Love was really in the air now, Lukhanyo made me feel safe and secure; I never doubted his love for me. Things were slowly but surely getting back to normal. People were coming to visit me daily, and two weeks later I was being discharged. I was told the person who hit me was a pregnant woman, so I decided not to press charges against her. She came twice or three times to see me, but she couldn’t stop apologising. Apparently everything just went blank before she hit me.

Time came and went and finally Thursday was here, meaning I was going home.

Lu and Zamo came to fetch me with their highest energies. They were so hyper; they both kissed my cheeks and took all my presents to the car, which belonged to Lu’s father. Then they came back for me, helping me all the way out of the ward since I was limping.

I sat in front and Zamo in the back sit. Lu started the car and Rihanna’s new track was on play Bitch Better Have My Money. I loved the track. The boys were singing along to it, how cute! Truth be told though I felt left behind, lucky for me the song was easy and heavy. After that I selected Beyonce’s 7 11.

“Now we cooking,” I heard myself saying. They laughed at me.

“Mommy you still love Yonce?” asked my son.

“Yes boy, why wouldn’t I?”

“Daddy said Riri’s song is dissing Yonce,”

I looked at his daddy who put on a “I’m focusing on the road here” face. What has he been teaching my boy? I was enjoying my time with my King and Prince. We arrived and Lu had to help me again out of the car to the house, though I told him I could walk on my own. Mom was at work and Dad was at a church meeting.

Home, sweet home, but the place hardly felt like home; it was so cold, like something was missing.

Zamo went to his room and left us in the living room.

“Thanks hey, having you here is priceless. Thank you, Mqayi,”

“For what, babe?”

“For loving me, and for being Zamo’s musical teacher,” he giggled.

“While you were unconscious, Zamo asked me to download some of Beyonce’s songs, so that he could feel like he was with you all the time,”

“My son said that?!”

“Yep,”

Wow unbelievable, kids grow so fast I was speechless. Zamo came back with a plastic loaded with junk food, he put it in front of me.

“Welcome home mommy,” he said and I felt really blessed. “Keka, please don’t cry. Are you sore?” Zamo asked and Lu laughed at how serious his son looked and sounded. I didn’t even realised I was crying; they were tears of joy. Zamo hugged me and whispered “I love you Keka.”

We ate while moving to Ifani’s songs. I could spend any day like this, I thought. Later on my parents were home. Mom busy dishing up in the kitchen, dad playing some games with Zamo on a magazine and I was watching Generations.

I was actually on a group chat Shaun created on WhatsApp. It was me, him, Nella, Lu and some of Lu’s friends and some of my classmates. They were glad that I was fine. I couldn’t stop smiling to their reactions. When Lu announced that we were back together they were really happy for us. Some even said we never broke up from the start.

Dinner was ready, my mom came with food. I said my goodbye to everyone in the room. I said grace and we ate.

I was the only one quiet throughout. We finished and I went to tickle Zamo in his bed. He wanted me to sleep with him and I promised I’d come back. I went to my parents, they seemed prepared for what was coming their way.

“Ready to tell?” I said crossing my legs.

“Baby, where did you get the name Bukelwa?” asked my mom.

“Can I have the family album, the old one?” my mom went to take it from their room and came back with it. She gave it to me with a confused look. I took it and went through it with high hopes that I’d see the old Gogo’s photo, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to explain the Bukelwa topic. I came across a photo of my mom and grandma, they looked a little like the old Gogo. I kept looking and my mom came to sit next to me.

“What are we looking for Bukeka?”

“Where are your grandparents? I mean their photos?” she paged the album herself. I never went through this album before, I didn’t find it important since most of the people in it were dead and some I’ve never met.

“There you go,” she said and there she was!

There she was with her husband looking so happy.

“Oh my God! Mom I was dead! I died and she… that’s why she asked why the rush cause it wasn’t my time then!” my Mom closed her mouth with both her shaking hands. I couldn’t read Dad’s expression, he fiddled with his hands.

“You guys wanted to know how I knew about Bukelwa right?” they didn’t say a word. “While I was in hospital, everything happened like a dream. This woman… I mean my great-grandma was with me with a little baby that looked like me when I was just a baby,”

My mom cleared her throat.

“You mean, you were with my grandmother and… and my little… and the girl was Bukelwa?” she was crying silently. I nodded.

“I even saw how pale you guys were when you had to switch the machines off,”

Mom gasped for air.

“My great-grandma inspired me to fight back because you needed me,” I explained.

“Oh my God!” exhaled my Mom. “Thanks baby for coming back,”

“You believe me?” she nodded and my dad looked up. That’s when I saw he was crying. This was hard on them.

“I believe you too, I dreamt of you telling me that you were only gone looking for answers that may set your future free, so that you may live in peace,” my dad said.

This was deep, too deep for my liking. So I only died because I was destined to find out about Bukelwa so that I may be free. Come to think of it, I had always felt like I had a burden on my shoulders. I had always been that kind who’d put a happy face in front of everyone, but deep down I didn’t know who I was. I always thought of myself as that weird girl next door, who kept everything to herself.

“Uhm… about Bukelwa,” said my dad.

“No, I’ll tell her,” said my mom. “Bukelwa is … look I never meant to keep you in the dark. She’s your twin,”

I popped my eyes out. “She’s my… that’s why great grandma said she lives in me. But why did you guys never tell me? Why keep it a secret?”

“I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t trust myself to talk about her. You were a month old when she had a fever and died in hospital.” My mother broke down and my dad calmed her down.

“It’s OK, we gonna be fine. I just need to visit her grave,” I said and they nodded. I went to sit in between them and we hugged. “I have to tell you something,” i said

“Shoot,” said my dad.

“I’m carrying Nomathongo, Zamo’s half-sister,”

“Nomathongo?” asked my dad.

“Yes Dad. I was told to name her Nomathongo,”

“You’re pregnant?” my mom asked, she sounded disappointed but hid it.

“I’m sorry,” I looked down.

“It’s OK.” she hugged me and my dad laughed.

“Did you hear that she said she was told to name the baby, Nomathongo?” he directed to mom.

“Well, that can only mean…” she held both my hands and smiled at dad who smiled back. “It means you are carrying a gifted baby. My grandma was Nomathongo, a great traditional healer trained under the sea,”

“You mean my baby will be a traditional healer?” I asked a little freaked out. They nodded while laughing.

“Mommy I can’t sleep!”

We turned to see Zamo yawning. We laughed at him and I said my goodnight to my parents and took my son to my room. We chatted away about silly stuff and listened to some music until he fell asleep. I saw a light growing big in the dark, I freaked out but didn’t wanna wake Zamo. My great-grandma appeared. I smiled.

“You’ll be fine now, you are very lucky,” I smiled even wider.

“I love you,” I said. She smiled and waved goodbye and vanished.

I went to sleep. I was home indeed how lucky can a girl be!

The end!

***

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