It was Sunday at 00:00am when Silindeokuhle received an sms of her matric results. She screamed her lungs out from her room that she woke up her parents. They rushed to her room to see what is the matter.

“Mom, dad I made it 5 straight As Wits is calling my name!! It can only be God!!”

*Shouted Silindeokuhle with tears in her eyes in disbelief.*

Father: I’m very proud of you my daughter, I knew you would make us both proud.

Mother: I am so proud of you my daughter, but you know we have no means of paying for your tuitition.

It was Silindeokuhle’s first time hearing “I’m proud of you my daughter” from her father, her father hardly uttered those words to her, but today here he is. She explained to her parents that she have already applied for NSFAS now that results are out she is waiting for her acceptance letter from both NSFAS and the tertiaries she applied at. However,she stated that Wits is where she wants to go study Medicine at. She saw how her village was very far from the clinic and they needed transport to get there. She always had a dream of being the one to bring her village people all their treatments when she knocks off from work instead of them walking long distances, especially elders.

The very same day in the afternoon her father received a message from the King’s servant that he is summoned in the palace. He wondered what could it be or perhaps there is a meeting he forgot about. Later that day he told his wife he is going to the King to hear what he has to say. His wife said maybe he is going to congratulate him after they heard the good news from Silindeokuhle. Probably he wants to put in a hand and help as he knows their home situation, she also added that sometimes he shouldn’t let pride stand in their way of getting all the help they can get.

Silindeokuhle’s father was on his way to the palace when he passed some young maidens who were sitting stressed of how they going to tell their parents they did not make it. The young maidens were the daughters of the same men who always have so much to say at the palace meetings telling him to shut up because he’s poor, all the men who disrespected him and made him feel less of a father. He just greeted them and passed. They did greeted him back and started asking one another if he heard them or not.