CHAPTER [ 01 ]

KHETHOKUHLE MHLONGO 

 

I keep on tossing and turning in my sleep , lm not at ease . l want my parents , wasn't it to early for them to leave me gosh lm only 15 for crying out loud ! l still need my parents . l need they're guidance ...you know what hurts it's said that trace's of poison were found in they're sleep , but how no one knows . Couldn't they prepare me for this day but even if they did l wasn't going to accept it . l sit up straight as l start wailing lm sure lve woken up Miss Mbatha because she enters the room with worry on her face . 

 

The more she puts on that face the more my mind registers that lm alone now 

Miss Mbatha:"Awu khetho mntwanam " she says enveloping me "kuzolunga " How can she say kuzolunga , damn l just lost my parents 

 

Khetho:"Ayikho into ezolunga .....umama no baba .." sniffs " abasekho ... they're gone okay and ayikho into ezolunga " 

 

l say with a high pitched voice as l feel my heart beating fast Miss 

Mbatha:"yehlisa umoya ... ngikhona mina ngan yam" 

 

I feel something watery on my cheeks l guess she's crying too now 

 

Khetho:" kodwa awusoze waba ngu mah wami , awusoze wenze njenga'bazali bami" 

 

l say moving away from her Miss 

Mbatha :"Ngiyavuma , angisoze ngafana nabo kodwa uthando nginalo mntwanam . Ngizok'thanda njenge ngan'yam" 

 

Well she shas two kids one older son that visit's on weekends and a girl child who's currently in boarding school ... but that's not the case here l don't want her to treat me "like" one of hers l only want my parents love 

Khetho :"can you please leave me alone" 

 

l say rather harshly , she looks down wiping her tears 

 

Miss Mbatha :"kulungile kodwa l'll always be here for you khetho 

 

she closes the door behind her . my fist's lend on the wall as l punch them hard why is life so unfair ! . . . lm woken up by the noise , well l don't know where it's coming from so l stand up rubbing off the sleep in me . l see Miss Mbatha having a conversation with some man well it seems like there arguing because Miss Mbatha is on her feet holding her waist 

 

Miss Mbatha : "Akayi ndawo uKhetho , finish and klaar" 

I move closer at the mention of my name , why are they arguing about me 

Man : " Yeyi leya ngane shouldn't be your responsibility . kwamele iye Kubo hayi lom'sangano ongitshela wona " 

Miss Mbatha :"kodwa baba , sukela nini une nhliziyo embi kanje . She just lost her parents." 

 

Man :" lm the man of the house yezwa so whatever l say goes " 

 

Miss Mbatha:"ngyakucela baba " 

 

she says kneeling infront of the man and the man lays his hand on her cheeks as she screams . He just slapped Miss Mbatha ... 

 

Man :"mfazi don't test me " 

 

l quickly run towards Miss Mbatha 

Khetho:"it's fine l'll leave " 

 

l say facing the man 

Man :" uyobe usi sizele " 

 

he spits leaving me to attend Miss Mbatha . what kind of man is he sies he has no shame 

Miss Mbatha :"Khetho you don't have to leave l..." 

 

khetho :"no , l can't . lf l continue staying here you might receive more than just a slap" 

 

she looks away and sighs 

 

Miss Mbatha:"Where will you go" 

Khetho :"l have family remember .." 

well yes ofcoz l have family but they don't really like me l don't know why but lm just mixing for the sake of Miss Mbatha 

 

Miss Mbatha :"hmmm" 

 

Khetho:"don't worry about me , okay" 

she nods but deep down l know that there's already alot to worry about