His Mister: His First True Love - 33

33 - The End

33

3 WEEKS LATER

THANDO’S PLACE
A song that has been on loop for the past week on his phone played faintly on the speakers as Thando looked in the mirror one last time before he left his place.

“I did it all for love (love)
I did it all of this on no drugs (drugs)
I did all of this sober
Don't you know I did it all for us? (I'll kill your *** tonight)
Uh, I just killed my ex (my ex)
Not the best idea (idea)
Killed his girlfriend next, how'd I get here?
I just killed my ex (my ex)
I still love him, though (I do)
Rather be in Hell than alone.”

With a thin and frail looking body that screamed he was sick and can collapse anytime soon, Thando walked out of his apartment for the first time in weeks. Today was the day of the funeral and he knew this because he was stalking some of his colleagues’ pages on social media. It had long dawned to him what he did, and the guilt was driving him to his grave too. He took cab to the place, and it took him less than 30 minutes to get there.

He wasn’t sad, but numb. He watched the group of people as they hailed songs and praises to the dead man as if he was a saint. He felt judged as though everyone knew what he had done. But what lingered the most in his mind was the thought that, ‘how dare they even judge his when they don’t even know what happened’. Rumours and speculations of how Sandile died were all over social media and in every post and its comment section people were bashing the killer and cursing him. Sandile was this perfect saint everyone was portraying him to be while Thando was the little devil who deserved nothing but the worst karma and the most painful death, not even punishment.

At least Thando stood by his decision, the man got what he deserves so, he did not feel sorry at all. He took steps further away from the service and turned his back walking away to wherever his subconscious had decided for him.

[refer to the prologue and chapter 1 for succeeding events]

MUCH LATER
THE POLICE STATION
THE PRESENT
Det. Manzini: well, that took a minute. Any other details you want to add?
Thando: no, I am all good.
Det. Manzini: you seem too calm for someone who committed cold blood murder.
Thando: maybe it’s because I do not regret one bit of doing it.
Det. Manzini: a little piece of advice? You might want to lose that attitude when going on trial.
Thando: thank you but I am fine. Exceptionally good.
Det. Manzini: well, that is all from my side. You are officially arrested for the murder of Mr---
Thando: you already said that which one is going to be my cell as I await trial.
Det. Manzini: someone lese will take you there. I have work to get to and people to call.
Thando: how much long do I have to wait until trial?
Det. Manzini: not sure… but a month tops. A lawyer?
Thando: none of that. I am---
Det. Manzini: good, I get it. Well then, this way sir.
Thando: thank you.

A perfect close to a chapter. Thando smiled to himself as he handed to another police officer, cuffed and sent to a cell after following proper procedure. He couldn’t have things any way better than this.

2 MONTHS LATER
Today was the day of the trial. Thando was called and accompanied by some officers to the court. Things have been a little rough in the inside, he some bruises here and there from getting into fights but they were nothing he could not handle.

THE COURT OF LAW
Everyone was ordered to stand up as the judge entered. The court wasn’t that full. Only a few people from the company, Sandile’s family, the news people and prosecutor. Zandi and Sara’s eyes were glued to him as he was brought to the stand cuffed. The judge started talking and alerting every one of the court case, the victim and the defendant.
Judge: defendant, where is your legal team?
Thando: I don’t need any of that, Your Honor.
Judge: well. Prosecution may continue.

After being cooked, flipped and turned in every way. The burning question that brought everyone here was finally popped.

Prosecutor: did you or did you not murder Mr. Sandile Magagula?
Thando: I did, and I do not regret any moment of it.

Mayhem broke in court as the crowd murmured at Thando’s comment. Sazi was caught halfway screaming and cursing at Thando as he approached the witness stand. Every woman in the room broke into tears as Sazi wailed uncontrollably shaking Gloria, Nomhle and leading to the baby to cry as well. It was total chaos.

Judge: order! Order in court!!

The judge banged her gavel as the loudness and cussing too loud for anything to proceed.

Prosecutor: Your Honor, the women crying as related to the deceased. That is his wife right there with a newborn baby, the deceased mother and his mother-in-law. With your permission, I would like to request a short break to make sure the family of the deceased is appeased before continuing.
Judge: we don’t have all day. We’ll take a few minutes break and the verdict will be given.

Again, the crowd was ordered to stand up as the judge exited the court room. Police officers came in and collected Thando for the break.

A FEW MINUTES LATER
The same protocol was followed as the court resumed the meeting for the verdict this time.

Judge: this court understands that the defendant brutally murdered a man and therefore must be punished per the law of this country. Because the defendant confessed and turned himself in, that was taken into consideration while reviewing the complexes of this case. And therefore, quoting the Criminal Law Amendment Act 107 of 1997, this court hereby sentences Mr Thanduxolo Mngeni, the defendant, 24 years and 6 months in prison for the cold blood murder of Mr Sandile Magagula.
The judge banged the gavel again and the court was dismissed. The police officers came and took Thando away as people who knew him in the crowd gave him nasty stares. Sazi had not stopped cursing him and wailing. Nomhle looked at him pitifully as he disappeared out of sight.

To him, this was a perfect ending. This had to happen the way it did for him to find peace. He preferred things this way. He did not regret anything, maybe this was the karma everyone wished him. Sandile was the reason he was in this point in his life, but he still did not hate him but hoped and wished he was resting better wherever he was.

Thando: you were the most beautiful and ugly parts of my life. You shined brightly at your last moments. I wish we meet again in the next life and maybe love each other less toxically than we did in this life.

Those his last words before he was loaded into the police car and driven to where he would spend the rest of his sentence.
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THE END