Cursed To Be A Stepdaughter

Chapter 19

Simamkele's pov:

I look around the holding cell I was placed in,feeling more than lonely,feeling dirty and not worthy of life. I reminisce about today,Lukhanyo kicking me out,calling me a slut and a liar. I deserved it,I guess,I killed his brother after all. I don't know whether to say I'm lucky or what,but the only other woman in here is an old woman. I haven't talked to her since I've gotten here because I'm in my own world,my head. On the other hand,she has been crying ever since. My stomach grumbles as I remember how I've not ate since yesterday. I don't even know how long I've been here

"Ulambile mtanami?(are you hungry my child?)" she asks and I bob my head up.

"Mmh?" I ask,not because I didn't hear her but it's just a natural thing. When someone you don't know talks to you,you act like you didn't hear them the first time just so you'd be sure if they were talking to you

"Are you hungry?" she asks again. She looks really old,like 60-70 type of old. Wrinkles taking over her face and her blue eyes still shining.

"Uhm..." silence reigns the cell. She takes out a little newspaper from her bra. From her bra?this woman. She gives it to me "thank you"

"So why are you here?Women like you don't belong here"

"What do you mean women like me?" I ask confused,opening the newspaper slowly for what awaits me

"Pregnant,innocent women" she says looking at me with sad eyes. My eyes divert from th newspaper with a piece of bread to her face. How did she manage to fit this into her bra?

"How do you know I'm innocent?"

"Partly because of the reason I'm here" she pauses for a while "you see my child,I was gifted with a rare gift. I can see the troubles of the future and the past. You did it to protect yourself and your daughter"

"Daughter?" my mouth hangs open after uttering those words

"You didn't know?I'm sorry for ruining the surprise for you" she responds. I bite into the bread and it has peanut butter and jam. I'm leaving my pride aside because I'm not just eating for myself

"No I knew,I'm just shocked that you knew that" I look at my lap while chewing,thinking when our next meal will be "why are you here?if you don't mind me asking"

"Ugh" she waves her hand back and forth "you know how society is. When you're gifted you're a witch. I told my neighbor that her son will die if he doesn't stop dealing with drugs and he really died a week after. Now I'm here because she told everyone else in our community that I killed her son and I'm a witch" she looks at me,tears brewing in her eyes "I'm hurt because I only wanted to help her" I stand up to sit next to her and we hug it out. She touches my belly "she's a special one" she gives me a sad smile

"Why is that?" I ask confused

"You'll have to find out on your own" silence bestows the cell again.

I'm woken up by the rattling of keys. The old woman removes her arm around me. She's been keeping me warm the whole time. I don't know whether it's the next day or what. It's dark as hell in here.

"Vuka vuka slay queen (wake up)" a male guard says. I stand up fixing myself  "asambe (let's go)" he walks me out of the cell. I wave a sad goodbye to the old woman,who has captured my heart in less than a day,or so I think. He locks the rusty gate again and I follow him through a passage. The passage leads us to the main part of the police station. I am given my suitcase and cellphone back. I look at the officer confused

"There is no evidence against you,therefore we cannot keep you here. You're wasting government resources. Please sign here"  the officer says. These people are hella disrespectful. I sign where needs be "you're free to go" she says and those are the words that changed my whole life. I thought I was about to become some inmates toy. I walk out and the first thing I check is the date and time. Indeed it is the following day and I have under 30 minutes to get to the airport. My damn battery is running low. For some odd reason,there are cabs outside this police station. I tell the driver where I want to go and off I go,heading to the airport. I'm really doing this. I'm making my dream come true. I call back Ms Williams since there were a concerning number of missed calls. She answers after a while. I can hear huffing and puffing on the other side

"Hey,sorry,I'm at the gym" she justifies

"Oh no,I'm sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to let you know that I'm on my way to the airport"

"Safe travels my angel and I'm glad you could make it this far"

"Thank you,it means a lot to me"

"Okay see you then,call when you arrive so someone could pick you up"

"Okay,bye" I hang up. When I look up my eyes are met by a series of pedestrians and cars crossing past the airport entrance. I take out the money I stole from Lukhanyo and pay the cab driver. I thank him and bid him goodbye. I walk in after taking my luggage. I feel dirty and sticky but I don't have time to feel embarrassed. I quickly spot the toilets. I walk in there like a normal person but inside I was so conflicted. I didn't know how to feel. Nervous?scared? After all my fate was in the hands of the universe. I sprinkle some water on the important parts of my body,thereafter I apply some deodorant and roll-on. I change the dress I was wearing and wear a set of grey tracksuits. I close my suitcase and walk out of the toilets. I do everything I'm supposed to,checking in and scanning my luggage.

In no time I'm in the air. I didn't book myself this ticket so I'm seated on the most uncomfortable seat,the one in the middle of the three. On both my sides are white guys and basically I look white-ish so I don't feel any discrimination. My stomach grumbles from the hunger. I rub it up and down while looking at the clouds,thinking of the life that awaits my baby and I. Yes,Lukhanyo is not the father of this child,after what he put me through with his family,I disregard him as a father. I never want to see him again. The air hostess finally comes up to our row,the two guys order for themselves and I just painfully look towards the window.

"Don't you want anything?" the guy on my right asks. I look at him and smile politely

"No,thank you"

"Isn't that bad for the baby?not eating?" he asks again. How did he know? I'm not even showing much because of these tracksuits.

"Uhm..."

"I saw you rubbing your stomach. What would you like to eat?"

"Just a simple meal,nothing much" I didn't know how I would pay for this food. I really did hope that whoever was waiting for me at the airport would pay for it

"She'll have a chicken and mayo sandwich and orange juice. Is that fine with you?" he asks looking at me. I nod slightly and the lady walks away after making sure we don't need anything else. For the first time in my life,I looked at a guy's face and he didn't look like he wanted anything in return

"I don't have any money to pay the food,that's why I didn't want any food" I whisper close to his face but covering my mouth with my hand because I didn't brush my teeth today.

"Don't worry,I'll pay for you. God tells us to not discriminate against the less fortunate. I don't know why you're here or which part of the world you're headed but I know we met for a reason"

"I don't believe in God,but since you do,I know he will bless you. Thank you" I respond

"I don't judge you for that,I also didn't believe in him before something tragic happened. So where are you headed?"

"Obviously California,to the University of California" his eyes pop out

"How? I'm sorry but their fees are high,too high"

"Bursary" I respond being open minded to the fact that everyone will ask me this from now on

"Oh I get you,you're the beauty and brains combo type of girl. Nice"

"Where are you headed?" I ask because I just found myself soaked in this guys energy

"Home. You know what they say? Home is where the heart is. I've lived in South Africa all my life but now,now more than ever I feel like I found my soulmate. So I'm moving to California to be closer to him" I'm sorry,what?now it's my turn to pop my eyes out "I'm bisexual" he smiles making me smile. He has such a nice aura "I'm Jason by the way"

"Simamkele but if you can't pronounce that,another one is Mila"

"Not because I can't pronounce Simamkele but I like Mila better,maybe because I know the meaning behind it" we shake hands and it's safe to say that I won't be bored on the rest of my time on the flight.