Zandile



My hands were shaking as I clutched the warm coffee cup tightly. Tears had stopped flowing, but Melusi’s seething anger still filled the air around us.

“You destroyed my marriage!” He yelled furiously.

“I didn’t. You played a part in it too,” I replied truthfully. After all, I couldn’t force him to do anything.

He ran his hands through his disheveled hair, frustration etched on his face. “Why? Why did you record that video?”

My heart raced in fear as I gulped down the lump in my throat. I knew this question would come, and now that it had, my hands grew sweaty, and I couldn’t find the right words.

“I…” I stammered, unable to look him in the eye.

“Was this all planned? To hurt me like this?”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “Not entirely,” I said, getting up from my chair and nervously pacing the living room.

“I was furious when I heard that you got married,” I continued, hurt showing on my face. “I refused to believe it, but then I saw the pictures, and I was so mad that I wanted you to feel the pain I was feeling.”

Melusi glared at me but allowed me to go on.

“Then someone approached me, perhaps because you’ve upset some dangerous people in the past. This person wanted to hurt you just as much as I did. They told me what to do, but as I spent time with you again, I found it difficult to go through with the formulated plan,” I confessed, no longer pacing as I let everything out.

Melusi stood up and came closer. “Who is that person?” He asked coldly.

“Melusi,” I hesitated.

“I said, who is that person?” His voice grew so loud it felt like it could shatter windows.

“It’s Steve,” I replied, my voice trembling.