The next morning at Anne’s place.

Anne’s phone rang unanswered, she reached for it and silenced it. The alarm was always nagging and annoying. “I guess university isn’t all roses,” she thought. She still woke up in the wee hours of the morning and slept late. The phone rang again, she grunted sitting up. she opened one eye to look at the screen and it was a call. It was an unknown landline number, she looked at the screen for a while trying to figure who it could be before finally answering.

“Is this Anne Dibakoane? You are speaking to sister Mo at Lethabong Memorial hospital,” the voice on the other end said.

She quickly sobered up from her sleep, she tried speaking but nothing came out.

“I am calling regarding Mr Brian Lesufi. He has asked that we call you, he has been hospitalised and would appreciate it if you could bring him a bathing set during the visiting hours,” before she could reply the line cut off.

She gasped in shock then she leaped out of bed. She grabbed a pair of her white Nike sneakers and shoved her feet inside. She reached for a denim jacket on the arm rest of her chair and put it on over her pyjamas. She rushed to the bathroom to brush her teeth but as soon as she looked at the mirror, she took off the silky bonnet over her head and stepped out. She searched her bag for coins and shoved them in her pockets then she ran off.

She wasn’t sure where she had to catch the taxis to the hospital. She kept walking, praying, and hoping that a taxi would just come in sight.

“Anne! Hey Anne!” Samkelo ran behind her.

Anne stopped in her tracks and waited. She sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“Where are you going in pyjamas? Oh Anne, are you crying? What’s going on?” Samkelo asked.

“I don’t know. The hospital called saying my boyfriend has been hospitalised. Last night after the movies, he texted me telling me that he felt like someone was following him but then he sent another text saying that it was nothing. I dozed off while I was waiting for him to let me know that he arrived safely. I think he was mugged; I need to go see him,” Anne rambled.
Samkelo swallowed.

“Oh child, so you’re going to the hospital now? The visiting hours start at 10am, you won’t be able to see him until then, go take a bath and have breakfast. Also, who goes to the hospital empty handed? Go to the stores and buy the guy some fruits and a bathing set.”

She leaned over and hugged her tightly then she let go.

“I have a few loose ends to tie so I will not be able to accompany you. I will see you later. Now go home and do exactly as I have told you,” Samkelo said as Anne nodded.

Hours later, Anne walked out of the hospital with a puffy red face as she sniffed. She was glad that Brian was going to be okay, but she still couldn’t understand why anyone would want to stab him. This wasn’t even a mugging gone wrong because they didn’t take his money or his phone. She sighed as she crossed the road, her brain cells were getting fried up from all the scenarios she came up with. What if this place was just not safe? She took out her phone then she dialled Samkelo. She hung up before she could answer and opened WhatsApp. Luckily Samkelo’s profile picture was taken at the student residence she stayed at. She opened the profile picture and there was Samkelo, smiling widely with her hands on her waist; behind her was a billboard written ‘Rorisang Girls’ Residence’. Anne put her phone in the pocket and increased her pace.

She squinted looking up at the billboard and took out her phone to verify she was at the right place.

“Hey girl, I am looking for Samkelo, she stays here?” she asked the girl with dreadlocks sitting by the stairs.

“I am not sure, check between H12 or H13 there by the corner,” she answered blowing her chappies loudly.

Anne thanked her and passed all the way to the corner. She would start by knocking at H12 and if it wasn’t Samkelo’s, she would knock on the next.

She gently knocked and Samkelo emerged behind the door, with a slice of dry bread in her hand. She gasped and quickly shut the door on Anne’s face.

Anne laughed and tried opening but it was locked. Her smile dissolved, “Hey, I won’t judge you if your room is dirty. I just really need a friend right now.”

Samkelo opened the door and immediately shut it as soon as she got out.

She rubbed her hands together not sure what to say or what to do, “Uhm, can we go to your place? I haven’t cleaned,” she said.

Anne pushed past her opening the door, her jaws dropped, and her heart begun pounding. She turned around.

“Samkelo?”