My feet were trembling and my mouth was shaking. I already knew what they wanted from me, to choose sides, and also to manipulate me and rape me. After the long talk we had, I felt an extreme slap on my face that left a mark and I felt tears coming down from my cheeks. They also told me not to forget that by the next day I must make a decision based on the group of my choice, ukuthi kahle kahle ngifuna ukubloma nabobani?” They kept reminding me that I was their bitch.

Just as I was about to receive a punch, the prisoners heard a sound made by footsteps, which was becoming louder as if something was getting closer. The prisoners already knew that it was the guard so they left me and hurried back to their tables, to act as if nothing happened. When I glanced at the outside of our eating room I saw a guard coming to our eating room. It was the same prison guard who took me in.

He said that he had good news for the murderer.

He said he had come to fetch me, that my parents had bailed me and that there was no court case going to take place because no-one stood for the killed. And that he had too many crimes that even if there was a case, he was going to lose anyway. This meant I was going home and I didn’t even care how much my mother spent to bail me out. What mattered was that God had saved me from the sharks.

Finally he removed the handcuffs and he let me change back to the clothes I was arrested wearing. God had answered my prayers, once again. I was finally going home. The fact that I now had a criminal record was going to be life challenging though. But the fact that I was still a full man and I was saved from those prisoners was more important. I was now going to feel the sunshine again and I was going to sleep in my clean room, that was like an incentive to me. As I left the prison gate, I didn’t want to look back.

The guards left me outside to ensure that I was out. In all of that, my eyes reconnected with such a beautiful flower. I saw Anna who came running to me and gave me a hug. She smelt so nice and she kissed me, I don’t know how many times. I saw my parents too waiting for me with a big smile. I didn’t even want to ask them about their money or talk about paying it back. I just wanted affection. I firstly apologised and then gave them a big hug. I now knew that I was going to start my life afresh and try to fix things with my wife, my family and my job also.

When I arrived home I found that there had been a ceremony still going on and that my family wanted me to be there. Nonetheless, regardless of what I did, Sipho was still my brother. Sipho was still my own flesh and blood. I was shocked because of the love I received. I felt like I was a little child again. I knew that my parents loved me even before Sipho had died. But after the obstacles I faced I now saw that my hard work had been appreciated and in return I got love. My family had asked me to read the obituary for my brother.

“Sipho, I have killed you, forgive me. We will one day meet again, ayidle izishiyele and we will meet again. The blood that runs in your veins runs in mine too. I will always remember what we shared when we were younger. You turned out to be a criminal, but you are still loved by our family and you are still my own blood. Have a wonderful journey ndlelanhle gaz’lam.

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Tell us what you think: Would you forgive a family if they killed another family member?