“You will marry me?” Nombuso asks, putting Simphiwe down.

“I will marry you, but I honestly can’t marry you now. The police are flooding this place,” Zanele says, trying to reason.

“What do you mean?” Nombuso asks, sounding confused.

“I mean, you have to escape through the backdoor. There is a motorbike. Here are the keys. Go to a nearby church, and I will meet you there after a few hours,” Zanele responds.

Before saying anything further, Nombuso goes quiet while the police are busy yelling outside. “Nombuso Langa. Come out with your hands up. You are surrounded. Do not, we repeat, do not do anything stupid,” the say.

While listening to the police, Zanele thinks of how useless and irritating they are at that moment.

“I can’t think! There is too much noise!” Nombuso screams with her hands covering her ears.

“Listen to me. Do as I say,” Zanele begs.

Nombuso then takes the key from Zanele’s hand, and walks towards the back door. “You will marry me?” she asks before exiting.

“I will marry you. I promise,” Zanele responds, smiling gently.

Nombuso melts as soon as Zanele flashes her pure white teeth. “I love you, Zanele. I’m really sorry,” she cries.

“It’s okay. I forgive you,” Zanele responds.

“Can you hug me?” Nombuso asks.

Zanele walks over to her and wraps her up in a hug. Nombuso closes her eyes while her fingers are resting on the trigger. She then pulls away and releases gently, and the bullet goes straight through Zanele’s stomach.

Zanele moans in response, and her eyes are wide open. “Nombuso,” she cries, then falls down while trying to gasp for air.

“We all die,” Nombuso says, turning the gun to herself. She then blows her brains out, falls to the floor, and dies instantly.

After hearing the gunshots, the police come flooding in, and they are absolutely appalled at the scene. “Call an ambulance, this one is still breathing,” one of the officer shouts, checking Zanele’s pulse.

When the police are done, they call Lihle, explain everything to her, and she rushes to the hospital with her face flooded by tears.

***

Tell us: Do you think Zanele will be able to survive the bullet wound?