Divided

Long Way Home

Grace POV

‘Why would my uncle be summoning me back home at this time, I mean I made it clear that I was done with that place but some people are just dictators. I wonder what my brother will say about this too.’ I thought while reading an email that was sent to me by my uncle. I loved and respected my family but for them to treat me like some inferior or little girl was not on.  I dialled my brother’s number and it rang twice.

“Mabaso’s princess, what can I do for you this morning?” My brother has always been a playful guy even though he was scary to new people, but today was not that day for me to be playing along.  My brother was my light in everything I did in life, he was there when…no, don’t go there.

“Vukosi, why am I being summoned at home?” This was taking a strain in me and it was not funny anymore.

“What?” He was shocked at what I just said which means that he didn’t know.

“Yes! Uncle Fikani just me an email summoning me at home!” I screamed, thank god Isaac was in the other room and the door was closed, he didn’t wake up. My pride and joy, I just hope he will be like his dad when he grow up.

“Umm….I know nothing about that, let me check something quickly…….Gracie, I got the email too and I will have to call mom and find out, okay?” So if he got the email too, it meant that something was wrong at home and I was going to be forced to go home, I wish I could just scream again.

“Better be quick, why would uncle send us emails instead of dad?” I said in a harsh tone.

“Careful princess.” He warned.

“Vukosi, I’m not playing too!” I was getting frustrated of being in the dark and being summoned without knowing what for was taking more strain and it caused my voice to crack in the end.

“Peanut, are you okay?” My light in a very dark place.

“I don’t want to go back.” I pleaded with him

“I know but for mom and papa, we will. Let me call mom and then I will call you as soon as possible and I will be coming over there.” I don’t want to go back, so many bad memories there.

**

Vukosi promised to call me back earlier but he haven’t called yet and it was driving me nuts. Isaac woke up twice and slept again.

‘Knock-knock! Knock-knock!’

“I’m coming! Keep your pants on!” And behold, there by the door stands my brother Vukosi and his friend Thulani.

“They are on darling.” Thulani have tried to get my attention in the past, still now he was but he was not the one for me. My heart and soul belonged to the other, and I was still grieving, and I also didn’t know when I was going to stop.

“Tsk, Thulani get your mind out of the gutters. VukosiNtwanano Fredrick Mabaso, what kind of a leader will you be if you make empty promise like that?” He scratched the back of his neck a little while avoiding eye contact. I knew that look, it meant ‘things are really bad and I needed to talk in person.’ What was really bothering him? “Thulani give us privacy, now!” I was not going to be taken for a fool or to walk in a trap set by my uncle.  Thulani left without looking at me once me, he went to the sitting room and I took that opportunity to drag Vukosi to the other room.

“Stop it, Grace. I can walk by myself, thank you very much.” I just stared at him without saying a word. “Okay, mom said dad’s not well and there is this guy that the family wants you to marry.” I felt my knees getting jelly. “Peanut! Breathe.”

“Why didn’t mom tell us in time and who the hell is that guy? Does he know about Isaac? Does he know that I will never love another man in this world?” Something like guilt flashed in his face then it past quickly, but why? What did Vukosi do?

“Dad told mom not to worry us and as for that guy, he knows everything about you two. However, you will not marry some guy who is not A-kay.” He said quickly.

“What? What do you mean who is not A-kay? He’s no longer with us. If I could, I would have ran away where no one could find us but I can’t hurt you, mom and dad like that”.

“I know but you can’t be forced to marry someone, only for you to end up living like you are in prison. Alliances or not, they won’t be built at the cost of my sister’s happiness, where she will be miserable.” He said while clenching his jaws.

“I thank God for you everyday brother.”  Tears slid down my cheeks and he wiped them off, and he just gave me a sad smile. “But not at the cost of the throne.”

“Oh peanut, that throne can mean nothing while I know that I’m sitting on it when you are somewhere eating with tear stained cheeks.” He hugged me so tightly for what seemed like eternity until Isaac’s voice came through a monitor. “Now come on, I want to see my champ.”

“I love you, Vee.”

“You are loved by me, mom dad and A… Isaac, Peanut.” I thought he was going to say a name but he didn’t, so I just shrugged it off. We spent the evening chatting, laughing and playing games, until Isaac fell asleep again around 8:00 pm. My mom used to say kids grow up while they are sleeping, maybe that was what was happening with Isaac. Thulani left after I told him that he was not on the list, he got mad at that and left, I just hoped that it won’t ruin his friendship with Vukosi. We talked about it in the past and I made it clear to my brother that I don’t like his friend in that way. He agreed and told Thulani that his sister was off limit. He allowed all the bantering but it ended there.

“Do you want to spend the night?” I asked him, he looked tired but not that much though.

“Yes. Grace, we are leaving tomorrow afternoon. I know this will be a big step for you but it’s for the best, I want you to promise me that you will lean on me when you can’t go on. Our parents need us right now and I need to quench the fire of you getting married to some stranger.”

“Thank you…. I will come to you anytime. Good night, your room is clean and ready.” We parted ways as we went to bed. After getting ready for bed, I checked on my king, he was sleeping peacefully. As soon as my head hit the pillow, all the bad memories came rushing in my head but I did my best on ignoring them. I drifted off to sleep with that toothy grin of A-kay. I just wondered  if going home was going to make me or break me?