BROKEN PIECES.

CHAPTER 17 | MY SAVIOR

THATO.

We get in the car and drive. The only thing I can think of is how Jabu is feeling. Palesa hasn't said anything to me. I can feel her eyes on me but right now her safety and jabu's safety is my number one priority. I just hope Jabu didn't do anything stupid like run away. Fuck I forgot to call the doctor. I fish for my phone in my pocket and call him.
" Thato? I've been waiting man!"
" Where are you? "
" At the hospital in my office. I went to see Jabu  A few minutes ago and I found her crying "
" I'm coming there. Just make sure she doesn't try to leave on her own. "
" She wants her sister to come with her.She said she couldn't leave without her."
" Did you call my aunt? "
" I did. I just told her that jabu wants to see thando "
" Good. I'm coming " I hang up and sigh.
" Thato? "
" Dimples? "
" where are we going? " she asks me sounding scared.
" we are going to see jabu, then the four of us are going somewhere for a few days. We will come back home okay? " she keeps quiet.
" Are we leaving cause wena le papa you're fighting? "
" yes nana. I think when we come back we won't fight so much. I'm sorry you had to see that "
" It's okay. Our parents fight all the time so I'm used to it." She looks away. That worries me. I didn't know bith of the have been fighting. I hope Dan is not putting his hands on my mother. I take her little hand in mine.
" Don't worry about them. They are adults. They will figure it out." She nods.
" I'm sorry he hit you " she says barely whispering.
" It doesn't hurt as much as i expected it would." she keeps quiet.
I park the car at the hosptital parking lot and we get out of the car. I can see my little sister is tired so i pick her up. God I hope Dan is not her father. Please God. As we walk in I see my aunt and thando disappearing to where Jabu is. We find them outside her ward talking with doctor Letsoalo.
" Thato? why is Palesa here? What's going on and who hit you My God! " My aunt asks me taking Palesa from me.
" I'm fine. Lets go in "
When we open the door Jabu is sitting on the bed with her hands on her head. She looks up and is shocked to see us. She gets off the bed and stands.
" what's going? " she asks looking at the doctor. Letsoalo looks at her apologetic shaking his head.
" I'm sorry Jabu but I had to tell him " She looks at me scared and that hurts.
" I don't want him here! Leave thato! "
" I'm not going anywhere. You can't just disappear in my life like that. I told you that we will face this together. All of us Jabu. You are not alone "
" NOOOO! You don't understand! "
" I do baby. I know you're scared cause you the person who attacked you and you're afraid that's why you want to run away so he won't hurt you again " Thando gasps.
" What? You're running away? Without me?."
" No thando, Yes I did think of running away and leaving you behind but then I couldn't cause what if....he hurts you too " she says and looks at Palesa and cries.
" That's why you were saying goodbye. How could you leave me behind Jabu! "
" I'm sorry I even thought of that. I'm sorry Thando! " she goes to her and they hug crying.
I know my uncle said they will leave tomorrow but it's best we leave tonight right now. I dial his number and he picks up.
" Changement de plans mon oncle, je pense que nous devons partir maintenant. J'ai ce mauvais pressentiment que quelque chose pourrat mal tourner si nous attendons dermain. ( change of plans uncle.I think we need to leave now. I have this bad feeling that something might go wrong if we wait for tomorrow) "
"  Where are you right now? "
" at the hospital "
" we're coming " he hangs up.
" I'm not going anywhere with your father! I'm not! " Jabu says crying and shaking her head furiously
" Jabu..."
" No! I won't. I would rather go back to the orphanage than leave with him! Never thato you hear me! " the whole room goes quiet as her heart breaking sobs fill the room.
My whole world stops. My head feels like it is spinning. A fear like I have never felt in my life grabs me tight. God she's not saying what I clearly heard behind that statement. God No. I look at Thando and she nods. I also look at Letsoalo and he nods too. My aunt has her hand on her mouth.
