Three hours after midnight, Samson couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about her.
“If she’s really single and beautiful before my eyes, then why can’t I accept her? Oh man, huh. It’s not cheating, we’re destined to fall in love with each other, it even almost happened from the very beginning. But what about the rules, love-backs never work, and a husband can’t cheat on his wife. I’m so worthless in love. What’s with the life of this world!? To live as a man you need to share your life with a companion, but I’m someone’s husband. Marriage is pain. Oh, Nothando, what’s supposed to happen?” Samson asked himself.
In the morning Samson went to catch a taxi near the bus station. He found Nothando there with a few others waiting and he went to her.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning Samson,” she replied, rubbing her hands and blowing them.
He looked at her from her legs covered in boots to her dark blue, short-sleeved dress, which she wore without a jersey, and her hair, which missed a hat. He took off his jacket and cap.
“Here, I guess you’re cold.”
“Oh thank you, I don’t know why I left my jersey in the first place.”
“Never trust the weather this time of year.”
“I should’ve known.”
A taxi came and Samson pointed his index finger to the sky indicating he was headed to town. They got in and he sat with her. The cold continued, but off the wheels went to Nelspruit.
“Samson?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you getting cold?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Come closer.”
He didn’t move, so she moved closer to him.
“Wrap your arms around me so you feel warm.”
She lay on his chest and held his hand, and he involuntarily wrapped his other hand around her. A young Samson seen by Nothando says “I love you” to a young version of her, both dressed in a school uniform. Their lips touch, and they kiss. This all happened in Nothando’s mind, so she grabbed him even tighter.
“Tell me you’re feeling that Samson, that the universe has stopped?”
“Yes.”
“I love you, don’t push me away. I’m yours and you’re mine, please believe me when I say I love you, because mine, it’s more than anybody’s. I promise to correct all my wrongs towards you,” Nothando said.
“I’m the one at fault, and I’m sorry.”
“Sho’t left driver, kaJackson,” said a man in the backseat.
That was also where Samson was headed. The moment felt so short, they couldn’t seem to let go of each other.
“Don’t miss me so the day won’t feel long,” she said.
“Don’t miss me too.” He stood up and got out.
The day’s work wasn’t for Samson, he even asked to take the Daka boy’s work for the day as he forced his body to work. He pushed the heavy wheelbarrow filled with sand and cement mixed with water to all the Daka boards, lifted all the blocks for the other builder. His sweat whispered to him all day to let go and enjoy the presence of Nothando, but he continued. So they knocked off early, and lucky him, they got paid in the middle of the month.
***
Tell us: Do you think Nothando would care if she found out that Samson was married?