Chapter 1

Manzini Dlomo

Thula thula thula nana thula!

When I hear this hymn that's when I know comes a dark force.
Comes evil himself in my space.

I can't even close my eyes or rest them.
Because there is no time of resting my body works 24/7,
My mind works 24/7
I don't even get a sleep like a normal person should because devil does not let me rest.
Rain is a normal thing in my area also tears is normal thing to me
I always cry there is no day goes by without me shedding a tear
Maybe that's why I'm called Manzini I pour tears like a river
I don't even know why they named me after water
"Ugh shana umnandi"
Comes heavy load off me
I can breath now
"Wipe your tears man bantu ba zo'thini unenyembezi"
That's my uncle Xola
I wiped my tears but the rain was not doing any justice it was pouring so bad outside
Xola:We can repeat this again when umalume alambile
I couldn't utter any word
Xola:Yezwa Manzini?
Manzini:Yebo Malume
Xola:Clean yourself up and help your cousin outside
I stay with Malume and his family
They own a tavern so you can imagine how this place is very hectic and busy
What you just saw is an every day thing
I always cry but my tears fell on deaf ears
Nobody want to believe me when I told them what is my uncle doing to me
His wife accused me of destroying her marriage and wanting her man for myself
Police station they accused me for being attention seeker only because my uncle he's a detective
I find her daughter Mbali busy at the till
Mbali:Uphuma kuphi?
Manzini:I took a nap I didn't feel okay
She slapped me so hard
Everyone in this house does everything they want with me and push me around like they want
I can't even fight back or do anything
Mbali:Sies who do you think you are?
I rubbed my cheek so soft where she slapped me
Manzini:Ngiyaxolisa
She wanted to slap me again
But someone got hold of her hand
Bongani:Wenzani Mbali?
That's my sweet cousin Bongani first born of aunty Zodwa
He is the only saint person around here who never abuses me
She took her hand off him so roughly
Mbali:This monkey think this is resort where she can rest while some of us work
Bongani:Manzini is not your child that you should slap around,so what if she went to rest?she didn't kill anyone
Mbali:Mama will hear about this wena Bongani and I'm going to tell her you took this monkey's side
Bongani:Go I don't care
She left angry actually she was fuming
He took my hands into his
Bongani:Ngiyaxolisa for what Mbali did to you
Manzini:It's not your fault Bongani
Bongani:Manzini just know you will get through this
Manzini:Ngiyabonga
My cousin he's very handsome guy
He got nice tooth gape and nose ring that makes him more handsome
Manzini:I should get working you know aunty how she is
I changed a topic because the way he looks at me sometimes I feel like there is more to do this
But duh what I'm saying he's my cousin
He will never sees me like that
Plus he's step father is sleeping with me
So I can't sleep with a father and a son