Lerato kept peeping through the window, hoping Danny would come after her. Finally, there was an urgent knock on the door. She quickly opened the door.

“Oh, it’s you,” said Lerato, clearly disappointed with whom she saw.

“Yes, it’s me” cockily replied Denise. “I’m looking for Danny. Dad wants to see him.”

“I thought you were him. This means that he’s still in the club. He doesn’t want to stop.” Lerato felt so powerless.

“Wait, is he still shouting at you like the other day? What did he do now?” Denise looked straight into Lerato’s eyes.

Lerato sobbed. “I don’t know what to do anymore. He’s been so aggressive, saying hurtful things, and now he’s drinking alcohol and probably doing drugs with random girls.”

Denise got closer to her. “If that is true, then you deserve better. After I take my son away, you will have nothing that ties you to him.” He held her shoulder and drew her closer to his chest as he said, “Lerato, you are the most wonderful, loving, caring, and beautiful woman I have ever seen. If Danny is not man enough to appreciate that, then it’s time someone does.”

Lerato froze, it was as if she got glued to what Denise said, and just like the other day, Denise slowly drove his lips close to hers. But, before he could touch them, someone shouted behind them.

“So this again. You!” Danny interrupted the kiss.

They quickly separated, Lerato moved away. Denise looked cocky.

“Danny you smell like a bottle store. I came here looking for you, Dad wants to see you” Denise said, trying to change the subject from what Danny saw.

Danny stepped forward towards Lerato, his eyes red and full of tears.

“All that you said was an act, huh, you said you loved me…” Danny trailed off.

Denise pushed him away from her. “Hey, you have no right to intimidate her. How about you try it with someone who can defend himself” he challenged.

“No, guys, please, Danny this wasn’t….” but before Lerato could finish her sentence, one fist flied across, hitting Denise straight on the mouth.

Immediately, Danny and Denise were fighting each other, rolling on the floor. Lerato couldn’t break them up. Danny’s phone started ringing, and Lerato grabbed the phone to ask the caller for help.

“Ma, Danny and Denise are fighting. They are going to kill each other” Lerato explained, panic-stricken.

“Tell Danny and Denise that their father is no more,” Naledi said, emotionally tearing up over the phone.

“Ma, what happened to dad? Do you mean…” she said as the boys stopped fighting, clearly having heard what was going on.

“Yes, Lerato, Sipho has passed on.” Naledi sounded heartbroken.

Lerato dropped the phone. Danny and Denise just stared at her.

“What’s going on, Lerato?” Denise demanded.

“It’s Dad. Mom said he is….” she paused. “Dad has passed on,” she started crying.

Danny and Denise were left with their lips mopping the floor with shock.

“I need to see ma,” Denise stood up quickly and ran towards his house.

“Dad is gone” tears flowed from Danny’s eyes. The shock sobering him up completely.

Have you ever experienced the loss of a family member like this? If so, how did it make you feel? Do you think Danny and Denise are feeling the same way?