“Londiwe,” began her mother, “please tell me what is in your heart, my child, so that I can see how I can help and support you. I am pleading with you, my child,” she said, with tears rolling down her face. She discreetly wiped the tears away so that Londiwe would not see the pain she had brought to her mother’s heart.

“Mama,” responded Londiwe, “please don’t cry. I love you and I need you to help me deal with this situation.” They held each other’s hands and hugged each other.

“How can I help you, my child, when you lock me out and refuse to tell me what is troubling you? What is it that has led you to use substances that will harm your health and your future, which is so bright, my child?”

“Mama, I’m so sorry,” Londiwe replied. “I didn’t know how to deal with the situation. When I first realised that Asanda was in her last year in this school, I just felt so lonely. I felt I was left with nobody to talk to when I had problems because we used to discuss things when we were alone,” she said, still holding her mother’s hands.

“Londiwe. Your brother and I are here for you, although we may never do things like your sister does. But we are here to listen to you and we love you and, as a family, we do not forsake one another. You should always know that,” her mother said, and kissed her.

“I understand, thank you, Mama,” said Londiwe. “The other thing, Mama, is that I saw that you were spending a lot of time with my sister and you weren’t paying attention to me any more.”

Her mother assured her that she was not ignoring her, it was because Asanda, who was doing Matric, needed more support. Asanda also needed support from Londiwe. “When she has left, I will remain with you and your brother, but I will pay more attention to you because you will need to pass with flying colours,” the mother assured her.

“Indeed, my sister needs me, Mama. I thought she didn’t need me. All is fine. I’ll start helping her when she needs help,” said Londiwe.

The mother smiled when she heard those words coming from Asanda’s friend. “Now, what are we going to do about the drugs?” she asked.

“Mama, I swear that I am not using the drugs. I just took them from my friends and stored them away and pretended to my friends that I was using the drugs,” Londiwe replied.

Her mother was happy to hear those words. She had been very worried because she had believed that her daughter was indeed drowning in drugs when that was not true.

“Thank you very much, my child. You have freed me from the hunter’s snare. I thought I was going to go crazy thinking that I have failed to raise my children correctly,” she said, with a smile. Londiwe returned the smile, and they hugged each other.

Asanda and Thando heard the laughter coming from the dining room. They came out of their bedrooms and saw their mother hugging Londiwe. Sister and the brother also joined in and hugged everyone, and they all sat together, talking happily.

From that day, Londiwe stopped chasing people away from her bedroom. She and Asanda revived their old relationship of being friends who are siblings.

“Londiwe, you know that I love you and we belong to one family. I will never deliberately forsake you. When I am away, we shall keep communicating through our cell phones and we shall see each other. You will also visit me, as our mother has said. I love you, my mother’s child,” Asanda assured her sister.

She went on and advised her sister to concentrate on her subjects so that they might attend the same university in two years.

When she heard those words, Londiwe was filled with hope.

“I will also help you with your Matric, even though I will be far, because you used to assist me,” Asanda promised.

At school, Londiwe began to avoid her naughty friends and found new friends who were serious about education. Her results started to improve and her mother was happy to see that her child had turned her back on evil things. She was back to the condition that made her proud, like all parents who always wish the best for their children.

One day, when they were having breakfast, they received a message informing them that Asanda had been granted a bursary that was estimated at R100 000 per year. They all burst out and ululated, they were so happy. Their mother was grateful that her prayers had been answered.

“Do you remember that you promised to buy me an iPhone?” Londiwe asked.

“I will never forget. Once I finish paying for all the university expenses, you will find a parcel in the post. That will be the fulfilment of the promise, my friend.”

“Hmm, my friend, you are indeed a sister who is a good example to me, my friend who is my elder sister.”

“You are my friend, my sister.”

Tell us: What lesson did you learn from this story?