“Why though? Why don’t you leave?” I asked Lelo.

We were in her lounge. It was a week after that incident.

“I can’t. If I do, I’ll leave here with nothing,” she replied.

“You can start over,” I said holding her hand.

“31 and nothing to call mine,” she laughed sadly. “That’s not how I pictured my life growing up,” she continued.

I nodded.

“I lost it,” she said.

“Lost what?” I asked.

“My baby.” She held her stomach sadly. “It was yet another boy. Born six months premature, he was badly damaged at birth.” She cried.

“When did you give birth?” I asked, putting my hand over hers.

“After that incident,” she sobbed, lying her head on my shoulder. “He says he’s sorry for causing me to lose our child. He’s shattered. He’s so gentle these days.” She almost smiled.

“Guilt,” I said.

She looked up at me. “I should have never let my parents talk me into leaving you,” she said.

I nodded.

“I never stopped loving you,” she held my cheek.

“It’s fine. I forgave you long ago,” I told her, swallowing my saliva hard.

She leaned in, I wanted to stop her, but I wanted to taste what it was like all those years ago. We kissed, passionately. In a matter of minutes, we were both naked. We collided, it was like sparks and fireworks were flying around, there on her couch. We climaxed simultaneously. She got off abruptly, getting dressed.

“He’ll be home soon,” she hesitated.

I got dressed too.

“This was a mistake,” I said, fixing my shirt and running out to my car. She followed me, and saw me out.

***

The next day she came over my house and she had my cufflinks.

“Where did you find those?” I asked, taking them.

“You left them at my house that day,” she said.

“He found them?” I asked.

She nodded.

“I managed to lie and say they belonged to my father,” she said.

I nodded, giving her a soda. She’d brought her kids along. She didn’t look like she’d miscarried, she still looked six months pregnant to me.

“I’ve never had that much pleasure in two years,” she admitted.

I smiled, she looked at me. She leaned in again as Bontle walked in.

“Zinhle,” Bontle said, as I was close to kissing Lelo.

I stood up. “Love,” I smiled at her.

“Who’s that?” she asked, coming closer.

“Are you cheating on me with…this granny?” she asked, looking at Lelo up and down.

“No, I’m not. She’s a friend,” I told her.

“A friend that you kiss?”

She slapped me. I went red.

“Listen to me Bontle! I’d never cheat on you. You’re everything I want,” I said.

She looked at Lelo. “What, you’re 46?” she asked.

Lelo stood up quickly. She walked out with her sons.

“What was that?” Bontle turned to me.

“You didn’t have to be so rude” I replied, tidying the glasses.

“Is she the emergency that made you ditch me that night?” she asked.

“I’ll not dignify that with an answer,” I said, slowly walking up the stairs.

***

“He was never worth it. Never worth it. He has never been passionate or tender with me. He’s always treated me like his employee rather than his wife. He beat me up, every single day. I told my mom, she said I should persevere. I’m tired. Really tired. I want out, and I’m taking custody of my kids,” Lelo said, lying in a hospital bed with a fractured neck and dislocated arm. Her face was bruised, she looked bad.

“You’re divorcing him?” I asked the obvious.

“Yeah. I’m done. I’m a qualified high school teacher,” she said, wetting her dry lips.

I stood up.

“Good luck,” I said.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

I nodded. “Work,” I said, glancing at my watch.

“Listen. I know it’s unfair of me to ask you this, but can you represent me in court?” she asked.

“Pro bono. I’ll do it free of charge,” I told her with a smile.

“I love you,” she said. “I hope we can get back to where we were. I was stupid, thinking you weren’t good enough,” she said.

I’d waited to hear those words for the past two years. I walked back to her, sitting down next to her and held her hand.

“Listen Nompumelelo, I’ll represent you in court. I’ll fight tooth and nail for that bastard to land in jail and for you to take him for everything he has. I’ll support you. You can even stay at my place if you can’t handle your parents’ place,” I said, looking at the watch again.

“You’re a good person Zinhle,” she smiled at me.

I kissed her forehead.

“I proposed to Bontle, Nompumelelo. I love her,” I told her.

“What? No! What about that other day?” she said, wincing.

“A mistake is what it was. What happened will never happen again. I’ve moved on and I’m happy,” I said.

She went quiet.

“I’ll still be here for you though, as your lawyer and a friend, that’s all I can offer you for now and always.”

I walked out.

***

Tell us: Do you think Zinhle made the right decision?