As the days went by, the tension built up, and Lerato was scared to be around the Zondos. She stayed as far away from Denise as possible. She only came to bring young Hope to her family.

She lived with her parents back home, since her wedding was still being planned.

Lerato was in the living room, carrying her baby.

“Hello, Lira,” called Denise from behind, flirting. He got closer, and Lerato felt her body creeping with fear.

“Wow, this is for the first time I lay my eyes on my child.” He got closer, and with his eyes lit by excitement, he raised his hands. “Can I hold him?” he raised his hands towards Hope. “Please?” begged Denise.

“No, I can’t allow you to hold him. He’s not yours, I brought him so Danny could see him.” Ss quick as a cat, she moved the baby from his touch.

“Lerato, how do you think I feel, not being able to hold my own flesh and blood?” Denise sobbed. “You know Lerato, I’ve never felt love from my family. I’ve always been a brat, but losing my young twin took away a lot from me. So, please, don’t deny me the chance to feel that now.” Denise appealed emotionally, closing in on Hope with the tip of his fingers.

“What the hell are you doing!?” Danny furiously entered the house to break Denise away. “You stay the hell away from her and my son!” He pushed him away.

Denise backed off, which was very unlike him. “I just wanted to touch my child, that’s all. Please, bro,” he begged.

“You poison everything you touch, Denise. I won’t let you ruin him, too,” replied Danny, with hatred.

“But man, I’m trying to become a better man. How will I achieve that when you won’t let me show how I’ve changed?” Denise said, filled with emotion.

Lerato seemed remorseful. “Danny, maybe we should just let him be with him. For a few…..”

“No!” harshly interjected Danny. “You don’t get to choose his side over me, you hear!?” Danny shouted at her.

Denise looked at the defenceless face of Lerato. “There is no need for you to shout at her like that, bra”.

“If you are trying to gain some sort of points to sleep with her again, it will not happen!” Danny looked straight into Denise’s face, and poked a finger at him. “You!! stay away from them or I will beat you up into manhood, boy”.

Lerato pulled Danny back. “Let’s just go baby,” she pleaded.

They left the room, and Denise just collapsed on the sofa in disbelief, ‘like a flat crumbling down to ashes.’ Who knew a guy like Denise could feel pain too, or was this just karma for all the dark deeds he did?

Denise sat there for hours until his mother returned home. She arrived alone. He didn’t hear her come in, as he was lost in his emotions.

“Denise, how are you baby?” Naledi said passing. Denise didn’t reply, so she stopped before exiting. “Hey, Den, I’m talking to you.” She spoke loud enough to shake him back to reality.

“I’m sorry, ma, I didn’t hear you. My mind is all over the place” Denise replied, sounding defeated.

“What’s wrong, boy?” She sat down close to him. “Talk to me.”

Denise shook his head “Ma, I know I’ve messed up. Yes, I admit, I’ve done nothing but hurt you for my entire life…” he tried to hide tears, “maybe I should have been the sick twin. I should’ve be the one who died.”

“Denise, don’t talk like that. You are our baby, too. Why are you being so harsh towards yourself?” She held his hand.

“Ma, you are the only one who cares,” while Denise said that, Sipho pulled himself to the house from the toilet.

“My twin died, my father and brother hate me to death, I’ve got no money, no friends, and no family, I’m unemployed. I have nothing, in fact, I’m nothing” cried Denise.

Naledi held him closer. “It will be okay, son”.

“No, Ma, it won’t be. Nobody wants to give me a chance to prove that I’ve changed. Nor Danny, Lerato, nor Dad,” said Denise.

Sipho decided he had listened enough, and came in the house. He was dragging his body to the passage as he said, “I will be in my room. Call me when uncle Muzi is here.”

Would you be willing to forgive Denise? Why or why not?