It was raining and was very cold when Lwazi was sitting in her parent’s wardrobe. She was afraid of rain and the thunder made her more afraid. It was nearly eight o’clock and her parents hadn’t shown up. She kept on looking at the watch of her cell phone. Normally her parents came home at six o’clock.
She tried their numbers but they took her straight to voice mail. Lwazi was 13 years old, doing Grade 7 at Sindzawonye Primary School.
As she laid there in the wardrobe she kept on praying for someone to show up and rescue her. But nothing happened. She ended up dialling her uncle’s number.
“Long time, Lwazi,” her uncle greeted.
“Malume ngiyasaba,” Lwazi responded.
“Lwazi what’s wrong my girl?” asked her uncle.
“My parents are not home yet, I’m scared uncle,” Lwazi cried.
“Why? Let me try to call them, goodness,” said her uncle shocked.
“Ngibafonele, their phones are off,”
“OK, I’m coming right now,” said uncle.
Lwazi started to feel relieved after hearing her uncle’s voice. She hoped and prayed that nothing bad had happened to her beloved parents. After a while she heard a car entering her home; she prayed it was her parent’s car. Lwazi ran to open the window.
She was disappointed to see a police van.
After a little while she heard a knock and rushed to open the door.
“Hello, how can I help you?” asked Lwazi.
“Hi, you can help us by calling an adult for us,” said the policeman.
Luckily Lwazi’s uncle was behind them.
“I am the adult. Have you come to arrest me?” joked Lwazi’s uncle.
“No, we came with bad news. Is this the Nyathi family?” said the police.
“Yes it is,” answered uncle.
“I’m sorry kunitjela loku. Kubenengoti ecrossing. We found IDs which show to be Mr and Mrs Nyathi,” said the police.
Lwazi started crying and asked, “Bayaphila?”
“Only your mom but your dad didn’t make it. He was driving,” confirmed the police.
Lwazi felt alone and cried a lot. After a week Lwazi’s father was buried.
Lwazi was always on her mother’s bed side at the hospital, hoping she’d wake up. Lwazi was holding her mom’s hand crying when her mother opened her eyes and made movement. Lwazi was so happy that she sang praises to the Lord. She heard her mother’s voice after a long time.
“Lwazi mtwanami, ngiyakutsandza kakhulu,” said her mom.
“Mom, you know I love you more than anything. Please don’t leave me,” tears started falling from Lwazi’s face.
“Lwazi, you are strong, you can do anything in this world. Always know I love you,” after those words she died.
“Mom, Mom, please don’t die. Mom please,” Lwazi said while crying.
The doctor and a nurse came.
“Lwazi, come out. Your mom will be fine,” said the doctor.
“My mom is dead,” said Lwazi running away. She ran until she no longer could feel her feet. Her uncle was following her. When Lwazi sat down in the dusty road and cried, she questioned God saying, “Why me, God? Why?”
Her uncle got out of his car and embraced her. Lwazi started stayed with her uncle but she was no longer the happy little girl she used to be.
