insert 59

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 59

MAHLATHINI

It's in the middles of the night. He's awake. He just had the most disturbing dream. It's a replay of that night at the farm house but this time he failed to protect Connie and the kids. They were shot right in front of his eyes. The deafening sound of the gunshots are still ringing in his ears. He doesn't even hear Connie calling him. He only snaps out of his thoughts when she touches him.

"I'm okay, go back to sleep" he says and pecks her lips before rolling out of the bed. He grabs his phone and walks out of the bedroom. He doesn't take dreams like this lightly. There's always a meaning behind them.

He dials Skebhe's number who picks up on the first ring. Does this man sleep?

"Jama" he answeres. There's noise of drums and people singing on the background. He must be initiating.

Mahlathini tells him about the dream he just had reciting all the details to him.

"Your dreams are always clear Jama, your uncerstors are sending out a warning to you. Do what is necessary to keep your family safe and do it soon" Mahlathini thanks the old man and drops the call.

Before going back to the bedroom he passes by the nursery to check on his boy. He's up and kicking. He usually cries when he wakes up.

He picks him and sits on the rocking chair. He starts feeding him but he's resisting. He checks his nappy, all is good.

He sits on the chair and lays him on his chest. He starts talking, pouring his thoughts out to him. Promising to protect him. How he can't wait for him to grow up and be a man. Mnqobi falls asleep to the sound of his father's voice.

He lays him down and walks back to the bedroom where Connie is waiting for him. As soon as he gets in bed, she's all over him. Jackson is smiling "Is the waiting period over?"

"Shut up and fûck me" she says against his lips while her hands pull him out of his boxers.

"You don't have to ask me twice Mama"

*
*
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NOLIFA

She couldn't tell Smiso where she is going. He still doesn't know anything about her past. And telling him she's going to her Psychiatrist was going to raise questions but hopefully after today's session she will gain enough strength to break everything to him. They've strengthened their bond. There's really nothing that can come between them now.

When she arrives at the hotel, it's just after 3pm. They could have met at a restaurant but Dr Nkosi said it was too noisy and distracting.
He takes his work every seriously.

The receptionist welcomes Nolifa with a smile. She gets the access card and makes her way to the elevator. When she steps out of the elevator Zimase is already waiting for her outside the room. It sure feels like they have not seen each other in years. He has let his beard grow, he looks older than he is.

"I was about to go and look for you" he says welcoming her with a hug.

"I got lost a few times"

"How do you get lost with GPS?"

"You can ask that again" she says and they both laugh. He leads her inside the hotel room "This is nice, very fancy, exactly your taste" Dr Nkosi chuckles.

"You know me, quality or nothing" he opens the small bar fridge "What would you like to drink?"

"Juice please" she says sitting down on the chair. He already prepared juice, specially for her. There's something inside that will make her relax. He does this in all their sessions. When she's relaxed she allows her thoughts to wonder. She doesn't hold back anything.

He's the type of man that plans things ahead. Everything go as he wants not the other way around. He studied the human brain for 7 years, and her for the past 6 years, in all his patients shes the one she cares about more. She's the one he loves. There's nothing he doesn't know about this beutiful woman sitting in front of him smiling.

"Here's your juice" he hands her the glass

"Thank you" she says and takes a long sip.

"I'm glad you could come"

"No. I should be thanking you for driving all the way here, it means a lot" she says with a smile.

Zimase is a very selfless man, he always pulls up for her no matter what. Since her relationship with her mother in nonexistent. Zimase stepped in, he was present on every function and graduation. He's one person she knows he can rely on.

"I had to get out of the office for a while and clear my head. Durban felt like a great place come, also because I was going to be closer to you" she smiles

"I consider myself lucky. I wonder if all your patients get the same treatment" He sits on the chair opposite hers.

"No. I care about you more. We've been together for so long. I feel connected to you than I am with anyone else. As unprofessional as that sounds" she's smiling.

"I feel the same way. You're always there for me. I don't know where I'll be with my life if it wasn't for you. Right now I've let love in, something I pledged was never going to do again. I'm happy. I never thought I will ever consider marriage or having kids but I do ... Even though we can't have kids of our own but we will adopt"

"You can't have kids of your own? Why is that?"

"An incident happened a few months ago, he lost his manhood" Dr Nkosi is quiet for a brief moment.

"And you're okay with being with a man without a manhood?"

"Yes" Dr Nkosi takes a deep breath and leans forward.

"Do you know why?"

"No"

"You don't know why you're okay being with a man who can't satisfy you sexually?" She sighs.

"I'm okay because I know he will never force himself on me. I know he loves me truly and I love him too"

"He loves you because no woman out there can accept a man like him. You did, he has every reason to love you. With you he knows he won't die alone. You love him for the reason that he will never sexually violate you. There's no true love there, your love is built on conditions of your pasts. If he can grow a man hood, will you love him the same way?"

