I can’t believe this has happened. Tyrone is in hospital, stabbed by people he knows nothing about, just because he was with me.

I want to talk to Doc, but how can I explain all of this? I should have told her about Bandile and the guys, when I had the chance. Now my friend, Tyrone, the only friend I have who really cares, is in hospital because of me. Anger surges in me. Those bastards – stabbing an innocent man!

I went with him to hospital after I had wrapped a strip of my shirt around where his arm was bleeding from a deep knife wound. All the colour had drained from his face and he was faint. I waited with him until a paramedic came, then accompanied him to the hospital. They kept him in because he had lost a lot of blood and they wanted to check there was no internal damage.

I stayed with him until I had to go home, and then I promised that I would be back the next day. That night I brooded. What should I do?

Now, I have his favourite cooldrink and some fruit for him. I have even brought one of his textbooks so that he can study. He SMSed me asking for it. Can you believe it? Studying in hospital. But that’s Tyrone.

He is lying in bed paging through the book with his left hand when I enter the ward. His right is in a sling against his chest until the wound heals and the stitches are out.

“Tyrone, I am really sorry,” I start.

“I can’t believe you go around with guys like that,” he says, looking at me, puzzled.

I look down at the SMS I wrote in anger on the way here:

Bandile, nid help. Msingisi’s frnds

attacked us. Nw in hospital.

I stare at the message for a while, then press ‘delete’.

In that moment, that very moment, I truly decide: I have learned my lesson. This has got to end. Bandile is no help to me now. In fact he never was.

“I don’t go round with them anymore,” I say to Tyrone. “That part of my life is over now. I will make it up to you, I promise.” I have never felt so guilty, so remorseful, in my life.

He smiles. “I’ll be OK, Mzi. The doctor says I can go home just now. I only have to come back to have the stitches out.”

My phone vibrates. It’s Bandile. I reject his call. I know that I will reject all his calls from now on.

“Who was that?” asks Tyrone.

“No-one important in my life,” I say. And from now on it’s true, I tell myself.

The next day Tyrone is up and back at lectures. He is already making jokes about the bandage on his arm. I imagine what would have happened if he had been killed – a real possibility. It sends shudders down my spine. That part of my life is truly over.

I tell Dr McNamara all that happened. “Tyrone sounds like a good friend for you,” she says. I agree. Then she asks me about Nolovuyo.

“I haven’t been able to get hold of her,” I say. “I was so angry with her when she didn’t listen to me. But now I want to see her again. I’m sure she just didn’t realise how important it was for me that she listened to my story.”

After being quiet for a moment, Doctor McNamara finally speaks. “You’re a great young man, Mzi. But there are things you haven’t learnt yet.”

At this point, she has my full attention. “You can’t go around loving or caring about people that don’t make you a better person. I’ll make you an example. Since I met you all that time ago, I’ve learnt to be more patient and understanding. And that makes me a better person and a better doctor.”

“I don’t know, Doc. I still feel like I love Nolovuyo.”

Doctor McNamara sighs. “You will have to decide yourself what to do, Mzi.”

Outside her office Michelle smiles at me. “Any of that coffee?” I ask. We sit and chat. She is so easy to speak to. And she has the sweetest smile. I see a book on her desk, Hunger Games.

“Did you see the movie?” I ask.

“Not yet,” she says.

“I’m going to get the DVD out,” I tell her. “Come and watch it with me.”

“I’d love to,” she says.

Later, we meet outside on campus. But then who do I see in the distance, but Nolovuyo and Bandile.

“I am sorry,” I tell her. “There is something I quickly have to sort out.”

She looks like she understands. “OK. Good luck with the ‘something’,” she says, sitting on a bench and taking out her cellphone.

I have to go and talk to Noluvuyo while I’m still brave enough to do it.

“Eita mf’ethu,” is all I say to Bandile. “Can I talk to you?” I ask Noluvuyo.

She doesn’t say anything, and simply steps closer.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately. And I’ve realised some things about myself and about you. Firstly, I don’t think you ever loved me.”

“Haai suka, Mzi…”she starts, but I put my finger to her lips. This is my moment to talk!

“Secondly, you don’t make me a better person. All you do is make me doubt myself and constantly worry about keeping you happy. What about my happiness?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, mna. If…” she says, dismissively.

Again, I don’t allow her to finish.

“It’s over, Noluvuyo. Go and make some other guy’s life difficult!”

“Whatever! Being your girlfriend was boring, anyways!” she says, as she walks towards Bandile.

I deserve an acting award. I made the break-up seem easy even though it actually hurt so much.

“He thinks he’s clever now,” I hear Bandile saying. “Let’s leave his ass alone, then.”

I am surprised that it doesn’t hurt to hear him say that, even though he was my friend for more than a year.

I go back to Michelle. She smiles when she sees me coming.

“Are you sorted?”

“Yes,” I say firmly.

“That’s good.”

I look at her and know that now I have two good friends who really care about me. Tyrone and Michelle will be there for me even when I feel weak and down – in fact, especially when I do.

I don’t know what’ll happen after today. But, as the man I am now, the man of this moment, I’m ready to face up to anything.

***

Tell us what you think: What lessons has Mzi learned? Have you ever had to end an unhealthy relationship?