Nonhlanhla - Fortunate

Two

Warren

She was never supposed to find out, I want to punch the wall of my cell until my knuckles bleed but I can't. I have to keep calm and not draw attention to myself.

I share this cell with six other men and we're all watching each other. I can feel it, looking for signs of emotion or weakness to use later on.

I am sitting on the top bunk of the bed, facing the bars with the wall behind me. From here I can see the old skinny guy on the bottom bunk nervously bouncing his leg, I think he might be going through withdrawal, judging from the way he's biting his nails and his bloodshot eyes. His bunk mate is the only white guy in the cell, he's missing a few teeth and silently singing while his eyes dart from the door to the ceiling the walls and then again as if stuck on repeat.

On the floor were the last two to be brought into the cell there isn't space left for them to sleep, so they were left to sleep on the floor. They look quite young, probably just turned 18 or 19 years old. They look like they've been in an accident. The one has scratches on his arms, he has a far away look in his eyes and he looks scared. While the other one keeps scratching his head like he's confused, either he's still under the influence or he hit his head really hard.

I shake my head as I ensure I maintain my neutral expression, I have no empathy for anyone in here because they definately don't have any for me.

Our dinner was served inside the cell as this isn't prison, they don't have a dining room for us here, we're all awaiting for arraignment . We are each served a tray of pap and beans stew, we eat because we're hungry but it doesn't taste good at all. Once were done the young men stack the trays by the cell door to be collected.

My brain can't stop going over everything, how did they find me, its been months since the incident and they only arrest me now. Why didn't they warn me, I know the boss has police on the payroll so why did I get blindsided by this?

Guess there really is no honour among thieves. Not that I trusted them to begin with. I simply regret the pain this will cause my family. Nhlanhla will have to tell uMama, she will be heartbroken. I dont want her to see me like this, but I won't stop her from visiting.

All too soon we hear, a guard shout "lights out!" and the cells go dark.

Even in the darkness, I can't seem to let myself think of her. They promised nothing would happen to me or my family so this must be a mistake. I cannot even cover my face with the thin blanket they gave me because it smells old and feels coarse against my skin.

I wander what time it is, if I wasn't here I probably would be at home, playing building blocks with my son. Nhlanhla would be tidying up in the kitchen, and I would get Khanya ready for for his bath.

She probably thinks this is some big misunderstanding, my sweet wife, she's going to kill me. She'll never leave me though, I know her. She's mine, she promised and she would never let Khanya grow up in a broken home.

I try to slow down my mind and fall alseep but all I can see is the confusion and fear written all over her face. I miss her, she's probably so scared for me, if only she knew.

Earlier that day

I was kissing my wife, trying to slowly convince her to let give Khanya a little brother or sister when the knock came to our door.

I kept kissing her, telling her to ignore the door and that whoever was there would go away by themselves but they started pounding on the door. I groaned as I let go of my wife who had pulled away from our kiss to get the door, I had half a mind to fling the door open and give them a piece of my mind.