I had never been this frustrated in my life. I had spend about an hour in a taxi trying to get home. I was moving from one province to another. As I watched the taxi travel to KZN I feel so sad. It was the beginning of a new life.

This was my first time traveling without my mother. Is she really gone? I couldn’t believe she was gone forever. The taxi arrived in Newcastle and the street was full of people, street vendors and taxis. I heard a guy talking. “Ah ntwana uzixakelani undwazile ugoli limshayile iGoli”. Talking about me. I felt really sad. I arrived home safely.

I tried getting used to the city and my new school, not to mention how tough the people in my community treated me. They were always like: “Uyazitshela awufuni ukuqoma asazi ubona izilwane la emakasana”. Like really guys? My mom was the only person I was left with who cared about me. Even my aunt treats me like a slave so I can’t gamble with my life.

I didn’t understand this community. I felt like a stranger in my hood and even at the school I was supposed to feel welcomed at. I went to the toilet and a guy followed me. “Haibo!” I screamed. I felt my body quivering, tears rolled. No one else entered the toiled. “Shii” he said putting a knife in my neck. At school, really? Then I cried.

This guy was well dressed; a shirt tucked into his trousers, a school tie and shinning shoes. “Ngikunika 2 minutes ukuthi ungiqome, ngigcwele ngawe run jozi” he said angrily. “Ngyakuqoma” I said, my mouth shaking. “Don’t you dare think of reporting me” Those were his last words before he left. I wiped my face and followed him out. As I arrived home I did my homework and never said a word.

This was a really bad day for me. Later my aunt sent me to the shop. As I returned a group of boys came to me all drunk. “Ngigcwele ngawe” one guy said. I looked down and tears rolled my face. I felt a hand on my shoulder and before I could raise my chin I felt a lightning-like clap on my face. “Ontanga banezingane wena uzigcinele ukubukwa ubani?” As they argued I saw an opportunity to walk home. Why do I have to live like a stranger in my community? When I arrived home my family was eating and obviously I had no food. It was a great-smelling lamb stew. My tongue tasted what it couldn’t even get. I went to my room, cried and fell asleep. I missed my mother.
I arrived at school the next day and during break-time the guy who threatened me came to me. He held my hand and apologized about what happened. He told me he grew up badly without parents. He is not happy about the life he lives but promised to get himself help. He asked to be my friend and I was scared but forgave him. “Ungakhathazeki ngendlela amajitha akuphatha ngayo ayakuvuma emakhoneni” he said and left.

When I turned he was gone, I forgot to ask his name. I thought I was suffering until I heard his story. I had a thought that day that I would help suffering people and make them feel welcome in their hood.