The Orphan

Insert 19

Luniko
I got up and helped her move a bit as I mumbled excuse me to everyone and we walked out to the balcony. I sat her on the couch and looked at her. How do you tell the woman that you love that she has a father?
Me: Sorry to be so haste.
Zikhona: you all closed your eyes and now this.
Me: We can communicate without talking. Like read each other thoughts when someone allows us in.
She looked at me worried.
Zikhona:Can you read mine?
Me: No, only if you allow me in
Zikhona: how do I allow you in?
I looked at her and she really was interested in knowing this.
Me: Close your eyes and relax. Breathing in and out slowly.
She did as I instructed and I closed my eyes and there it was she said " hi" and I said "Hi"
We both opened our eyes with her face in full shock.
Zikhona: I can talk to you without really talking?
Me: yes, you can.
She grinned and I smiled at her.
Me: tell me about your dad.
Zikhona: there really nothing to share. My whole life I grew up with my mother and her alone. She only let me out of her sight when I went to high school. Primary she homeschooled me. I went with her to work everyday at the spaza and worked with her, helping her with her duties than go home and study. I loved it although people reported her a million times but she didn't care. When I was 14 she saved enough for me to go to the best schools she could afford so I did as I was told. I loved school but I missed her a lot. Than she started being sick in my matric year spending most of her days in hospital and when they found out what wrong with her. She didn't want the medication. She helped me apply for school. She helped taught me everything that I needed to do for her funeral and when I got my confirmation letter from school she read it and hugged me happy for me than died peacefully in her sleep.
Zikhona had tears rolling down her face.
Zikhona: I was angry at her for a moment cause there was med that she could take but the stigma around this was too much so i guess she decided its fine to go.
Me: am sorry you had to go through all of that alone
Zikhona: Am over it. But funny enough in this time I never thought of where my father is, who he is or if he lived or not. Why do you ask?
Me: I have to pay lobola you know.
She blushed red and looked away.
Zikhona: I know
Me: Yes so I have to know your father or your uncles whoever comes first.
Zikhona: I know. Am sorry I know nothing about my mom family. She was a private person and I never asked cause she gave me everything that she could give.
Me: My uncle is friends with a man who just called him and he thinks you two might be relatives.

Zikhona
I looked at him confused.
Me: Why does he think so?
I saw him looked down in discomfort.
Luniko: He knew your mother.
Me: Knew her how?
Luniko: They grew up together.
I looked at him and I senses that he might be hiding something and he kept quiet.
Me: Do I have to pull the information out of you? Or you going to tell me what the man suspects?
Luniko: He says his your father.
Now that took me off guard and I sat there looking at her. Amani walked towards us from the sliding door
Amani: Come eat guys
I nodded and got up.
Luniko: We have to talk this through
Me: Not now.
I walked in leaving him standing there frustrated and I sat down acting like I don't see they stares as I atebmy food. My dad might be alive and he knows this family how? How did he know am here? Has he been watching over me all this long? Why now? If he knew he had a child with my mom why come now? Or does he know that she no more and thinks I need him? Well tough luck cause am not going to be seeing anyone.

Muzikhona
I looked at my brother smiling after that call.
Me: Am seeing my daughter. For the first time in 20 years am seeing my child.
He hugged me and smiled.
Lifa: will you be taking the throne now?
I looked at my brother.
Me: Why do you want me to take the throne so badly.
Lifa: you were born to be a leader.
Me: But so are you
Lifa: Come on. We both know am surviving because of you. The council's listen when you speak and you can see they motivated when you pass down the orders. When it me they just take it as an order.
Me: That not true
Lifa: dad is dead. He was wrong in doing what he did and he knew it just to proud to admit it.
Me: But still
Lifa: Amy and I just want to be normal people and I think the chief position makes me normal.
Me: I don't want to be married. A king should have a Queen to help him rule.
Lifa: Queen Elizabeth is ruling alone so what going to stop you?
Me: Can I think it through
Lifa: The council already helped me with returning you to your rightful place. All you need to do is sign papers that names you as the king and we do an announcement to our people that all.
I looked at him and I saw that he really wanted out of this so I nodded and he jumped on me hugging me so tight.
Lifa: you just saved my marriage. Thank you.
I looked at Amy who whipped a tear and smiled at me. Was the throne really taking it toll on them? And is this the right thing to do? I took my bowl and ate the oats in front of me thinking about this new changes in my life...