Red Lace

Chapter 43

MIHLALIKAZI TSHAWE MNGUNI

I want to say I don't think I stressed my parents like this but I'm in no position to say that considering at 17 years old I mistakenly emailed mom a sex tape of me and when I was getting married to Bandile; it aired on our wedding day as I was walking down the aisle, so maybe I stressed them out a little. But my biggest question is how did they manage to cope with everything? I mean how did they deal with everything so effortlessly like it was nothing? Now, Ayola Mbana stressed her parents out, that hone made it a point to live life in the fast lane, if she were alive I would go to her to ask how her parents handled everything but unfortunately her parents were not the best of parents. It's times like this where I am reminded that this parenting thing has no formula and no manual. We just have to wing it. Hearing that Khaya collapsed scares me because it could only be stress and I know this because my husband is not one to easily fall sick, let alone collapse. When I was in therapy, I came to learn a lot about myself and understood how the things we do not open up about may catch up with us in the long run. Take me for instance, I have been through enough. Life was never kind to me from since I was a child until my adulthood, I didn't know I wasn't coping until my therapist made me see and realise that actually I have been going through the most and just moving on swiftly like nothing happened, eventually I was going to crash, so thank God for my accident because it made me realise that I hadn't been taking care of myself as well as I thought I was. Before I leave the house in a panic, I ask the aunty to take care of Chume and Lethu, I don't tell Nichume what's happened because she might just go into early labour and we don't need that now especially with the way things went today.

"Mihlalikazi Mnguni here for Khayalethu Mnguni, he was brought in about an hour ago because he collapsed at work," I explain to the receptionist.

"Mrs. Mnguni," Someone says and I turn to see his assistant.

"Lloyd what happened to my husband?" I ask her immediately.

"I haven't filled in anything yet," She says to the receptionist who give me a paper and a board to right on. I walk over to the chairs with her, "We were in a meeting when suddenly he collapsed. The doctor hasn't come out yet," she explains. I let out a shaky breath and just nod.

"You can return to work, I'll take it from here." I tell her and she nods getting her things and leaving me. I finish filling everything in and return to the front desk.

"What now?" I ask her.

"You wait, as soon as the doctor is done we will let you know," She says and I chuckle.

"Did you not hear me tell you who I was? I want to see my husband!" I say sternly. This woman does not understand my frustration and fear. We spent half of this year apart, I really cannot afford to lose that man in there.

"I know who you are Mrs Mbana Tshawe Mnguni, powerful surnames even but there's nothing I can do for you Ma'am. You need to sit down and wait for the doctor to come back with your husband's results," she retorts. I give her one last venomous look before walking over to that lonely bench. I say a silent prayer for my husband because what else can I do at this point? After about 5 minutes a doctor walks out and calls his name and surname. I raise my head and rush over to the doctor.

"I am his wife, can I see him? What happened to my husband?" I ask him all at once.

"Mrs. Mnguni, your husband suffered a heart attack." He starts off and I feel my entire world shatter into pieces. Tears roll down my cheeks, "he is awake, you can see him but Mrs Mnguni I have to let you know, it's not looking good. His Bp was off the charts and unfortunately if we cannot lower his heart rate then he won't be so lucky next time." he says leading us towards his room.