PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

65

                                

     

The mood at the hospital was sombre and Kgomotso couldn’t run away from the truth anymore, Kamo died on the operating table because her injuries were too severe and knowing that didn’t reduce Kgomotso to tears because grief was waiting to swallow her at any sign of a break down.
     
The doctor assured them how much they tried to save her and that meant nothing to Kgomotso because it didn’t change the fact that her sister was lying in a mortuary, there was now a funeral to plan and Khanya was a motherless child. Sello was grief-stricken, she would feel sorry for him if only he didn’t treat her like public enemy #1, and it didn’t look like Prudence was prepared to tend to his broken heart.
     
Lwazi made it out of the wreck with a few scratches, bruised ribs and a broken leg but no harm came to Khanya something the doctors deemed a miracle of Biblical proportions. Lwazi was still in surgery when they arrived and no one had the courage to break the news about Kamo after he regained consciousness. Senzo Buthelezi threw his weight around like the fat-cat he was and the hateful aunt already claimed Khanya as her own, but Kgomotso was ready to roll up her sleeves and fight to keep her niece.  
     
There was a lot of suspicion about the accident because of various reports from witnesses at the scene, stating Lwazi didn’t stop at the red light. The police were investigating and Senzo’s powerful connections would help him find the truth before the second coming of Jesus and get justice for his son.     
     
Kgomotso stayed in the paediatric ward since her arrival and had no plans to leave because the doctor wanted to keep Khanya for overnight observation in case there were unexpected changes. Ausi Daphne was there, holding her hand and praying every hour like God only listened to her and nobody else, Jerry couldn’t stay because he didn’t trust anyone to take care of his chickens.
     
Anesu walked in with his shoulders slumped and worn-out from dealing with the media, once the news broke journalists came running to get the first scoop. It was the last thing he wanted to do but Senzo chose him because of his cool head.
     
He sat down and held Kgomotso’s hand, people grieved differently but he was worried that her lack of reaction would lead to a nervous breakdown at a later stage and potentially affect the pregnancy. To watch her go through that again would kill him.
     
He gently traced her knuckles with his thumb, hoping she’d crack her walls and let him in. “Baby?”
     
“I already told Tinashe I’m not leaving.”
     
“It’s getting late,” he said, checking his watch to emphasize his point.     
     
It was 1am and already late, whatever he had to say wasn’t going to change her mind because she wasn’t leaving even though these chairs didn’t make good beds.
     
Defiance sparked in her eyes and had her lips set in a stubborn line. “Unless you’re planning to drag me out of here, I’m not leaving.”
     
“You need to rest, Kgomotso, we’ve been here for almost the whole day and you refused to eat?” He looked at her with pleading eyes.
     
“And who will look after Khanya if I leave? Lwazi’s aunt is already circling like a vulture, waiting for her chance to get in on the action, and I can’t break the promise I made to Kamo.”
    
“You don’t have to worry about that because I’ll look out for her and Tinashe will take you and your mother home.”
     
Why did it have to be Tinashe? Their interactions were always awkward, something ausi Daphne would quickly notice.
     
“Yho! Hai, Anesu.” She shook her head.
     
“I agree with Anesu, you need to rest, Manana.” That was ausi Daphne adding her two cents.
     
She sighed, feeling guilty about doing what he asked because it didn’t feel right leaving Khanya alone so soon after losing her mother. It was still hard to believe that she’d never see Kamo again, talk to her or hear her prissy laugh, which sometimes annoyed Kgomotso especially after a few bottles of wine. And she couldn’t stop thinking about Kamo’s final moments in that car as she stared death in the face, was she scared? Would Khanya remember the accident and live with that trauma forever?
     
It was a lot to think about and not only was the stress giving her a headache but it wasn’t good for her baby, she’d never forgive herself if anything happened this time around.
     
“Okay, I’ll go but you better call me if anything happens, Anesu.”
     
“I will.” He expelled a lengthy sigh, making sure she was taken care of would give him peace of mind because he needed to get his head straight since Senzo wanted him to tell Lwazi about Kamo’s passing and he didn’t take kindly to people telling him no.
     
He helped Kgomotso out of the chair and took off his jacket for her to wear. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
     
“Okay.” The cold touch of his lips sent a shiver of pleasure coursing through her body.
     
They were almost at the car when someone came running towards them, calling out Kgomotso’s name, she recognized the voice but Tinashe had already pulled her out of sight, using his body as a shield.
     
Who knew he had such fast reflexes?
     
“Hey wena, silima, who are you?” asked Tinashe, his tone was already confrontational but that didn’t surprise Kgomotso because he was naturally rude and unapologetic about it. She still remembered the day they first met very well.
     
“I, I’m Churchill, Kgomotso’s lawyer.”
     
It didn’t look like he’d fight back if Tinashe decided to throw the first punch and mess up his pretty face, his survival instincts were non-existent and he definitely wasn’t an alpha male so what Kamo saw in him was a big mystery.
     
Bathong! Was Churchill a stalker now?
     
“What is your lawyer doing here?” asked ausi Daphne, curious enough to keep her voice low.
     
“I don’t know.”
     
It wasn’t wise of Churchill to show up here and ambush her like this, if anyone got wind of Kamo’s supposed love triangle, that would be the lasting memory everyone had of her and Kgomotso couldn’t let that happen.
     
“What do you want from Kgomotso at this hour?”
     
She resented the insinuation behind his question, it showed that he believed she was capable of two timing Anesu.
     
“Just 5minutes to talk.” Churchill sounded desperate enough to start begging if the answer was anything but yes.
     
“Do you know him?” Tinashe asked, looking at her like a protective older brother would in this situation.
     
“Yes, he’s my lawyer.”
     
“You only have 2minutes,” he said, before taking ausi Daphne to the car.
     
One look at him and it was obvious he’d been crying, and the whiskey on his breath was easy to detect. The top button of his shirt was undone and his tie loosened, the freezing temperature had him shaking under his suit.
     
“Is it true?” He dropped his gaze, running away from the truth in her eyes.
     
“You shouldn’t have come here, Churchill. Do you know how much trouble you’d cause if Lwazi’s family heard about this?”
     
He sighed, shaking his head. “Just tell me, is she really gone?”
     
“Yes, it’s true. She’s gone.”
     
To hear those words coming from her mouth was surreal, if only it was a nightmare and she’d wake up when it was over to find Kamo alive and well.
     
“I need to see her.”
     
“Never, because that’s just madness, Churchill. Wa gafa wena straight.”
     
“I loved her so I deserve to say goodbye.” He insisted.
     
“What you’re doing is not right, just let us grief in peace and stop being selfish.”
     
It was regret but he didn’t blame Kgomotso for thinking the latter, he didn’t know what he had until he lost Kamo and never stopped trying to win her back but learning about her death meant he lost the opportunity at true love forever. 
     
“Please, Kgomotso, I feel so lost right now. I don’t know what to do.”
     
Tinashe stopped his car beside them and lowered the window. “Your two minutes is up.”
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