“Why are you on the floor?” Sabelo said, crouching down beside his aunt.

“The nurses.” Aunt Zani’s face had an ashy look, and her eyes were red from crying. “They say the beds are for mothers with live … living babies.”

“What?”

Sabelo jumped up, ready to go and fight for a bed for her. Then he controlled his rage. He knew from visits here with Winase how futile it was either to appeal to uncaring nurses’ humanity, or to criticize them. Nothing got through.

He crouched again.

“What makes the nurses like that?” He shook his heard. “I mean, this! I can’t believe anyone could be so … so cruel. So sorry, Auntie, so sorry.”

His aunt shook her head. “Maybe they’re right.”

“No!” He spoke sharply. “You’re not to think that, Auntie. You deserve extra care, when you’ve had this loss. And counselling! Has someone spoken to you about that?”

Another shake of the head. She didn’t seem to want to talk any more, and showed no interest in the food he had brought. He left it with her when it was time for him to go.

Leaving the ward, he glanced back. He was getting used to this helpless, frustrated feeling.

Man, if he had the ability to become a doctor, or the money to set up a wonderful hospital – ordinary people were the ones he’d help.

But one doctor, or even one hospital, would never be enough.

Anyway, such grand schemes weren’t for average people like him, so no use wishing.

“But there has to be something else I can do to make a difference,” he said to Winase after meeting her, and telling her about how he’d found his aunt, and how different Ms Ledwaba’s ward was. “All these things, you being turned away from that place, Uncle Mavelo and the others who have to travel so far for treatment, and now my aunt …

They’re getting to me, baby.”

***

Tell us what you think: What would you do if you were Sabelo?