Intsizwa yakwa Gcaba

The hum of the engine fills the silence between us. Outside, the city moves on cars rushing past, people walking, the world continuing as it always does. But inside his Mercedes, time feels suspended.

I can still feel the warmth of his hands from when he fastened my seatbelt. My heart hasn't decided whether to slow down or keep racing. I steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye strong jawline, clean fade, dark eyes focused on the road.

He's quiet.
Not the awkward kind of quiet.
The kind that carries weight.

"Ngiyaxolisa nkosazane ," he finally says.

His voice fills the car deep, calm, the kind that makes words sound softer than they should. "You just came out of nowhere."

I don't respond. I'm too busy convincing myself that the tears on my cheeks are from shock... not from the strange flutter in my chest.

He glances my way again. "Uzongiphendula kodwa mama ?"

I roll my eyes slightly. "You almost ran me over. What do you expect me to say?"

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that somehow makes the air feel warmer.
"Fair enough."

We stop at a red robot. This time he turns to face me fully, studying my face like he's trying to memorize it. His eyes linger on my forehead... then my lip.

"You're bleeding," he says softly.

Before I can react, he reaches into the glove compartment, pulls out a small pack of tissues, and leans closer.

I freeze.

He dabs gently at the corner of my lip. The world blurs his scent, his touch, his steady breath near my skin.

"There," he murmurs. "All better."

I swallow hard, my voice small. "You didn't have to...."

"I know," he interrupts quietly. "But I wanted to."

The light turns green, and the car moves again. Neither of us speaks. I turn my face toward the window, trying to hide the small, confused smile forming on my lips.

"Where were you heading, anyway?" he asks.

"To meet my best friend,the one who made me wait forever."

He laughs. "Then she's the reason you almost got yourself killed."

"Pretty much," I mumble, smiling for real this time.

For the first time since the fall, something shifts. The tension fades, replaced by a strange, warm curiosity.

I don't know what it is about him maybe the voice, maybe the way he looks at me like he's trying to understand something he's never felt before but as he drives, I realize this might not be the last time I see this man .

And somehow... that thought doesn't scare me.
Minutes later ...

Hospital Parking Lot

"Thank you for the ride,Rra ," she says, unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Sphesihle," I say, pausing. "Igama uZenzelisphesihle Gcaba. Wena-ke, ntokazi enebala elishelelayo ngingathi igama ubani?"

She smiles softly. "Ke nna Ruri... Ruri Riratilwe Moilwa. I really need to go, rra."

She hesitates, then adds, "Ke go leboga gape go bo o dirile se. I nearly saw my life flash right before me.....I'm really grateful for what you've done.

"Anginankinga nakancane," I reply gently. "Yimina ocishe wakulahlekisela impilo yakho, Lokhu okuncane nje engingakwenza, ntokazi ."

She gives me a small smile, then steps out of the car. She waves once before disappearing through the hospital doors.

I watch her until she's gone.

Then I drive away, still smiling.

As I'm thinking of her, my phone rings.
Sfundo calling.

I breathe in. "Nombela...kyaphileka, ndoda?"

"Mfowethu, kunini ngikushayela ucingo ungaphenduli? Sixabene mina nawe?" Sfundo snaps.

"Lutho, mntaka ma. Bengisabambekile la esibhedlela, Sphesihle said."

"Esibhedlela?" he scoffs. "Haibo ndoda! Besilungisa ama-volovolo. Uthi kwenzekeni kahle kahle, Sphesihle?"

I hear shuffling in the background. Then a click.

I know that sound.

"Mana, bhuti," I say quickly. "Akekho ozohlanganiswa nabakubo namhlanje. Yimi osephutheni. ngicishe ngashayisa umuntu endleleni yami eya e-office."

"Kanti kwenzenjani, sende lika Mpandekayise Justice Gcaba?" he laughs.

"Eish, bafo..." I smile to myself. "Ngithi ngiphuma nje emotweni ngahlangana nengelosi emhlabeni. Ngifunga umama ongizalayo "

"Uthini kimi, Sphesihle?" Sfundo interrupts.

"Mana, bafo," I say. "Sizokhuluma mangifika lapho kwakho ntambama."

I drop the call.

Still smiling.