" Dan is not my father Jabu. My father's brother is coming. Where we're going you'll be safe. No one will hurt you. I promise." She looks at me shocked.
I badly want to go to her and pull her in my arms and comfort her but I can't. I can't comfort her knowing a few minutes ago I defended the man thinking he won't do something like this. I feel so disgusted with myself. Has he touched my sister too?
" Put my sister down. "
" Thato! "
" I said put my sister down!. Did you know? " she puts her down and looks at me like I have just betrayed her. Pale goes to jabu and thando.
" what? No! How could you even ask me that! "
" Cause you know every despicable thing he does! "
" Jabu I swear on my child's grave I didn't know. You know thato I  would have told you! " she says bawling.
The door opens and my uncle walks in filling the room with his presence.
" Natasha "
" Leo " she wipes her eyes.
He walks to me and touches my face.
" Qui a fait cela? (who did this?) "
" Dan " his face changes. 
I walk to Jabu and take her hand. She lets me.
" Oncle voici Jabu et sa soeur thando et ma petite soeur Pales. ( Uncle this is Jabu and her sister Thando and my little sister Palesa) " I introduce them.
" Nice to meet you all. I am Leo, Raphael's Uncle." Jabu and thando nod politely.
" Ensuite, c'est le docteur dont je vous parlais. Docteur Letsoalo. ( Then this is the doctor I was telling you about. Doctor Letsoalo ) " They shake hands.
" Thank you for everything doctor."
" My pleasure."
" We have to leave now so you can get some rest." my uncle tells us.
" where are we going? "
" Joburg. You will all be safe. You're clothes will follow behind." My uncle assures her. Jabu looks at me.
" I know I have done questionable things to you and hurt you but right now I'm asking you to trust me again. Please Jabu " she looks at my aunt.
" You will be safe. I'll come with you " my aunts assures her.
" No. You're not."
" Thato please "
"  you will but just not now okay aunty. " she nods.
" Is dimples coming too? "
" I'm not leaving her with those monsters." She keeps quiet.
" The cars are waiting. You'll leave your car behind. i don't want them to track you " my uncle tells me.
" Okay. "
" Can she come thato. It would make me feel better knowing she's also there. Please "
" For you. Anything." I tell her.
" Thank you " My aunt says.
" Take them to the cars. I want to have a word with doc here " I nod and leave them.
My uncles men have brought some attention from the nurses cause they keep looking at them and us as we walk out. I walk to my car and take my wallet and what I think I would need for the few days I'll be away.
I get in car and I'm surprised it's only Jabu with the driver. I get in and close the door.
" everyone else is riding in the other car? " she nods. " Can I pull you closer to me so I can hold you?....Please? " She shakes her head no and sniffs. " I want to comfort you Jabu. I'm sorry he hurt you and I promise you he will pay " She continues to sniff.
I move closer to her and pull her to my arms as she criers. The car moves and drives out. I swear on everything that I am that Dan is going to pay the most brutal way. He will suffer slowly. I know he will. Jabu continues to cry until she falls asleep and I just brush her hair. My uncle sends me a message and tells me he's riding in the other car. I send vusi a message and tell him I'm out of town. My mom calls me but I don't pick her calls, she finally sends me a message that says she's sorry and to bring palesa home safe. My phone is on silent so Jabu won't wake up.
I hope my uncle will help me with trying to track Jabu's family. No one just lives in this world without having a family or extended family members. I know he promised me that he will look into the orphanage and find out what's really going on. Every time I look at her I feel my eyes getting glassy. I want to cry and scream so loud so this pain I'm feeling can go away.
How is she going to trust men moving forward including me?. Will she heal and come out of this strong?. She's young but what she has seen and experienced will forever haunt me. We are both you and I don't if she will still want to be with me after all this. He might not be my father but he raised me. What if she thinks his ways rubbed off on me. That I'll be like that monster. God!. I said to him I would expect this from my mother but not him.
