A Thousand Hills

Phakamile No!!

"Ay no muhlez, you're not asking me about another man after all that" he says after we finally catch our breath, I chuckle a little

"I read somewhere that men loosen their guard after sex and will say or do anything the woman wants" he laughs when I say this

"Fake news bro, you should try before the sex, when a man is in need" he says chuckling

"Wow!! I even down graded to 'bro' status. I thought I had a magical coochie" I say feigning tears and sadness

"You got the best coochie I ever had, no need to manipulate. What do you want to know?" He asks holding me tighter as I lay my head on his chest.

"What's the deal with your best friend, he makes me uncomfortable" I say sulky. He's quiet for a while when I ask this

"I don't think he's doing it on purpose. Did he say or do something inappropriate?" He asks

"Not really, he just asks weird questions about Noxolo and therapy and he looks at me funny. It's unnerving" it sounds silly now that I'm saying it out loud to him

"Funny haha, funny weird or sexual predator funny, who's nose I need to break" he asks gently pushing me off so we're both on our sides facing each other, even though the room is dark

"Funny weird, like I don't like you and you shouldn't be dating my best friend funny" Phakamile actually laughs when I say this and turns his bedside light on
He seems calm and relaxed, beautiful even, as he smiles down at me

"He's a BI specialist and a very suspicious man because of his work, trust me, it's nothing personal, just give yourself time to know him. He actually likes you" he says

"I don't think I like him enough for that, he must just stay out of my way" I say begrudgingly

"That's unlike you Sedi, is there something deeper other than him looking at you funny. Something you need to tell me?" He asks back serious

"No, other than his sarcastic comments, I guess not"

"Lesedi, Danso is vey important to Ndoni and I. If there's something you need to tell me, please do so now, I won't be mad" he says

Excuse me?! Mad about what?

"I didn't do anything, he's the one being weird" I say defensively, how did we get here

"If that's the case then please try and get along with him" he says holding me again, arg fine

"You know Danso and his father were the ones who found us and offered us a ride to the hospital, the night my mother and I escaped" he says after a while just as I'm drifting off

"Mum was in a scary place, physically a mess but there was an emptiness in her eyes that broke me more than being forced to watch men rape her and being starved to near death

Danso and his father helped us, from Danso sharing the clothes off his back when they found us, to them checking on us, twice a day everyday for months, even after she had settled back into her old life. Danso has been somewhat protective of me since

Danso is more than just a friend, he's my big brother and a confidant.
He knows all my demons and struggles especially with women, sex and love.
You have no idea what it was like being a teenager after witnessing what I did and shooting a man at that age. He's the one who forced me into a rehab like juvenile center at 16 and lined my thoughts when they were all over the place.