Aphiwe has so many questions in her head, but as she holds Limi tight and rocks her to sleep, she knows that running away is not an option now. Her little brother and sister need her. They are just little kids.

Her stepmother may not cut their hair or lock them in their bedrooms, but she is just as bad to them if they have to clean her puke in the middle of the night.

And it is not just her, it is their father too. He is never present, just like he was never present for Aphiwe. They are also scared of him, or what he might do to their mother, that is why they hide her mess.

Limi has fallen asleep in her arms, on her bed when Aphiwe hears her father shouting. “Get up, you stupid drunkard!”

He has come back earlier than expected.

He is shouting and cussing and Aphiwe is not worried about Limi, she is fast asleep, she is more worried about Sengezo, whom she knows is hearing everything.

And at that moment she knows her brother and sister will always need her. Her stepmother is a horrible person, and so is her father.

She holds Limi tighter as she hears footsteps coming closer and closer.

“Aphile, we have to drive to Hammersdale, now. It’s about your grandmother,” he says, standing at the door.

“Aphiwe. My name is Aphiwe, Baba,” she says, angry even.

What she knows for sure is that her grandmother is dead, that’s why her father is here and it is why he is taking her to Hammersdale. Her kidneys have finally killed her. And that means she has no choice going forward, she is stuck with her stepmother and her father forever.

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