All my life, I was second best. It did not matter that I brought home straight A’s while my big sister brought home C’s, she always got the attention. My name is Nokuthula, which means ‘silence’, and my big sister’s name is Zakithi. We have two younger brothers that are twins, and they are Lihle and Sihle.

While growing up, no matter what I did, Zakithi always managed to outshine me. I remember when I was in Grade 10 and she was in Grade 12. I entered a beauty competition. I was beautiful, and I took pride in that fact. I was short and had a beautiful dark skin. My hair was unruly, but it was just the perfect afro. I also had beautiful brown eyes and a wonderful smile.

My sister, on the other hand, was tall and skinny. She had the body of a model. She had a tantalising figure and a smile that could charm a gay man, and she also had high cheekbones and pure dark eyes that glowed whenever she smiled.

I almost fell off the stage when she won the beauty contest. Zakithi Maphumulo. Why? I felt like crying and just strangling her to death when it happened. It also did not help that both my parents did not even bother to comfort me when I lost. They were too busy fussing over the family’s pageant winner.

“Oh, I knew you would nail it, honey,” my father kept saying, hugging her from time to time.

“She took my good looks. Oh, you have made us so proud!” my mother added, kissing her forehead countless times.

While I was standing there with tears almost falling off my eyes, I wanted to scream and shout, just to get them to give me attention. After a while, I sniffled and ran to the back of the school library and cried. As I sat there hugging my knees and sobbing, I felt a soft but firm hand tap me on my shoulder. I then looked up, and standing before me was the most handsome guy I had ever seen!

Tell us: Do you think it is fair that Nokuthula’s parents never give her the attention she needs as their child?