At Samkelo’s Place.

“Samkelo?”

“Anne, I need you to leave now. Get out,” Samkelo said.

Anne walked over to the wall. A rush of confusion ran throughout her body. She looked at Samkelo, and suddenly her breaths became shallow as tears warmed her cheeks, “Not until you tell me what is going on here, why do you have pictures of my family, my roommates and my boyfriend on your walls like you are some sort of detective?” Anne grabbed a paper from the wall to have a proper look, “Samkelo where did you get my bank statement and my proof of residence from home? Is this why you were searching in my room?”

“I am going to scream if you don’t leave now,” Samkelo said with a serious face.

“Oh, come on. Don’t do that, do not patronisee me. You honestly don’t think you can get away with no explanation right? These are pictures of me and of my family. You are going to explain what is going on. There is something wrong with you, this can’t be okay,” Anne said.

Samkelo unpinned one of Anne’s family pictures and scoffed.

“Point of correction my Annie, there isn’t something wrong with me. There is something wrong with us- you and I,” she pointed at the picture hatefully, “We both have this man’s blood running in our veins. His rot pumps through our hearts. The only difference between us is that he thought you and your siblings didn’t only deserve his DNA but his love and care as well. He left my mom heartbroken and sick. Left us in abject poverty, we never even had a home. You know Anne, something happens that just numbs you when you have carried your mom on a wheelbarrow to the hospital. When you have watched the flames engulf your shack with your brother inside it.”

Anne’s body shook as a sweat broke on her forehead. She pushed Samkelo aside inan efforts to leave but Samkelo grabbed her jacket.

“Where are you going now? You said you wanted to know what was wrong with me, didn’t you? Now, sit here and listen. Do you think it was easy watching you live your best lives while we starved and wanted for every single thing? I have watched you go to St Mariams High school for girls while it could only be a dream for me. We lived in alternate worlds, but I watched all of you and I swore, I was going to make all of you pay. All of you, in one way or the other. My mother’s suffering will not be in vain, my brother’s death and all else, you will pay.”

Anne trembled. She stood up and ran to the door. Samkelo grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her backwards. She screamed trying to escape from her, but she had a strong grip on her hair. Anne punched Samkelo in the stomach then she let go of her. Samkelo grabbed Anne’s neck, strangling her as Anne struggled, slapping her back. She let her go then she kicked her on the stomach then Anne fell to the ground. Anne grabbed Samkelo’s leg and dragged her, then she fell on her face. She got up and screamed.

“Somebody, help!!” Anne.

Samkelo grabbed her by the hair again, pulling out a chunk of it in the middle.

The door burst open and the girls in the residence peeked inside with the landlord.

“Lethabo, call the police,” the landlord said to one of the girls.

Samkelo and Anne looked at each other while breathing heavily.