LANGELIHLE
Prologue
Years ago.
Nomekezela hurries to the room carrying the baby in her hands, she locks the door and her sister looks at her with her eyes wide open.
Ntombele:Uyena lo? (Is this her?)
Nomekezela:Uyena. (It is)
Ntombele:Let me look at her.
She takes her away from her and looks at the baby’s innocent face. She is too young to be caught up in all of this.
Ntombele:She looks exactly like her. She would have been happy to see her.
Nomekezela:Indeed she would have. Ntombele we don’t have much time, we need to leave!
They heard a bit of commotion and noise coming from outside. Nomekezela peeped through the window and saw a mob, they were singing and fire burning.
Nomekezela:They are here. We need to leave.
Ntombele:Nomekezela, take her and leave.
Nomekezela:I can’t leave you here.
Ntombele:Just go! I will hold them off!
She snaps at her. Nomekezela takes the baby and strapped her on her back, using a towel.
The noise was getting outside with people shouting that they should get out.
Nomekezela:*Crying* Let’s run together.
Ntombele holds her hands and give her a reassuring look.
Ntombele:Go Nomekezela. Take care of her with everything you have. You’re her mother now. They should never ever find her. Go!!
She pushes her out of the window and watches as Nomekezela runs away.
She takes a deep breath and say a short prayer. They knew the consequences of what they did, but they couldn’t stand by and not do anything.
The door creaked open and she gasped stepping back to the wall. The people had found their way in and they looked angry and livid as hell.
“Nangu. Wozani ngapha! (Here she is. Come this side), one of the people shouted who was carrying a heavy stick that was in flames.
Everyone entered the room.
Ntombele closed her eyes as her tears fell uncontrollably.
She knew she was about to die, that was undeniable. But at least the baby is safe, she hopes they don’t find Nomekezela.
“Ayishe lenja. Bulalani lomthakathi.( Let the dog burn. Kill this witch).
They throw stones at her, while others hit her with the sticks and sjamboks they were carrying. She cried in pain and wailed as she felt every whip and wound. Covering her face wasn’t enough, because they yanked her hands off from it and continued marinating her with the weapons they were carrying.
“Ngyaxolisa.. Ngyaxolisa… (I am sorry… I am sorry...)”, she cried out and pleaded with them to have mercy but they never stopped. They kept going and going. They only stopped when someone graced them with his presence. He ordered them to back away from her. He moved to her and sniffed her. He chuckled seeing her bruised up face.
“We both don’t like what is happening here. But I need you to tell me one thing. Where is she?”, he asked her.
Ntombele breathed heavily and tried to talk but her lip was burst and swollen, so speaking was difficult.
She shook her head no.
“You don’t know where she is?”, he asked her again.
She shook her head.
The man stood up and fixed his suit. He looked at the mob.
“Kill her.”
He said and walked out. The mob rejoiced and screamed as they finished her off.
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Nomekezela has been running for hours. She didn’t stop. The baby is still strapped on her back, she heard Ntombele’s cries and screams and wanted to turn back for her. But she remembered what she said. Protect the baby by all costs.
She finally reaches the road and sighs in relief that she has made it out of the village. It is dark outside and a few people are on the road. She sits down just to collect her breath. She unstraps the baby from her back and places her on her arms. She was sleeping. Nomekezela smiled looking at her. She was too calm and innocent.
Nomekezela:I’m really sorry. You don’t deserve this. I will protect you with everything I have, I promise. I’m going to name you Langelihle, because it was very sunny today and you’re the only good thing that came out. We are going to go away from all of this. He will never find you, I guarantee you.
She promises her and pulls her closer to her chest.
She stands up after minutes of resting and get ready to continue with her journey. She doesn’t know where she’s going, but she knows she has to get far away. She moves her feet and start walking.
A car out of nowhere, parks recklessly next to her sending her to the ground with Langelihle. One person comes out carrying a gun and shoots her on her stomach. He goes back inside and the car drives off quickly.
Nomekezela holds her stomach and feels blood. She kneels and places Langelihle on the ground. She chokes on her own blood and falls back down, still holding her stomach. She looks at Langelihle with tears.
“I’m sorry.”, those were the last words she said.
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