When Xolani was about to board the bus, two kids ran to him and told to wait because someone was coming. He got the shock of his life when he saw Nokthula running towards him with a crowd after her, and he instantly cried and ran to her. They kissed, but the kiss was different. It was not to declare their love, and it was not a good bye kiss, but it was Nokthula begging Xolani to not leave.

The crowd felt sympathy for them. Nokthula held tight to Xolani and begged him not to leave her.

“I have to leave,” Xolani responded. “This place has brought me nothing but hurt. Only you made me happy. You were the only one who made me smile, but you have to understand, I am not leaving for myself, but I’m leaving to protect you. That is just how much I love you. I promise I will return for you.”

With that, Xolani kissed Nokthula goodbye and boarded the Bus.

Nokthula’s heart turned black when Xolani’s bus left. She just watched the love of her life leave her because of her community, because of her husband, and because of everyone around her. She then returned to her so called home, and everything was black and white. Everything seemed meaningless.

When Bongani heard word of what she had done, he was furious, so he beat her. He felt she had disrespected him and his family. How could a soon to be Nguni woman be seen publicly kissing another man? She cried for mercy. She begged him to stop or he would kill the child, but the thought of another man’s child developing within her made every stroke of his hand, every kick, and every throw more powerful.

Bongani wanted that abomination dead! He wanted the very memory of that half-breed gone with him. He wanted nothing to involve him with that walking abomination. He wanted that child dead, and he was going to accomplish that.

When Bongani looked at Nokthula’s bloody face, that was when he snapped back to reality. That was when he saw his sins. He quickly rushed her to the nearest clinic. His family’s reputation got him to cut inline first, but his anger nearly killed his wife.

**********

After an hours long bus ride, Xolani arrived at iBisho. It was a city quite far from home, but far enough for a fresh start. His grandfather had contacted an old friend he had disconnected with, and asked him to take care of Xolani. Xolani’s grandfather was reluctant, but he had to contact him for his grandchild’s sake.

When Xolani got out of the bus, he met Baba Mabizela and his family welcoming him with warm and open arms. They wanted Xolani to become part of the family and to grow, and essentially, he did grow. But he never forgot how he left everything behind, and the events that had lead him there.

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