Give Me A Reason

Chapter 4

THALENTE

"Ma oledi ngiyabuya, ngisaya emall ngiyo dopa dopa izinto nyana for la edladleni. (Mom I'm going out, I'll be back I'm just going to the mall to buy a few items for the house.)", I say kneeling in front of her.

Her eyelids flutter repeatedly as a way for her to inform me that she understood the message. I give her a kiss on the cheek before standing up and making my way out. Nokuzola, my female friend is here to take care of her while I run errands.

"Hey! So listen, I'll be back in an hour or two. I just need to take care of a few things first.", I say to her.

She smiles, "No problem lover boy. Take all the time you need."

I chuckle, "See you when I get back."

I leave the house and drive down to the only mall I know best, Westgate mall. It is always busy but I don't mind because I need the distraction any way. Business has been very slow lately and I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep it open for the next couple of months to come.

I am torn between stealing cars to make a living or robbing banks. What I do know is that the life of crime is what I was meant to do. I've tried making an honest living but that alone won't get me what I need. My mother needs special attention, one that she won't be afforded at a public hospital.

Mayenziwe has advised that I take her to a hospice, which I have considered. But the only problem with that is I can't afford a private one. Not that there is anything wrong with the public ones but I just feel like the woman who gave birth to me deserves more.

The mall isn't packed when I get there so I move around with ease. My first stop is at Dis-Chem to buy more of her adult diapers. She uses them since she can't function properly. I don't struggle in finding them so I am able to move to another store to buy food and toiletries.

Once I've finished I push the trolley to the parking lot and my phone rings forcing me to answer it and it's Nokuzola.

"Sho?", I say as soon as I answer.

"Thalente where are you?", she asks.

"Hawu, what kind of question is that? Didn't I say that I'm going somewhere?", I say unloading the items in my boot.

She scoffs, "You did but this is a serious matter. We just took your mother to the clinic since she looked a little off but when we got there, they said it's a matter that needed the hospital. So I wanted to know which hospital we should take her to. Should we take her to Baragwanath?"

When I left her, she didn't look like she was in any pain. And now all of a sudden she's...sick?

"Thalente? Are you still there?", her voice draws me in.

I clear my throat, "Yes...yes I'm still here. Take her to Tshepo Themba Private Hospital. I will meet you guys there."

"That hospital is expensive Thalente, are you sure?"

"I am sure God damn it! Get my mother to the hospital now.", I disconnect the call.

Once I'm sure I've packed all the groceries in the boot, I get into my car and drive off. The drive isn't that long so I make it to the hospital in less than thirty minutes. I don't check if the car's ignition is completely turned off as I bolt out of the car and run to the entrance.

"Where's my mother?", I ask the receptionist panting.

"Good afternoon sir. Would you please give me her name and surname so I can locate her for you?", she speaks through her nostrils.

You can just tell she's well-learned and that she went to a private school.

"Her name is-", a voice calls out to me before I can say.