Thandiwe



I was back home to the dusty streets of Winnie Mandela to the one place I tried so hard to run away from.

Now I was back heavily pregnant, I constant hid away from anyone outside the yard. I heard the whispers of people talking about my downfall, I heard about how I was destined to end up here and be like my mother, I heard a lot of things that they cut deep to the core.

With Mr Sibanda absence I was now all on my own with only the fact that he ran away with his wife back to KZN I assumed and me being kicked out of school to keep me warm.

Some nights I cried myself to sleep, I blamed myself sometimes the baby for being here maybe if I wasn’t pregnant I would still be with Siseko right now.

I tried one night to call him but it took me straight to voicemail.

It was no witchcraft and there was no one else to blame except I and I alone.

The door opened my breath caught on my throat as I watched the person enter in the past 6 months he has grown, he showed so much growth. His shoulders were strong and firm his body had changed drastically and that also changed him into one handsome man probably because of him working at the mine.

“Sbonga.”

He looked at me as if he could barely believe that this was me, but what I saw more was the hurt in his eyes remembering my promise to him that I will wait for him.

“I didn’t believeit when I first heard.” He said closing the door behind him “I said no it can’t be, she could never do that to me. We made a vow.”

Tears slide down my cheeks, I don’t know why was I crying probably for the fact that I was the one who caused him this great sadness.

“I..” I was going to say I’m sorry but an apology was never enough, it can never be enough.

“I still love you.”

I looked up almost not believing what I just heard “You love me?” He took a seat besides me “I could never leave you now at your lowest. We can raise the baby together, you can locally find work to help you here and there but I’ll always be here.”I burst into tears not believing that he still decided to stay behind foe me “I promise. I’ll get a job.” And I meant it, I will make sure that I worked harder this time to not disappoint him ever again.

Sindie



It has been 6 full months since we escaped and came into this hidden island that has the most amazing people.

“Mama.” Naledi said as she crawled towards me “Gaga dada.” She lift herself up using my dress and clapped her hands before falling down on her butt.

It was still so hard to believe that Naledi has grown this much. I looked at myself on the mirror and smiled my hair was not in some fancy hairstyle it was just simple just the way I liked it.

The dress was not to puffy like one of Cinderella, it did not hold me tightly that I could barely breathe it was an off shoulder wavy allowing me to be able to move around.

“You look amazing.” Bella said, one of the ladies I became close to “Shawn is one lucky man.”

“Stop you gonna make cry.” I said giving her a hug. “It is time.” I took a deep breath and looked at Naledi who was held by Bella and walked into that aisle, the place was amazingly decorated I made a mental note to thank Bella.

At the end of the tunnel stood the man who was going to be my husband soon. My heart warmed as I saw him wipe off a tear. “You look beautiful.” He murmured the minute we both faced each other. He looked handsome too in his white white that had black on the collar, hands, buttons and pockets.

I tuned the pastor out as I looked at Shawn.

“I never thought I shall find someone I will be so invested in like this. You are my happiness, my ray of sunshine. I promise with everything on me that I will protect you always and I will always love you.”

It was now my turn I smiled with teary eyes “With this hand I will lift your sorrows, with this cup it will never be empty, I’ll be your wine. With this candle I will light your way in darkness. With this ring I ask you to be mine.” I said the words from the Corpse Bride the infamous movie that we watched a week before. He smiled at me catching what I did there. “I now pronounce you husband and wife, please you may kiss your bride.”

He cupped my face and looked at me before dipping down and kissed me. I was now his wife, at this moment Ndumiso was a distant memory and I allowed myself to forget about him just for today and allow myself to enjoy my day.

Dikeledi



I looked down at the dance floor and smiled when I saw people, the place was fully packed making me even more happy.

Everyday I was leaving my dream and that just felt like I was in my deep sleep waiting for someone to wake me up.

Thabiso was here right by my side he has become my right hand person whom I relied on to help me make the right decisions.

He has managed to fully turn his life around and now almost every girl in this club was waiting to snatch him. I smiled at him.

With my home built somewhere near the ocean was what made me happy. With the rest of the money I invested some of it.

With Rach also out of the drug business she was also doing something for herself and she deserved it. She went and built a cafe which was doing well.

Finally things were turning in our favour plus now with my own flta and mansion built near the sea was what rejoiced me a lot not blieving thqt I H and I shall embrace this kind of happiness.

Nokwazi



I placed the ring on the table 2 months ago and left, I divorced Trevor and told him that I didn’t want anything of his. I walked out of his home empty handed with nothing on my name and having to start from scratch without my family’s support.

I managed to find work at Shoprite it was not much but at least I managed to make it work without Trevor. I stayed in a backroom but I was happy.

I remember crying wielding my mother to let me stay but she told me straight that No she won’t, she blamed me for leaving and making her the laughing stock, even though she saw me with bruises she chose not to let me in, it stung a whole lot just thinking about it.

And there my phone rang, it was her. She has been calling ever since I left and I ignored every call but now I decided to answer.

“Nokwazi?” She said over the phone as if not believing that I had indeed answered. “Yes.”

“I called to tell you that I’m sorry for not believing you and I am proud of you for being able to walk out, I wish I could but I have nowhere else to go and this is the life I chose I suppose you can say I am now used to it. I wish you nothing but prosperity.” The line went dead my breath caught on my throat trying to think if I ever saw any bruises, my heart broke even mire knowing that my mother was enduring all of this.

But I was much lighter knowing that she believed me and that was all that mattered.

Trevor



Never have I ever thought that I will miss someone I was never attached to but here I was missing her.

The house feels so cold and lonely without her here. There was no longer that aroma of her cooking.

When she filed for divorce and left me was what hurt me the most. It felt like something broke inside me.

I offered to give her money but she refused not that I could blame her. She had every right to up and leave but I was left with all my demons to keep me company.

Ndumiso

I looked out the window frustrated, it felt like everything I was doing was useless. I felt like going crazy, every day I searched but I yield no results. “He’s not that good, nobody is that good at hiding.” I said talking to my IT guy. “I want you to find them, I shall never rest until I find them and strip my baby girl from their filthy arms.”

Naledi was the only person on my mind right now, with no children of my own I was hoping to be able to raise her.

“I want you find them.” I said pouring myself whiskey and down it before pouring another one. I shall find them and I shall make them pay for betraying him this much right under my nose. One day I will find them and I will be ready and waiting.