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THE BRACELET 2TUMELO
I enter every single room in the house until I eventually get into one specific room that's totally different from the rest. The door shuts behind me even though I hadn't touched it. Surprisingly, I'm not as scared as I thought I'd be. The bracelet around my wrist lights up for a few seconds before the giant snake I saw that day reappears. I take a few steps back until my back is against the wall. I'm no longer that eight year old that fainted and should it attack, I'll be ready. I hear a voice in my head telling me to close my eyes and without hesitation, I do it.
A few seconds later I open them to the sight of a beautiful naked woman I've never seen before. The snake is gone so I'm guessing she's the snake.
Her: Look around you, Tumelo. What do you see?
I twirl slowly and suddenly my brain shifts to a different location. I'm in my bedroom at my parents house and I can see my younger self lying on the floor unconscious. The snake rolls itself around my body but it's clear that my parents can't see it.
Tumelo: What is this?
Her: Focus, Tumelo. You won't get the answers you need if your mind is elsewhere.
I can see my father picking me up, rushing out of my bedroom with me in his arms. My mother is losing it and I can understand, I'm their only child. The visions follow to the hospital where the medics attend to me. My tiny body is lying there helpless and it breaks my heart to see my mother cry. I'm taken to the ward where an oxygen apparatus is given to me, I can't seem to wake up. Everything gets tried, even CPR but no, I'm just lying there without moving a single muscle. A few minutes later, I'm confirmed dead. My mind shifts from the vision coz I can't stand the torture of seeing my younger self die while I'm still here living. The snake woman is still standing there and now I'm back into the strange room
Her: Why did you pull away from the vision?
Me: Because none of this is real
Her: You died, Tumelo. This life that you're living here, it's just an illusion.
Me: How can it be an illusion while I apparently have a family? My son is in the other room
Her: Have you looked yourself in the mirror? You're living in another man's body and you'll continue to swap body after body until that bracelet is returned to its rightful owner.
With that said, I take it out and toss it at her. She laughs as if I'm the one who's insane
Me: You should have never picked it up from the river that day. Your spirit will continue to change bodies until the right thing is done. This life that you're living isn't yours. The woman and the boy you saw earlier aren't your family. Yes they're the man's family, the man whom your spirit has possessed.
I move closer to the mirror and it's true. The man in the mirror definitely isn't me. I know I died young but there's no resemblence at all
Me: I saw pictures. I saw pictures of me on the wall
Her: You only saw what you wanted to see. Don't get comfortable, Tumelo. Tomorrow you might wake up in a body of a mad man. Return the bracelet
Me: To the river?
Her: To it's owners
Me: How do I find them?
She vanishes and just like that, I'm yet again confused. There's nothing I can do except lie on the couch and let my mind run wild. I'm still trying to understand but then I'm interrupted my Amo jumping on top of me
Amo: Daddy I'm starving
Me: Give me a break, Amo
Amo: But mom said...
Me: I don't care what your mom said. Leave me alone
He sulks and goes to the kitchen to make himself microwave noodles. The last thing I need right now is my fake son to be pestering me while I'm trying to think.
LEAGO
I get home after 10pm and I'm hoping Tumelo and Amo weren't up to no good like usual. My kitchen is still intact, luckily. I take off my heels and notice him sleeping on the couch. I wake him up with the intention to help him to our bedroom
Me: Babe, let's go sleep in the bedroom. You don't want to strain your neck
Tumelo: You're back?
Me: I just got here. Where's Amo?
He looks around, rubbing his eyes. I notice a bracelet I've never see on him before.
Me: Babe where did you get this? I've never seen it before
Tumelo: Umm...I...got it elsewhere. I mean somewhere
Me: Somewhere is not a place, papa Amo
Tumelo: I'm really not feeling okay
Me: Okay let's go to the bedroom and I'll make you feel better instantly
TUMELO
She sits on me and wraps her arms around my neck. I've never had a woman touch me this way and quite frankly, I've never been intimate coz I died young. I have butterflies in my stomach and how do I even begin to say no to my wife? Is she even my wife? I check both our fingers and there are rings on them.
Me: Can we not do it tonight?
Her: Since when do you say no to me?
Me: Please, Leago
I blurt the name that was at the top of my head and she kisses my forehead. Did I get it right?
Leago: Okay Tumelo we'll skip tonight. Let's go sleep then
Me: Do you love me?
Leago: What kind of question is that, Tumelo? You know I love you so much and I'm offended that you're doubting that. Listen baby don't forget that Friday we have a doctor's appointment
Me: For?
Leago: You're joking, right?
Me: My mind is a bit off I'm sorry
Leago: We're going for the scan and to find out if I'm carrying a boy or a girl. But I have a feeling it's a girl this time
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