"I loved him before I knew his condition"

"We both know that's not true. You're trying to convince me. I'm sure when you met him you didn't have an idea he might not have a manhood. You probably found out when you were about to have sex. Because of your past you accepted him. To you it was a win, you've finally met a man who doesn't have the power to abuse you sexually. You had every reason to accept him. How do you think he will feel when he finds that out, will he still see it as true love?"

Nolifa closes her eyes and takes a deep breath "You're trying to escape. And here I was thinking you're ready and that you're finally moving forward" Dr Nkosi stands up and walks to the window.

"I'm sorry" she says after a while "I keep disappointing you, soon you will get tired. I'm broken beyond repair" he turns to look at her.

"I will never get tired of you. I'm here right now because I care about you. More than you know. I don't even think I'll ever be able to let you go into the hands of another man"

Nolifa looks at him with tears looming in her eyes. He walks back and sits on the chair "When you told me you've found someone I wasn't happy. I wasn't happy because there was a possibility they will hurt you. That they will never give you the love you truly deserve. I got on a plane and came here with only one thought in mind. I wanted to protect you, I cannot have anyone break you after to many years of building you. I want to love you. I want to hold you close and treat you right. Show you that in this world there are still good men. I've had feelings for you for years now. But I didn't want to scare you away. I was affraid I will lose you and I couldn't have that happen"

*
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*

SMISO

Smiso has been starring at his phone waiting for a text or a call from her but there's nothing. It's past midnight, did something happen to her? He sighs and stands up walking around the dark bedroom.

He opens the small bar fridge and pulls out his second can of Heineken. He's trying to eliminate the thought that she could have left him. He wouldn't do that. He loves her and she said she loves him too. They've planned the rest of their lives together. How they will get married, adopt kids. She can't leave him, he will fall apart.

He finishes the six pack and falls asleep on the floor. He wakes up the next morning with a heavy headache. There are still no calls or texts from Nolifa. He gets up from the floor and walks to the bathroom where he takes a shower. He cleans up the bedroom and throws out the cans.

He calls her father to check if she didn't sleep there. The wife answeres the phone and explains that they haven't seen her and how happy they are that the building of the house has started. Smiso thanks her and drops the call.

He has no choice now but to go to the police station. This is unlike Nolifa, she always updates him, even if she's going to the salon, or the Mall. She never goes out without telling him.

His trip to the police is a waste of time. They can't do anything before the 24 hours end. He goes back to the guest house and waits. He ends up falling asleep on the couch he's woken up by the opening of the door.

It's Nolifa.

He quickly gets up and pulls her into an embrace "I've been so worried, are you okay?" he asks looking at her.

"I'm fine" she says in a low tone moving past him and walking to the bedroom. He follows behind her.

"Where were you?"

"I was with a friend" she says opening the closet and taking out her clothes.

"Ok. You should have told me. I even went to the police station to open a missing person's case" she turns to face him.

"I'm leaving" Smiso frowns.

"You're leaving?"

"I'm going back to Johannesburg"

"I don't understand"

"I'm done Smiso. Whatever we were trying to do here won't work. I've found someone better" Smiso feels his heart ripping and tearing into pieces.

"You've found someone better?" the words feel like a stab right at the centre of his heart.
"You said you love me"

"I thought I do. I'm sorry, you will find someone who will truly love you" he stares at her in disbelief. Is this really happening?

"Nolifa, I love you. Don't so this"

"I'm sorry" she says not even looking at him. It's as if she doesn't care. In his entire life, he has never loved a woman the way he loves Nolifa.

"Did I do something? If I did tell me, I will fix it"

"You didn't do anything"

"Then why? make me understand because I don't" he tries to hold her but she pulls away.
They say a man doesn't cry but how can he be strong when he's losing the woman he loves?

"Nolifa.." he tries to hold her again. Reality is sinking but she's failing to accept

"Please, don't touch me" she says pushing him away. He can smell the masculine scent from her. The red marks on her neck. It all becomes clear. She left here and went to sleep with another man.

"Why did you lie to me? You should have told me you cannot be with me instead of feeding me false hopes" she remains quiet and continues packing her clothes.

Smiso feels a wave of anger rising inside of him. He walks to the drawer and pulls out his gun. He thought his life was finally getting back in line. He saw a future with Nolifa but it was all a lie. Once again, he has failed. He's tired, impilo imehlule. He's done trying. It's clear now nothing will ever work out in his life.

He pulls the trigger and fires the gun. Nolifa falls to the floor. He walks over to her and finishes her off. He walks out of the bedroom and grabs the car keys.

He's not done. He will die with everyone who destroyed his life. Mahlathini can't have a good life after what he did to him. He's going to end him and his entire family. He will rest in peace after that is done.