okay, let’s go”
He scoops me from my chair and takes me
to his car. Mr and Mrs Khumalo to be.
LIHLE

My bro is officially taken! I’m so happy for

him and Mbali. They’re going to be a great
family.
Lunga lovessss the home. He especially
loves the kids here. The youngest kid here
is a four year blind girl. Lunga is teaching
her how to do things on her own. She’s his
favourite. I don’t have a favourite but
there’s this boy, Siyabonga who is speech-
impaired. That boy is so smart. He’s 17
and reads everything. His work at school is
just wow. He’s definitely going to change
the world.
This year has been really rough. It was
both the worst year and the best year
ever. We lost Olwethu and Nico. Our best
friend betrayed us then committed
suicide. Yes. Snethemba committed
suicide a few days following her apology
to us. I was hurt because we’ve been
friends since primary. Angela came back,
but at least she has changed. She is also
starting her own business. She asked for
my help in starting it. It’s a place for ex-
convicts. Helping them to start their lives
afresh and learn more about God. We’re
slowly accepting her back into the family.
Mbali became disabled. Yoh this year was
just too much.
But…it was not all bad. I’m getting married
to the love of my life. Mbali is getting
married to the love of her life. We started
the home and are becoming influential
women in South Africa.
The best part though?
Senkosi. I’m a mommy! Being a mom is
what has kept me afloat through
everything that has happened. It is just
amazing. Babies are just amazing. Lunga
and I love Senkosi. His grandparents also
love him. I’m no longer my father’s
favourite. Never-mind my mothers! Enhle
is my mom’s favourite while Senkosi is my
dad’s favourite. Only ma Sam still loves
me at this point. She said she isn’t about
to let those big cheeks and cute faces fool
her.
My friendship with Bee has ended. Since
that day we fought about Rose. She
congratulated me on the home but it
ended there. You can’t guarantee
anything in life hey? She was once my best
friend and I thought me and her were
going to be friends forever. There’s no bad
blood between us though so maybe one
day we’ll be friends again. Anyway let me
go to my baby he needs me.

THE END

Wait…
SOMEWHERE

“They think they’ve gotten rid of me hey?

Ha ha. I’ll get them. Lunga thinks his
secret is buried forever since that
woman… but I know everything. I’m going
to break that family, with Lunga and
Nolwandle being the main focus…”