After a while I went to the river. I saw Mthunzi carrying a bucket.
“My love.”
“Mthunzi.”
He dropped the bucket at hugged me.
“My mother slapped me.”
“What did you my love?”
“I denied.”
“Sorry my love. Please look at me in the eyes.”
“Mthunzi I hate this place.”
“I love you so there is no reason for you hating this place.”
“What are you doing?”
“It is a surprise. Come closer.”
“Why?” He closed my eyes.
“Surprise! You remember telling me your birthday.”
“I did, it’s beautiful.”
“Yeah! My mother gave me before she died. I knew life was hard for us. She told me to give it to someone special. I chose you.”
“You are so sweet.”
We spent a long day with each other until it was late.
I arrived home but the gate was locked. My dad was waiting for me.
“Mthunzi please go home.”
“Yeyi! You two come here!”
“My dad will kill you.”
“Okay I love you Thuli.”
He chased Mthunzi with a sjambok. I was scared that he might kill me. My dad arrived after taking a long run.
He began to beat me up and I was crying. It was painful and very sore.
I went home and slept. I was crying but it was so painful.
I had scars all over my body. My parents banned me from going to the river all by myself.
I could not see Mthunzi even if I tried to look for him. My heart was painful.
Imagine not seeing your loved one for days. It is difficult to even eat or sleep,well that happened to me.
Life was so hard. I went to the shop to go and buy what we needed at home.
“My love.”
“Mthunzi I thought I would not see you again.”
“Your dad almost killed me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What happened to you.”
“My dad almost killed me too.”
“Why don’t you report him to the police?”
“I don’t have power to do so. The police will say that I am lying.”
“I know you love your parents mara they are selling you. You know that they can get arrested for that.”
“I know.”
“That is abuse. I know your dad hates me so much.No one loves me except you.”
“True.”
“Think twice because you will need my help. Actually I have good news and bad news.”
“Yeah!”
“The good news is that I got a space in the university and I will be working on the other side. The bad news is that I have to leave this village and start a new life without you.”
“So sad.”
He held my hand and said, “Let’s run away from the cruel land and start our new life.”
“I can’t Mthunzi.”
I walked without saying a goodbye. Tears were all over my face. If Mthunzi leaves me I would be nothing.
I would be a empty room with no objects.