The Arrangement

I'm gone

Zandile

All it took was one bloody file to go missing and all hell broke loose. These men have been up and down, trying to track down a brother/uncle/grandfather who just disappeared into thin air. I've been cooped up in this room from the moment I woke up.

I took a bath and wore a maxi dress with thin straps so that I can feed my baby. I've already bathed and fed him and now he's asleep. I had my suitcase on the bed. I decided to take advantage of the fact that these men are in such a panic, Siyaxola hasn't come to the bedroom since.

Just as I finished packing my baby bag, he walked in. He stopped for a moment when he laid eyes on the packed bags, shook his head and sighed then proceeded to pick Sabelo up. He fussed before settling in his father's arms who hushed him, placing a kiss on his forehead.

"You really are leaving me." He chuckled but it wasn't a light one. "I'm not about to feel like the other woman. I've already had to compete for your love from day one."

"What other woman Zandile? When has there ever been another woman?"

"So you are going to act oblivious?"

"Zandile *sigh* I don't know what uou want anymore. Ungihlulile." He sat on the bed, playing with our baby. "You can't even say it!" I explode, him giving in so quickly being the match to my bomb. "Ufuna ngithini?!" He asks in a cold tone, startling both the baby and me. Sabelo cries at the sudden burst.

"Give him to me" my instincts overpowering me. "Chaa. He is my child too. Leave him." He hushed the crying baby. "Xola-"

"You want a divorce?" My heart drops. I didn't think Michaelson would inform him. "Xola-"

"Its fine.  You have given up on us so why should I bother fighting? I'll sign those papers of yours." My heart slowly unclenches. "Thank you" I say, sitting on the bed.

"But my son stays." He says, walking out with Sabeloskababakhe.  "Xola no!" I immediately stood up and walked behind him. I called after him but he ignored me. "Xola don't take him away from me please!" He wouldn't stop.

Not until we got to the living room where Siyabonga and their parents were seated at. "What is going on?" Baba asked, I could see the frown lines on his forehead as he spoke. "Zandile has decided that she no longer loves me and wants to walk out." Their attention was on me.

"Is this true?" Their mother asked me. "Yebo ma. I feel like the love isn't there anymore." I explain.

"Mmmmm. Manje usalindeni? Hamba sisi. (So what exactly is it that you are waiting for? Leave miss.)" She said.

"May I please have my son Xola?" I turned to him, tears at the verge of falling. "He is mine too and he should stay with his family. What exactly are you going back to? Your abusive aunt and drunkard of an uncle in that RDP house? I will not let my son live in such conditions. "

"Siyaxola please.  You can take it all but not my baby. Please " I begged, tears flowing out of my eyes and down my cheeks. "Let her have him Siyaxola.  She is right. A mother needs her child and the child need his mother." I turned in surprise at the words uttered by Mrs Xhakaza Senior.

Siyaxola handed my son to me before kissing his little forehead. His scent engulfed us. "Take care of my son Za-zah" he squeezed my arm gently before letting us go. He walked out of the house. I stood there in silence. "Haai sisi hamba. Liyoze likushiye ibhanoyi.  (No miss go. You might miss your flight.)" Mrs Xhakaza senior said.

I got out of my trance and rushed back upstairs. I got my bags ready and secured Sabeloskababakhe safely in the baby carrier.  I rolled my bags downstairs. "Nisaleni kahle" I said before walking out. I knew that I'd have security escorts because this house was situated on private property that was 3 hours away from civilization.  And I was correct.

One of the guards took my bags and placed them in the boot of the car as another opened the door for me. I looked back one last time before entering the black car. We soon rolled out of the compound and it was hidden by trees as we drove further and further away.

I looked down at my hands, specifically my ring finger which no longer had the 15 carat gold ring on it. I felt a heavy weight settling in my chest as I mourned my failed marriage. When we got into town, I decided to pass by the hospital. "I'll be back just now." The guard nodded to me. I walked into the hospital, going straight to her room.

"Hey," I greeted, opening the door. She turned to me,"Oh hi Sis Zandile" she shifted, well more like struggled to shift, into an upward posture.  "What brings you by? Oh my, is that your little munchkin? May I please see him" she looked happy to see us.

"I'm sorry I didn't come with any goodies. I know how bad hospital food is." I say as I ubclip the baby carrier. I place the sleeping baby on her lap. "Its okay. The Dr said I'm leaving tomorrow." She said as she brushed his cheek.

"That's good" I nod. "Yeah, I miss my children so much." She says, a distant look in her eyes. "I'm leaving." I decide to say. "Oh, why? I thought we are in danger or something." She says confused

"That may be true but I can't be here anymore."

"I understand. I am leaving tomorrow too, well I plan on leaving."

"Good luck." We sit in silence. "So where are you going from here?"

"My home. I hope I still have one though. It's been so long since I've been there."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you." Sje says confidently. "Yeah...did you know that Siyaxola loves you?"

"What! No he doesn't. " She shook her head. "He does.  That's why I'm leaving. " she immediately grabbed onto my hand. "Do not leave because of me. If anything, I should be the one to leave. I just arrived and I've ready created such a stir." She says.

"That may be true but take it as, you became the one to wipe our eyes see what is actually going on and not the fantasy we've been sold."

"What?"

"Yes. Let me get going. I cannot miss my flight."

"Oh sure. Travel safe." She said to me. I pick my son up from her lap and secure him in the carrier. We walk out a drive to the airport.

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Sinothando (Crystal)

The sudden revelation about Bhut'Xola loving me shook me to my core and that Sis'Zandile is leaving was the icing on top. When she left I pressed the red button on the side of the bed. I kept pressing it until the nurse came in.

"Que? (What?)"

"I want to leave this hospital." I say moving my legs to the one side.

"No puede darse de alta señorita. Iré a buscar al Dr. (You cannot discharge yourself miss. I'll go get the doctor)" I just stared at her. "I'm sorry, I don't understand" I say

"I say, you cannot discharge yourself. I'll go get Dr Santiago" she walks out before I could even say a word. "Wait!" I call after her.

Within a fee minutes, Dr Santiago and the nurse walked back in. "How is my patient feeling?"

"Home sick. When can I leave?"

"As soon as we get clearance from my superior." He says. "What? Then get clearance please." He nods and they walk out. I see their figures behind the door talking in hushed voices. They walk away in separate directions.

I spend about an hour and a half an hour sitting on the hospital bed, waiting for the clearance from the so called supervisor.  The door opens just as I'm thinking about taking a nap. "Ufuna ntoni apha? (What the hell are you doing here?)"

"I'm taking you home." Siyabonga says

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