He is becoming restless. Nthabi should be home by now. She always calls if she is going to be late. What if something is seriously wrong?

He shrugs that nagging thought off. Nothing can possibly go wrong to ruin this special day.

He picks up the shinny diamond ring again, for the umpteenth time. It’s so beautiful, fit for a woman of Nthabi’s calibre. A woman who loved him despite the fact that he was just a security guard in this very complex he now calls home, a woman who helped him get an education he never thought he would ever have. Today he is a project manager in one of the major construction companies. His dream job.

He knows how, after the proposal, when all the excitement has settled, Nthabi will complain about the cost of this ring. She doesn’t take kindly to extravagant spending. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, she always say. But she deserves this, complaints will come and go.

He picks up his phone, dials her number. It’s on voicemail. Maybe she’s in a meeting, he thinks.

He puts the ring in his pocket, goes to the dining room to make sure the table is well set up. The champagne, the candles, the red roses. It’s all there. He’s so proud of himself, a few years ago, he only saw such things in movies.

He goes to the kitchen, checks the lasagne again, Nthabi’s favourite. It looks good, he wonders if she’ll enjoy it. He doesn’t count himself as a good cook. But hey, he tried.

He checks the time again, she must be on her way….

There’s a knock on the door. That must be her. He pulls himself together, but the excitement is visible on his face. He rushes towards the door, adorning a big smile on his face. He opens it. There are two police officers standing in front of him. He gets a cold feeling.

“Is this Ms Nthabi Mokoena’s house?” Askes one of the officers.

“Yes it is. How can I help you? Is there something wrong?” Asks Zweli, desperately trying to read their faces for traces of an answer.

“You must be her husband,” says the officer.

“I’m her husband to be,” Zweli says, forcing a smile that refuses to come.

“Ok Sir, I don’t know a better way to say this. There was a terrible accident on the N1 highway thirty minutes ago. I am sorry to let you know that your wife didn’t make it. We……”

Zweli can feel his world caving under his feet. He tries to say something, but the words refuse to come out. It becomes difficult to breathe, there a sharp pain in his his heart, as if someone has just pushed a dagger through it. His world becomes nothing but a heavy darkness. His knees become weak. He collapses on the floor, head first.

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