Chapter 21

NARRATED

After samkelo was caught by the police, they rushed mafungwase and simphiwe to the hospital. Menzi was holding her hand through out the whole journey to the hospital. Meanwhile her parents were worried about their kids ,they can't leave them they have a bright future ahead of them.

They arrived at the hospital and mafungwase and her brother were rushed to the ICU .Menzi wanted to go in with her but they didn't allow him which broke his heart more .

His parents comfort him as he sobs ,leaning against the wall . Ngcobo also tries to make his wife have hope that they will survive but due to fear ,his wife continues crying .what will she be without her children?

The doctors were able to take out the bullets unfortunately mafungwase fell into a coma and that shattered Menzi and her parent's hearts .apparently her condition was worse because she was internally bleeding since she hit her head and she lost alot of blood .

This shattered menzi and left him with so many questions in his head. Why did this happen, will she wake up and how will he live if she doesn't?.The siblings were taken to different wards and hopefully they will wake up.

FLASHBACK

His mom is washing the dirty clothes in the basin while he is playing with other kids . The township gossipers are gossiping as usual, the drunkards are having the best time of their lives ,laughing and jokes are being shared everywhere.

The taxis tyers screeching while hooting for passagers .The pharas of the area carrying their rags and things that they stole .The barks of dogs and people arguing echoes everywhere. This is what his mom hated ,the noise ,gossip and violence of Umlazi .

She hated everything that had to do with ghetto lifestyle but she had no choice, she had to break up with samkelo's dad and choose herself as he is a cheating bastard. Kodwa breaking up with him meant one thing ,go back to Umlazi and because of the pride and self respect she has ,she did .she chose herself.

"Samkelo!"

She calls for him to come and help her carry the basin .The seven year old samkelo rushed to her .

"Mom"

"Help me carry this basin to the washing line"

He nods then helps his mom to carry the basin. When they arrive ,she notices that she didn't bring the pegs with her so she asks to him fetch them. Samkelo being respectful, he goes but when he enters the 2 room ,he finds the loanshark.

His mom owes him alot of money and has warned samkelo to stay away from him as she has heard many bad things about him ,one of them being a predator on young kids .

He stops on his tracks and looks at the loanshark ,his heart is beating fast .The fear is written on his face which is what excites the loanshark more, the fear and the sound of begging.

He pats the space next to him indicating that he wants samkelo to sit besides him .Samkelo walks slowly towards him then sits .he starts whispering things to samkelo which makes him get more scared and teary .

He starts touching him inappropriately meanwhile samkelo's mom notices that he has been gone for too long and decides to go and check up on him but when she is about to open the door ,she hears cries and the loanshark opens the door then scans her and tuts .he fixes his belt and taps her shoulder while her eyes are teary.

"Your debt has been settled "

He says then walks away and her heart shatters realizing what has happened. She immediately gets in and holds her crying son into her arms .

"I'm so sorry mntanami "

She says sobbing .

END OF FLASHBACK

AFTER 2 WEEKS

MENZI

it's been 2 weeks and my chubby cheeks is still not out of the coma and that really breaks me .I cry every time when I hold her hand whenever I'm visiting her and just wait for her to do some movement, even if she moves her finger ,I'll be happy.

I can't even eat and schools are opening soon ,I even doubt I will go to school .I mean how will I go without knowing whether my chubby cheeks hears me when I talk or not. I just want to hear her sweet laugh and her soothing voice .

She even looks pale but still my beautiful princess. I want to wrap her in my embrace and kiss her countless times, I should've protected her and if I knew that samkelo was going to pull this kind of stunt ,i would've done anything to protect her

Her brother is recovering and the nurse accompanies him to check up on her whenever there's time .

I'm going to check up on her today and hopefully, she will hear whatever I say to her .ohh my chubby babyy. I walk into the hospital and go to her ward .

I walk in and the hospital machine still beeping outloud, the hospital smell hitting my nostrils. Some are taking a nap and some are just wandering their eyes around .the families are here to see their relatives and I'm here to see the love of my life .

I sit on the chair that is next to her bed and intertwine our hands then kiss the four fingers of her hand .it's still soft even when she's not fully conscious. I feel tears burning my eyes and my heart is shattering ,can't she just wake up and we will go back to normal, why is God doing this?

"Maybe he is just testing your love"

I turn around and her mom walks in while smiling, I guess i said that outloud .she brushes my back and I look at mafungwase while my tears fall.

"But it's painful, why is he testing it in such a painful manner?"

My voice breaks and the lump in my throat get even more hotter . I swallow my saliva then sniff .

"In love you face challenges and those challenges determine whether your love for each other is strong or not .you see mntanami, if you love each other there will be challenges and alot of them will need you to fight for each other ,now fight for mafungwase and be beside her .uyamthanda and you being here with her proves it ."

I nod then sniff .

"I just hope nothing bad happens "

"I pray to a living God, he will save my daughter just like how he saved simphiwe"

I just look at my pale angel and stand up to kiss her forehead. I kiss it for a moment while my eyes are closed and my tears are flowing.

"Vuka siqandamathi Sami, ngizokubhalela love letter just like how you always wanted .ngiyakuthanda dudlu bear wami uligugu kimi ,please wake up"

I say while crying and I feel her moving her finger .I immediately look at her hand then her mom ,she's surprised too.

"I saw it too, mafungwase baby please do it again "

She says rushing to the other side the bed and my chubby cheeks does it again, we immediately call the doctor with joy and she slowly opens her eyes while the nurse and the doctor rushes in. They ask us to excuse them for a moment but I refuse because I have to be there for my babyy ,I have to see her being fully conscious .

I finally get out and we wait for some few minutes then the doctor lets us in .The moment we walk in ,my princess frowns like she is seeing strangers.

"Hey chubby cheeks "

I say kissing her forehead but she gently pushes me away and says...

"Who are you?"

My hearts breaks into a million pieces, what does she mean who am i ??
I'm her lush ,her sweet boy ,her putsununu .what??.
The doctor enters and sighs while mafungwase is frowning.

"What does she mean who are we doctor?"

Her mom asks and the doctor bites his upper lips .

"Due to hitting her head hard and the internal bleeding ,miss ngcobo is suffering from memory loss "

"Meaning??"

I ask knowing what exactly that means.

"99% of her memory is wiped"

" will she get it back?"

Her mom asks with teary eyes .

"Yes but probably after a long time but if you try to help her regain it she will definitely remember everything faster"

"Okay doctor thanks"

She says with a raspy voice and I sob while feeling my heart break ,why is this happening to us ,is this still a test from God?