Senzo
The divorce papers lay before me, their presence a stark reminder of the irreversible loss that now haunts my heart. I can’t believe she’s really gone, and regret gnaws at my soul as I clench my phone, contemplating the missed chances to save our marriage. I wish I had reached out to her when I first sensed her pulling away, but instead, I let my assumptions guide me, thinking everything would resolve on its own.
Pushing the divorce papers aside, I dial Caroline’s number, she picks up after just two rings, her voice filled with concern and urgency.
“She left,” I blurt out, unable to hide the pain in my voice.
“I’m on my way,” Caroline responds, her determination evident. The call ends abruptly.
In no time, Caroline arrives at my house, accompanied by her boyfriend Katlego, a trusted friend for years. Her eyes briefly glance at the divorce papers on the counter before focusing on me. “I saw her this morning,” she says, her voice trembling with emotion.
Tears stream down Caroline’s face as she recounts Rose’s words. She speaks of feeling suffocated and deeply unhappy in our marriage, unearthing a cascade of grievances that had remained hidden from me. Caroline’s pain is evident, and my heart aches as I listen to the extent of Rose’s suffering. “I should have been there for her, canceled my plans, and given her the support she needed,” Caroline states as she buries her face in Katlego’s chest.
The weight of my obliviousness settles heavily upon me, and dread tightens its grip around my heart. How could I have been so blind to her pain?
Caroline rises from her seat, her emotions overflowing, and she points an accusing finger at me. “This is your fault,” she declares, her anger and sorrow intertwining.
Katlego lets out a weary sigh, attempting to diffuse the tension. “She’s just upset right now,” he says, trying to ease the blame.
“I know,” I respond, my heart sinking further as I realise the truth in Caroline’s words. “But she’s right. I have to find her.” The urgency of the situation now fuels my determination.
Katlego nods in understanding and picks up his phone. “We’ll find her,” he assures me, calling Thobane, our other close friend. “We’ll support you every step of the way.”
As we plan the quest to find Rose, the weight of my mistakes and the fear of losing her forever hang heavily in the air. My heart is torn between the guilt of my obliviousness and the hope that I can make things right, to show her that I love her with all my heart and that I am ready to change for the better.