One

SIBANE 's POV I sat under the marula tree staring up at it's emerald green leaves as they rustled with the wind, the cool breeze fanning my face as I watched the leaves play peekaboo with the sun's rays.

It was beautiful.

I could hear the chirping of the birds as they perched on the branches of the tree and I laid there looking up at the golden fruits of the marula tree, I now understood why my grandfather insisted that when he dies we bury a tree on his body, so that from his remains new life can rise. I loved the quiet paradise that came with sitting here underneath the trees away from everyone ,as I enjoyed my last few seconds of peace before hearing footsteps make their way towards me, seeing my mother and her green headscarf appear in my line of vision.

"Sthandwa sami it's getting late you have to get going, and you know how you get when you drive for long distances." Her worried voice matched the frown on her face as I sat up with a sigh, remembering that I had to go back to the city and I was nowhere near ready for the 6 hour drive back.( my love)

"I'm soo lazy I'm thinking of leaving tomorrow." I groaned." Yati yemake I'm not looking forward to the six hour drive back." I sighed stretching my legs on the reed mat. ( mom you know)

" Ngiyabona, nawe uyabona kutsi kube bonendvondza ngabe awunaso lesistress onaso manje." ( I see, do you also see that if you had a husband you would not have to deal with this stress)

" Hawu mama ingenaphi indoda manje? I'm a strong independent woman I don't really need a man." (What does a man have to do with this?)

" Ngiko utawushayela bo six hours ebusuku." My mom chuckled and I honestly don't understand the need for me to have a man, when everything in my life is going well. (Well that's exactly why you'll drive six hours into the night)

" The only reason I need a man is for him to drive me around?" I laughed.

" Hleka nje obviously that's not the only reason you need a man." She laughed to herself and I stared at her in confusion before she directed her face to the middle of my legs. (Continue laughing)

" Hawu mama!" I laughed covering my face in embarrassment.

" Sibane, angeke phela you are successful and you are independent I'm very proud of you but when I said keep yourself pure I did not mean until the day you die, thola indoda awukake waphila nawusengakaze wagibela imoto." She said the last part with a loud laugh. ( it can't be, find yourself a man you haven't lived if you have not rode that type of car yet)

" Mama I cannot have this conversation with you, let me go pack my bags." I said smiling and looking away.

" I'm serious Sibane, I understand nowadays that being independent is the motto and I have no problem against it, and although in my lifetime you also know this, love has shown me flames even so I still believe in it. I used to watch my parents dancing to jaz music together, I knew love from the way I saw my father look at my mother, the way he talked to her even in the way he held her hand you could feel the love when you were in the same room as them. That's the exact thing I want for you, I want you to find someone who will love you the way my father loved my mother baby."Her voice broke at the end as she stared at the tree planting her hand on the bark of the wood.

" I love you my daughter and I want to see you happy." She said wiping stray tears that fell from her face.

" Mom I am happy I swear." I said squeezing my mother's hand as I looked up at the branches of the tree with the golden fruit dangling on them, I had nothing against love but it wasn't for me i was honestly happy if the people around me are happy. There are two people in this world: lovers and helpers. Lovers are destined to fall in love while my mother was someone who helped you see the beauty in love and me? Let's just say I didn't want either I am content just the way I am.