(Questions are now piled up in Lusapho’s head as he walks down the road, and his mind is nowhere to be found in this world. He gets awakened by the sound of the car’s hooter right in front of him.)
Esona: (Walking out of her car shouting.) HEY! What is wrong with you? Why would you walk in the middle of the road like that, do you have a death wish?
Lusapho: (His eyes filled in tears.) I am very sorry, lady. I just have so much in my mind that I could not even feel myself waking. All that I know is that I am on the move. As for to where, I really do not know. But even if I die, it would not be a problem. My life is messed up anyway.
(Esona notices the tears falling on Lusapho’s face as she comes closer to him.)
Esona: Look, there is a park about 100 meters from here, can we please go there to sit and talk? That way, it will also give me a chance to apologise for almost running you over with my car.
Lusapho: I am sorry that I almost caused you trouble with my carelessness, but trust me, there is nothing to talk about. Goodbye, thank you.
Esona: No please, I insist. I can see that you are very troubled, and I would love to help in any way I can in order for you to be okay. Please!
Lusapho: Well, your car is going to cause you a lot of trouble with these other drivers, so let us go so that you can open the way for them.
(In the car as they drive to the park.)
Esona: Oh! Sorry, I did not get your name. I am Esona.
Lusapho: You can call me Accident.
Esona: (Shocked.) And why should I call you that?
Lusapho: Because that is who and what I am, an Accident.
Esona: Seems like you have been through a lot to call yourself that, or is it because I almost ran you over?
Lusapho: I am just messing with you, my name is Lusapho.
(On arrival, Esona suggests they walk to go buy some ice-cream.)
Lusapho: Where you not heading somewhere for you to leave everything and decide to spend your time with me?
Esona: I was just going home, visiting my grandmother and my sick mother. I will call them and tell them that I had to stop by the store for some things.
(They reach the caravan of the man selling ice-cream.)
Esona: Can I please have two scoops of chocolate ice-cream. (Looks at Lusapho.) Is chocolate okay for you?
Lusapho: Yes, chocolate is okay, thank you.
Ice-cream man: Alright, two scoops coming right up.
Lusapho: Visiting, you say? And where are you from?
Esona: Well, I was born and raised here. I studied here from the first grade up until my grade 12, and then went to further my studies in the University of Johannesburg (UJ). After that, I applied and found a job as a Human Resource Manager in one of the companies in Johannesburg. So, that is my current place of residence. I only come this side to visit those two, and, mostly, to take my mother to see the doctor.
Lusapho: Wow! I am impressed. Lucky you who has a normal family and life. Unlike us who were born with bad luck as a twin. You speak only of your mother and grandmother, what about your father.
Ice-cream man: Two chocolate ice-creams. That will be R12, thank you.
Esona: Thank you, sir.
Esona: Well, my father works at the mines in Randfontein, and he comes home every month end. So tell me, why were you walking down the road so stressed?
Lusapho: You really do not want to listen to my story. It is long, and we do not even have enough time to do that because you have just arrived and they are expecting you at home.
Esona: I have all the time in the world, so try me.
(They sit on one of the benches in the park.)
Lusapho: Well, where do I start? I was born, left out in the streets, and then found and raised by Mom Kego, whom I reside with up to this very day. I never knew my biological mother, and neither did Mom Kego know her. For years, I have been searching and searching for my true origin, but there seems to be no luck. I had a girlfriend I had been with for over two years, and she was pregnant with my child. To my surprise, the woman of my dreams was not my soulmate. She was my sister, my blood sister. We both did not know that. We found out after a car accident we went through. The test results came back with our identical DNA. Her mother was my mother. She was the woman that I was looking for all this years. (His eyes fill with tears.)
Esona: Wait, so why do you keep saying “WAS”, are they still not your family?
Lusapho: I keep saying that because they both took their lives about three days ago.
Esona: (Hugging Lusapho.) Oh! My dear, I really do not know what to say because this is very tragic. I have never seen nor heard anyone saying they went through so much pain all at once. Look, I am here for you, okay. Whenever you need to talk, I will be here to give you an ear. You cannot be going through this alone.
Lusapho: It is okay, Esona. Like I said to you, my life is filled with nothing but bad luck. This is who and what I am, an accident.
Esona: Can you please help me by never using the word accident whenever you are around me, because what I see in you is not what you see in yourself. By the way, since I spent all this time talking to you, you are going to have to help me buy some groceries for my Mom and Granny in order for me to give them a reason for why I am this late. I will drop you off by your place on my way home.
Lusapho: (Smiling.) Opportunist. Why don’t you just say you need my protection?
Esona: Arg! Do not be forward. Let us go, it is getting late. (Writes on a piece of paper.) Here, make sure you call me whenever you need to talk, and know that everything is going to be okay, Lusapho. God has plans for all of us, and they will come to place in due time. Yours is just to have faith.
Lusapho: Okay, I will call you, let us go.
(After buying the groceries together, Esona takes Lusapho home as promised and heads home to her family.)
Tell us: Would you also help a stranger after seeing that they are going through a tough time?