“Come on, you have to fight this,” he says gently.

I look at him with scared eyes. I am in pain after my operation for the removal of my liver. He has been here for me and even donated a piece of his liver. I lie in hospital after the 8-hour operation. Themba has a wound on his abdomen, but he keeps visiting my bedside.

“How is your wound?” I ask.

“I worry about you. Stop worrying about me. I am ok, my friend,” he answers.

I smile, feeling the song ‘Hero’ playing in my head.

There’s a hero

If you look inside your heart

You don’t have to be afraid

Of what you are

There’s an answer

If you reach into your soul

And the sorrow that you know will meet away.

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

“Ashley, what are you thinking?” he says, while I blink my eyes twice. I don’t want the song to stop. Themba doesn’t know he is my hero. I see him as my angel and my knight.

“It’s just pain……ouch,” I say as I try to sit upright.

“Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?” he rushes and helps me to sit up.

“T….I am fine, really….I need some air, maybe see the garden,” I say, bored.

I am pretending and feel guilty because he cares so much. He was my boyfriend. He showed me love when I gave up and saw men as dogs and pigs. I even called them heart breakers after my divorce, when I had to tend to my son alone. My ex-husband had left me for another woman. My son, Shayne, was only a year old. I never dated anyone again. I thought they just profess their love to you and then they ditch you. I didn’t want a repeat of it again in my life. Themba didn’t just say, “I love you,” out of the blue. He became my friend and listened to my situation. He always had something to encourage me and motivate me in many ways. When I think about those moments, I smile.

“Ashley, I have to go. You will be alright,” he says, kissing my forehead.

I miss him kissing my lips, and sometimes I wish we had never ditched each other. I thought we would get married one day. He always has good things to say to me. He waves his hand as I watch him walk out the door.

Finally, I am alone. My family hasn’t gotten in touch with me, or maybe they don’t have cash. I am in South Africa, and they are in Harare, Zimbabwe. I thank God that Themba is with me. I am grateful he is so supportive, and he did a great thing for me. He donated a piece of his liver. I want to get married to him, but we are no longer lovers, but friends. No wonder marriages fall apart because he is unique. Themba isn’t like all my ex’s. He is one of the unicorns.

I look at the walls and sleep. The beeping of the machines irritates me. I want to sleep in a very quiet place. I have no choice here.

TELL US: Do you think they’ll end up together?