In the couple of weeks, we have been spending quite a lot of time together, he has taken me to the parks, movies, swimming and sometimes we just stayed indoors watching movies in his laptop or with my mom who has grown too attached to Mbongeni.

I found myself starting to learn new things all because of Mbongeni who never once looked at me differently or treated me differently.

I have never felt this light in years, and soon it will be my 18th birthday even though I had nothing planned, Mbongeni told me that I will not be lazing around because he has something planned.

I switch through the channels as my phone starts to ring, I switch off the tv when I see Mbongeni’s mother name on the caller ID “Hello?”

“Come to the hospital, Mbongeni has been admitted.”

My mind goes blank. Been admitted how? When I was with him just yesterday. I quickly get “Mom!” My mother comes running wiping her wet hands on the apron “Mbongeni is in hospital.”

We quickly run to the car in less than 10 minutes we are rushing through the hospital door and quickly spot Mbongeni’s mother Nomsa at the waiting area.

“How is he?”

Nomsa shrugs “The doctor has not come out.” I sit refusing to cry because I was told it brings bad luck when one cries when someone is seriously ill.

The doctor walks in the waiting after an hour of us being here “Zandi, he is asking for you.” I nod as I slowly walk into the room and see him hooked in machines. I offer a weak smile as I sit down “You scared me for a second there.”

“I’m sorry.” Mbongeni says as he looks out the window “I have had lung cancer for 4 years now,” He says still not looking at me “And my lung collapsed, I was told that now the cancer has spread to the rest of the body, and it is moving really fast.”