Sindie
Two months had passed since the difficult days of mourning Lloyd’s passing, and as Naledi and Shawn slowly healed, a glimmer of joy returned to our lives. The news that Marco had been sentenced to life in prison for his crimes brought a sense of relief. It was a welcome change to be able to breathe again, to feel a sigh of relief knowing that we had put the horrors of Ndumiso and his gang behind us—or at least we hoped so. The endless cycle of killings and gunshots had taken its toll, and I can’t bear the thought of enduring any more.
“What are you thinking about?” Shawn asked, his lips touching my forehead as he pulled me closer, my head resting on his shoulder. “Nothing,” I replied, a smile playing on my lips. “I’m just glad to see that things are slowly getting back to normal.” I watched as Naledi’s laughter filled the room, her contagious joy spreading to all of us, especially Simon, who was tickling her.
I had missed this sense of normalcy, even though it pained me at times to realise that Lloyd was no longer with us. But at least we were no longer teetering on the edge of insanity, no longer consumed by the traumas we had endured in the past few months.
“I love you,” I whispered to Shawn, wrapping my arms tightly around him, seeking comfort and security in his embrace. “I love you too,” he responded, his voice filled with warmth and affection, his head gently resting on top of mine.
Thandiwe
Today is the day I have to say goodbye, even though it is just for a weekend. “You don’t have to cry,” I said to Mam Mavis, trying to lighten the mood with a half-hearted laugh. “I’ll only be gone for the weekend,” I reassured her, giving her one last heartfelt hug before Bongani helped me into the car. We were headed to KwaZulu-Natal, where he planned to introduce me to his family.
“You’re going to love it there. It’s so peaceful, unlike the bustling streets of Johannesburg,” Bongani remarked, honking the car horn before we drove away.
Love was an enigma to me, something I had never truly experienced. But being with Bongani in this moment, I feel a newfound desire to get it right, to not repeat the mistakes I had made in the past with Sbonga. I want to learn how to love, and having Bongani by my side ignites a longing within me to embark on that journey fully and wholeheartedly.
Just like dusk it comes after darkness and before sunshine, I have risen from all the dark times I have been through and I am now ready to embrace and welcome the sunlight.