Zenande Okhethiweyo

Insert 6

I'm walking through a forest,it's so beautiful and peaceful. As I walk I see a fire engulfing the trees,I can't feel the heat so I move closer to see what's happening. There is a little boy he looks trapped
"Baby boy come here!"i shout out,he turns to look at me and his right leg is burnt,he can't move. I jump into the fire and quickly but cautiously carry him out before we both get burnt.
"LWANDLE! LWANDLE!" a woman's voice shouts through the forest,I carry the now passed out boy and follow the woman's voice maybe its his mother.

I see a beautiful dark woman,she is petite and her dark skin is glowing. She is wearing Zulu traditional attire,as I walk closer to her the boy starts to burn me like fire,I can't take it anymore and  drop the boy on the ground when I inspect my arms they are burnt just like the boys leg so i scream.

My alarm is louder than usual today,I switch it off and just lay on my bed,it feels like tranquility before a storm. That dream wasn't my imagination something is wrong but who am I to say maybe I'm just exaggerating. I check the time it 07:00am I better get up and get ready,my first class is at 09:00am. My body feels sore as I get out of bed,it must be that cold shower I took last night. I take off my pyjamas,wrap my towel around. I should do my laundry this weekend I think to myself. I wear my flip flops,take my toiletry bag and head for the door. I bump into Rea as I walk through the corridor.
"Morning babe! Breakfast is on me go shower quickly because I'm starving."she says joyfully with a Mc Donald brown bag in her hand.
"Finally she is home!"i say giggling,she playfully slaps my shoulder and goes to our room after i give her the key.

There is nothing like a hot steamy shower to make your day,I know what you are thinking and nope that's not the steamy i mean. When I get to our room Rea has changed into a navy blue tracksuit with her weave tied back paired with sneakers.
"Did you even bath though?",I ask as I search for something to wear.
"Obviously i did anything to avoid that bathroom we call ours",she shouts from the kitchen area. I put on my black jeans,a black tank top and white Nike hoodie over it. I take off my shower cap,comb my hair to the back and wear a black Nike beanie. I finish off the look with my white Airforce sneakers. I pack all of my books into my bag,grab my phone and head to the kitchen. Rea is already eating,I put my bag on the table and eat. Through out the meal she keeps on telling me about all the things Thabang did to her last night. Imagine being told about pornography while you are eating this girl is the worst! When we are done I rinse our cups and plates then we leave for campus.

Campus is about 15 minutes away so we continue with small talk as we walk.
"Wait! Did you see the news last night?"she asks as she stops walking.
"We are going to be late",i say a i push her to start walking "Yep i did and I had a nightmare about it I think" I add massaging the side of my head using my fingers.
"What? Did you dream of him touching that spaghetti body of yours?"she says giggling,trust her to think of something dirty at a time like this.
"He wishes."I roll my eyes with a little blush which i pray Rea didnt notice. I wish he could touch my body in real life not in a dream. Those long fingers all over my body and that beautiful mouth of his.
"Then tell me",Rea says quickly taking me away from fantasy land. I tell her about it and when I'm done we are already in the lecture hall.
"Maybe you were just worried about the fire hence you dreamt of it." She says as we hurridly take our seats and the professor commences the lesson for today on the human system.

After three long classes I'm finally done for the day.I don't even bother checking where Rea is because I know she is somewhere catching up with who-knows-who. I just Uber to the flat im too tired to walk back. I get in and lock the door.I take off my sneakers and get under the covers with my clothes on and immediately when my head hits the pillow I fall asleep.

I'm woken up by somebody shaking me and screaming my name,maybe there is an earthquake. When I open my eyes it's Buhle,Rea is busy undressing me. What is she doing? Are they trying to prank me? Distracting me from my thoughts Buhle gives me a glass of water and places a wet towel on my forehead,i sigh in relief that is so cooling to my skin.
"Is it the dream again?",Rea asks. Oh! I must be overheating again i have become a Zanothando myself,burning things around me in this case my own body. I drink the water and nod.
"Your temperature is still too high let me fetch some ice cubes" she says putting the thermometer on the table.
"Nah it will cool down in a few minutes." I say as I go stand by the window only left in my underwear.
"I think you should call your mom and tell her about it. Maybe we should also go to the doctor." I slowly nod my head,go to my bag and take out my phone on autopilot mode. Both my friends walk out to give me privacy. I'm in only my underwear but I feel like I'm boiling in water,maybe I'm catching a flu after this call I'm definetly going to the doctor i need to get a handle on this before it starts affecting my schoolwork.

Mama picks up her phone on the second ring.
"Mommy's baby girl",she says in greeting.
"Hello mom how are you?"
"Everything is alright here Nande but you dont sound like your usual self. Is everything okay?",she is now worried you can hear it in her voice. I tell her about the dream I have been repeatedly having and not beat around the bush,when it started and everything that happens to my body.
"Oh!my poor baby girl when do schools close? I think you will better understand the situation if i tell you looking at you,in the flesh." Now that sounds like a serious conversation,this dream is deeper than i thought.
"Is it that serious mama? I can skip classes tomorrow and come back home."
"No my baby don't worry. I think it can wait until the holidays." She tells me about Asemahle my niece,how naughty she is now and my sister Nolunwabo still being the same old her. We catch up for about an hour and then my airtime runs out.