That lying mother fucker will get what is coming to him. He wont see it coming. He will regret the day he looked at her. I will give anything right now to take away the pain and hurt she's feeling. I will talk to my dad and uncle so we can get Jabu the best care. Therapist and all. I never want to see her hurt like this.
JABU
I slept and woke up after my meltdown. He thinks that I'm still sleeping but I'm not. I can feel how tense he is, how he keeps clenching his fists and the silent conversations he's having with himself. I know he blames himself for what happened because it's his...no he said that man I thought was his father is not his father. It's his stepfather. Is that why he raped me? cause thato is not his son?. I hate that man. I wish to God he got hit by a train and dies a slow painful death.
I am glad though that he came with his sister and didn't leave her behind cause what if she's also not his daughter and he does the same thing he did to me?. That would kill thato for sure I know. I know i thought about leaving without thando but the more I thought about I just couldn't. I couldn't leave her where that monster was going to find her and possibly hurt her too so I asked the doctor to call thato's aunt and ask thando to come so we can run away together but then the doctor went and told thato and somehow I knew he would tell him. I just knew but i had hoped he would wait until we arrived at Kroonstad.
" Jabu?....Baby? " he shakes me softly. " We are here. Wake up." My neck feels strained. I get off his lap and look at him. " How's your neck? "
" a bit sore."
" You'll sleep in a comfortable bed after taking a warm bath and eaten something."
" I just want to sleep that's all "
" Ok."
He opens the door and we step out of the car. The house looks absolutely beautiful. Palesa comes to me and takes my hand. I offer her a small warm smile. We follow thato and his uncle inside the house. When we get in there are two maids standing on the sides of the door. They greet us and we greet them back as we walk in to the living room. Thando comes and stands next to me.
" This is your new home from now on. I'll ask Dudu and Patience to show you to your rooms but before that, they have prepared food for you." His uncle tells us.
Palesa leaves my hands and goes to the table. She sits down and eats. Thando and aunt Natasha join her too.
" Can I be excused. I would like to go bed. uncle Leo "
" It's okay. Raphael will show you your bedroom. Uhm Jabu? "
" Yes uncle Leo "
" We will fix this whole mess and you'll get the help you need. You are safe here okay? "
" Thank you uncle Leo "
" I'm going to sleep with sis Jabu." I smile and thato doesn't look impressed.
" After you've had your dinner then you'll come and sleep with me."
" Thank's sis Jabu " she giggles.
Thato takes my hand and I follow him hearing Palesa asking uncle Leo if thato's father is also her father too. Thato shakes his head. We pass many rooms.
" So your other name is Raphael and you speak French too." I ask him when he opens a door and we get in. Wow this room is beautiful and I'm sure it's his. " This is your bedroom right? " He scratches his head.
" I sleep in it when my dad is in the city." thought so.
" So where are you going to sleep? "
" The house is big. I'll find a room to sleep in "
" Okay."
He walks to what I think is the closet and comes out with a gown and walks to the bathroom.
" There are new bath towels in here and toothbrushes and I think what you will need. Tomorrow we'll go to the mall and buy whatever you want." He says shouting from the bathroom and walks out.
" Thank you " He looks at me and we stand there awkwardly.
" I'll leave you to it then. If you need anything just shout."
" I will " He walks to the door. " Thato? " he turns.
I walk to him and stand next to him. I look down at his feet. He pushes my head up with his finger.
" Thank you..... for....for saving my life. I tried to kill myself cause.. "
" Shhh. Just promise me one thing please? "
" What is it? "
" Don't ever try to kill yourself again. Please..."
" I wanted to die.... "
" You almost died. You almost left me. I was never going to see you again Jabu and I can't live without you. When i saw you lying down there looking lifeless a part of me died Jabu. Don't ever leave me please." He sniffs.
" I wanted the pain to stop...I..."
" Shhhhhhh it's okay. I'm always going to be here for you. I'm never going to leave you no matter what." He pulls me to him and we hold each other tight.
" Thank you for being my savior. My everything."
" I love you Jabu. You're my one and only love. I love you."
" I love you Raphael "