After they left Noluntu blurted out, “Mangi’s dead!”

Her mother froze for a moment as if she just saw a ghost. Yes she wasn’t a fan of Mangi but nobody deserved death.

“Excuse me?” asked Pet getting close to her daughter.

“I’ll never see her again,” Luntu said and ran past her mother to her room and locked the door.

Pet was digesting the news she’d just heard. After a few minutes she followed after Luntu and was about to knock but decided against it. Luntu needed a minute to herself after all. She went back to the kitchen to attend her pots.

In her room, Noluntu was holding the letter that Mangi left for her. She hesitated before opening it, her whole body trembling. She didn’t trust her hands to open it so she just stood there looking at it, wondering what could be in it.

Don’t you dare open it, throw it away! Part of her mind told her. You’ll always wonder what’s in it if you do, the other part reasoned. She was now debating with herself, she breathed deeply and finally opened it. “OK, here we go Mangi,” she said while opening it.

She wasn’t sure she’d like what she would see so she took her time. She sat on the edge of the bed and read it started.

Dear Noli
I’ve invested my time, life and my love for three years into your heart. I don’t mean to make you feel guilty or whatever but, I just couldn’t go another day without hearing you say you love me or even better yet, get one of those warm hugs of yours I used to call ‘the famous lulu huggies’.

Luntu couldn’t help but smile as tears ran down her cheeks like a leaking tap, then continued reading the rest of the letter.

Noli, I don’t know how we got to this point but I don’t like it. One thing I know though is that you’ll be a hell of a good mother to that baby of yours. I don’t know who the father is but I so wish and hope it’s Wanda. I know you didn’t expect this but that guy loves you and he’s the only one who can give you everything that you deserve. Just give him a chance, at least do it for me, if you do then I’ll always look up to you and keep that baby happy. I’ll be more of an ancestor than an angel of love. I know you’re probably blaming yourself for this. Just don’t. Always remember that I love you. Whenever you miss me just play I Miss You By Beyonce. I’ll try by all means to be there, hopefully you’ll feel my spirit with you.

All the best xXx
Yours truly
Mangi.

After reading it she cried like there was no tomorrow. Petunia could hear her, and just as she was about to attend to Luntu, there was a knock at the door. It was Frank and Khaya.

Not now, Petunia thought to herself.

“Hello, please come in,” she welcomed them in.

“You don’t look fine,” said Frank. “What is…” Luntu’s cry disturbed him

“Is that…? Aunty why’s she crying?” asked a concerned Khay. Pet signed for them to sit down.

“Let me check up on her, I’ll be back,” on her way she bumped into Luntu.

“I’m going out so…” Luntu noticed that they had visitors. Khaya stood up and they looked at each other. Khaya’s eyes ran down to her belly that was slowly growing. That made Luntu uncomfortable but she contained herself.

“So you’ve been crying? Why?” asked Khaya.

“Um… I’m OK. Hello Dad,” she hugged him and they all seated.

“Let me dish up,” said Pet.

“You’re a life saver, I’m starving. This baby’s eating the hell out of me,” said Luntu and everyone looked at her. It was clear that she was having a hard time, her eyes said it all, yet she was trying too hard not to let anyone pity her. Pet decided to change the subject.

“Frank, do you remember Mangi, the girl that barged in here while Luntu was trying so to tell us about the pregnancy?” she asked while dishing. Frank looked at Luntu who was looking down, then at Pet and then nodded to her question. “Well you must be asking yourself why Luntu is like this, the girl… Mangi passed on,”

“Oh, Lulu I’m sorry. I know you were close,” replied Frank. Pet carried the food to the table, Khaya said grace and they ate in silence. Luntu was missing Mangi more than ever. She remembered that her phone was in her room and got up to fetch it but Pet told her to finish her food first.

“If I may ask, this Mangi… what was wrong with her?” asked Khaya.

“She committed suicide,” everyone was shocked and wanted to know more. Luntu excused herself to her room with her plate and Pet didn’t stop her this time around. As soon as she entered the room she went straight to her phone and played I Miss You by Beyonce.