Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Sixty-Three

-Sibongile-

I didn't know much about the law but I knew that I had 30 days before trial, if we were even going to make it that far. The hearing was over and done with, or at least part one of it, because I didn't even want to think about what was coming for me the following Thursday.

I got to my cell and undressed, just as I finished, Jerome walked in accompanied by Delanto.

Jerome: Sibo...
Me: You did well today, don't beat yourself up.
Jerome: Your ex-husband told his lawyer about the stolen phone and that you sent money to his children's accounts. He has banks statements proving the money leaving his account, but he has no proof that you sent it.
Me: Argh, is that why the case was postponed?
Jerome: Your father has pulled out, nullified his statement against you.
Officer Delanto: That means your man doesn't have a witness, unless he manages to convince his now fiancé to testify against you.
Me: She won't need much convincing, she'll gladly testify.
Jerome: I still believe we have a stronger case, we have submitted written parts of the recording. Unfortunately, we can only play it for the jury if we go to trial.
Officer Delanto: What I have advised your lawyer is that in the meantime, he must collect all the dirt that he can on your man and his protégé.
Me: And he's gonna need more than that expensive cologne, bavasa ngeengcambu aba bantu.

Officer Delanto: Wena uvasa ngamanzi a clean kodwa uyazazi ujongene nantoni?
Me: I have God, that's all I need.
Officer Delanto: uThixo sisi unceda abantu abazincedayo, meet him halfway.
Me: Then I wouldn't need Him if I had the ability to help myself ow would I?

Cwaka.
Jerome cleared his throat and I shrugged.

Officer Delanto: In cases where you think the new evidence will incriminate you, I would normally suggest you please guilty so that you don't go to trial.
Jerome: I will come back on Friday, we will go over all necessities and just prep up ourselves for Wednesday. All our evidence comply with the five rules of evidence. Meaning we have admissible, authentic, complete, reliable, and believable evidence.
Me: Wait, what did this guy say? I should plead guilty?
Officer Delanto: Pleading guilty has its own advantages.
Me: Yeah, more like rotting myself in here.
Jerome: The advantage of pleading guilty is the expense for a lawyer is generally less when the lawyer does not have to go to trial. ... In exchange for pleading guilty, the criminal defendant may receive a lighter sentence or have charges reduced. Additionally, as the Officer has already pointed out, pleading guilty avoids the uncertainty of a trial.

Me: I am not pleading guilty to anything, Jerome Yahkhonja!

Jerome: Great, then let's recess on Friday. Rest for now.

He nodded and walked away, Delanto followed behind him.
I threw my head backwards, covered my face with a pillow and screamed!

"You're back"

Oh God, that was Zandile.
I put the pillow aside and looked at her, she seemed saddened by my return. I sat up, making space for her next to me.

Zandile: What happened out there?
Me: Postponed to next week Wednesday.
Zandile: Is that even legal?
Me: I don't know.
Zandile: Yho, I'm sorry man.

I sighed and went for the bottle of water on the other side of the room. I drank half of that and just stood there looking at the dark wall. I saw my life in that darkness, I killed an innocent baby, maybe I deserved to be locked away, I was danger to the society. I was danger to myself even, I was just too angry.

Zandile: Don't cry sisi, uzophuma apha. Come here, come sit down with me.

I sighed, turned back and joined her again. She told me about her story, and that very moment I cried. She looked strong, until I realized that she had to be strong. Life forced her to be strong. We kind of had a lot in common, we had similar backgrounds. After listening to her, I told her about myself and how I got to be sitting with her. She cursed Imi and her mother, I just shrugged, maybe I was cursed. Maybe I didn't deserve to be happy. Just maybe.

***

After having a heart to heart with Zandile, she went out for a few minutes and came back with a phone. I missed my kids but I wanted to check on Masixole first. I needed to just hear ukuba he's better than what he was when I was there. I dialed Xola, he didn't answer so I dialed Masixole's phone and then a woman answered. I was taken back for a second, until I realized that the woman was Xoliswa. She was just being rude to someone else in her background while talking to me.

Me: I uhm hi, this is Masixole's phone, right?
Xoli: Yes, ungubani wena?
Me: It's me, Sibongile.
Xoli: Oh, that chick from Cape Town? What can I do for you?
Me: I just want to find out how he's doing...

She laughed, my heart ached for a second and I closed my eyes trying my best not to cry.

Xoli: Sisi, woman to woman neh, move on with your life.
Me: I don't follow.
Xoli: Masixole doesn't need you in his life, he has everything and everyone he needs apha. Move on nje with your life.
Me: Oh okay, but how is he doing?
Xoli: If you really cared you'd be here naye.

I sighed...

Xoli: He's out of coma, but he is still hospitalized.
Me: Can I talk to him please?
Xoli: No, and don't call this phone again. Haibo!
Me: I ju-

She cut the call and tears fell on my cheeks.
No amount of words could fully express how I felt inside, good thing Zandile was still with her friends, I had enough privacy. Enough room to cry myself to sleep.