Name: KEPT
Author: Nana writes

CHAPTER 2

KEPT

CHAPTER 2

There's that dread I feel as I park outside the cemetery. There's a beautiful Ford Raptor parked beside me. It's blue in color. i would've liked it better in black. One day, bafethu, I'll get myself one soon, really. I close my eyes and say a silent prayer before getting out of the car, locking it behind me. It's a little muddy it has been raining cats and dogs the past few days. I walk over to his grave still as I remember it to be. I clean up and sit on it, feeling the sting in my eyes. I let them flow. I've been trying to be strong for so long, but it hurts so bad.

Lilitha:I wish you didn't leave me. I miss you so much, but I'm still angry, Nzolo. You hurt me something I didn't expect from you. You had promised to love and cherish me, but you broke all that you broke my heart and trust. I lost so much at the hands of a woman you brought into our lives. I mourned you and told myself I'm going to live for me, but you're not letting me be. What do you want from me now? What do I do for you to let me be in peace. You hurt me when you were still here, and you're hurting me even in the afterlife. Please just tell me what I should do.

I lay on my side in his grave, crying. I feel a presence. The aura is heavy and peaceful. I sigh, opening my eyes. They land on a face I never thought I would see ever again. I sit up straight, wiping away my stubborn tears.

Lilitha:Dali.

My voice comes out as a whisper. He looks so good better than I remember. He has always been a handsome man. Clean and always smelling good. My eyes land on his wrist he's still a healer. He chuckles, looking down at me.

Dali:You're still as beautiful as I remember you.

I sigh, leaning back on Nzolo's grave. He sits below my feet and turns to look at me before he sighs.

Dali:How are you feeling?

Lilitha:I don't know. I'm angry he's not letting me be.

Dali:You know what has to be done, right?

Lilitha:I wouldn't be this frustrated if I knew Daliwonga. I feel like I don't know. It seems like my life is stagnant.

Dali:Uyalibazisa Lilitha. You're taking your time, and it's not on your side.

Lilitha:What does he want from me, Dali? What should I do?

Dali:Listen to him. Listen, he'll tell you. You have to listen to him.

I sigh, throwing my head back. How do you listen to the dead? Is this man for real. I get up, feeling more frustrated than before. I don't even say goodbye. I walk away feeling like I have the world's problems on my shoulders.

When I get home, I start on lunch. I'm sure Mama dragged my sister to choir practice and Bible study one of the reasons I don't like going to church with her. My father walks inside the kitchen with his mug of tea. He sits down and looks at me.

Zolani:Talk to me, nana.

I release a sigh before turning to look at him. How do I say this again? The Nzolo topic is sore to him.

Lilitha:He's in my dreams, tata. If it's not that night, repeating itself exactly like it happened. He's summoning me home. He keeps saying I was smeared with bile I'm his wife.

My father sighs, looking at me. He never liked Nzolo, even worse, his father. I here they once shared a woman without knowing. Even though tata walked away, there's still bad blood between them, but I don't think it's about a woman. Only there's something only they know.

When he found out I was dating Nzolo, he lost it even more when we wanted to get married. Nzolo was older than me 15 years older, which made it worse, but he still let us be. That's one thing I love about my father. Even when he doesn't agree with something, if whatever makes you happy isn't sitting well with him, he'll still let you have it. He just wants us to be happy.

Zolani:We'll have to go to his homestead. Maybe someone knows what to do.

Lilitha:I met Dali, and he says I have to listen. How do I listen to a ghost in my dreams, tata?

He laughs, shaking his head. I know I sound stupid. I just don't like not knowing being in the dark makes me feel anxious. And anxious me isn't the best me.

Zolani: Let's go. I'll text your mother to finish up with lunch. We're not telling her about this trip.

Lilitha:Ewe tata.

I switch off my stoves and go change into a tight fitting long dress and a jean jacket with slides. I find my father already in his car. I sigh, relaxing on the sits.

Lilitha:This better be worth it, tata, because yhoo, I'm over all this.

Zolani:You're so impatient just like your mother.

Lilitha:And you love us like this tatam.

Zolani:How can I not? You four are my only family.

Lilitha:Haa tata, what about umakhulu notatomdala?

Zolani:Let's not tell them I said that, especially umakhulu wakho.

I laugh. umakhulu is old almost 80, and she tends to think she's a kid, too. Her love for sweet things always makes me laugh. We park outside the Diko mansion. A security guard pops his head out he smiles when he sees me and opens the gate.

Dokotela:Makoti unjani, it's been a while?

Lilitha:Ndiyaphila tata unjani wena?

Dokotela:Ndiyaphila ntombi. Mntomdala.

Zolani:Yeah, Khehla bakhona abantu abakhulu balapha?

Dokotela:Ewe, they just got in from the city.

Tata nods, and we drive in. My father in law is the one who welcomes us. He's smiling widely at me.

Diko:Makoti igqibelene kudala.

Lilitha:tata kunjani?

Diko:Kuhle ntombi ngamathambo nje apho nalapho. Mkhozi?(we're okay, just small sicknesses here and there. My inlaw.)

Zolani:We have a pressing matter to discuss mkhozi.

Diko: I know we were supposed to come to your house yesterday, but Daliwonga came back unannounced.

Zolani:Ohh, Lilly told me she bumped into him.

Diko:Let's have a seat. Martha, please get us something to drink.

Martha walked away she has been here since I was still in grade 12 dating Nzolo.

Diko:Is it the dreams?