Umakoti Ngo Wethu

26

I was frozen in place. I couldn't move. I instantly felt small again. Everything was just a blur. I heard my name being called, but it sounded like it was so far away. Somehow, my feet started moving. I opened Nthombifuti's door and locked it behind me.

"Hey, what's going on out there? Everything just went silent." She had her back turned to me. She put her baby down and gasped when she saw me. "What's wrong? What happened?" I let out a shaky breath as a tear escaped my eyes. "She's here." She was so confused. "Who? What happened? Tell me." She came to me and wiped my tears away. "Ma. Ma is here." She still seemed confused. "Who?"
"Your mother. Our mother. She just arrived." A look of realization set on her face.

Both of us jumped at the knock on the door. Fear set in. "Jabu. I left him there. She's going to hurt him." I quickly opened the door, and MaKhumalo was standing there. "Where's Jabu?"
"He's with Thembi."
"She needs to bring him in here now. I don't know what my mother will do."
"Calm down. Here they are." I grabbed my son from and brought him in the room. He was so confused that he started crying. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you, okay?"

I held him tightly to my chest. I was scared. No. I was terrified. "Litha." I just shook my head and comforted my son. "Ma, what is she doing here? I'm not playing. You need to get her out of here." Nthombifuti and I took a seat on the bed. "I can't have that woman near my child. I can't." Jabu started settling. "Ma, please. Please." I didn't know what I was begging for, but Ma nodded and left us in there. "Are you guys okay? Can I get you anything?" Thembi asked, and I shook my head. "Okay. I'll go see what is happening and then let you guys know.

She left us alone, and we both crawled into bed like we used to. "I'm sorry, Futi. I'm the older one. I'm supposed to be protecting you not hiding in here." She shook her head. "You've done enough protecting. That woman hurt you. A lot. You're allowed to be scared. You're allowed to step back and let someone else take care of you. Look around Litha. We're not alone anymore. We've got Baba, MaKhumalo, MaRadebe, sisters, brothers, and all of the Gumede family on our side. We're loved. They love us so much that I believe you won't have to worry about protecting us ever again. You can rest my sister. This is no longer our fight alone. Okay?" I nodded. I couldn't hold back. I cried in her arms.

Nthombifuti and I stayed in her room for most of the day. "Litha, I have some bad news." MaKhumalo came to sit on the bed with us. "We're trying to get her to leave, but she refuses. She says she'll leave once she talks to you." I shook my head. "I don't want to, Ma." She nodded. "I understand."

"Nthombifuti, pack your bags." I said when ma left. "What? Why?"
"I'm leaving. So? Are you and Mbali coming with me, or are you staying here?" She thought about it but then started packing. I snuck off to my room and did the same. While everyone was arguing in the lounge, we went to the garage and got into my car. We were at my house in no time.

I didn't have a tv yet, but we watched a movie on my phone. It was already dark when they noticed we were gone. It didn't take long for them to figure out where we were. My father came begging for me to come home and talk to her. I couldn't understand how they couldn't understand why I didn't want to. Why couldn't he just kick her out and be done with it.

They had to get Jabulani to come and talk to me the next day. "So what's going on, Mamakhe? I'm hearing your family's point of view but I want to know what's going on with you."
"I want that woman gone." He nodded. "I know. This is a sensitive situation, and your father is trying to keep the peace. If you speak to her, she'll leave. If you choose not to, I understand."
"I don't want to speak to her." He just nodded.

"Litha, maybe you should." Nthombifuti joined us. "You know how she is. She won't leave until she gets what she wants. Let's just go home and get it over with." She was right. We got ourghibs and went back to the house.

"Oh, my granddaughter!" My mother said, putting her hands out for the baby. "Don't you dare touch my child. I will break your hands." I had never heard Nthombifuti sound so terrifying. It even scared me. "Okay, fine. It's your child, I guess." Nthombifuti just looked at her disgusted and walked away.

My mother asked for us to talk in private. I didn't want to, but I knew I had to so she could leave us alone. "You move fast, don't you? You got yourself pregnant again and trapped that woman's husband. You have no shame. Sies. You and your sister are just bicycles taking turns to have babies. What is wrong with you?"

I didn't even react. I was used to it. It was like I was falling back into my old routine. She did everything in her power to break me down, and I would have to stand there and take. If I made a sound or shed a tear, she would beat me.

"Anyway, you did good, my child. I heard your husband has money. So, you should follow in your big sister's footsteps and provide for your mother. I'll be expecting an allowance every month. On top of that, if he has any events or parties going on,  I want to be on the guest list, and you better buy my clothes as well as get my hair and makeup done. Everything will be fine as long as you keep on popping out babies. If you keep giving your husband sons, you can keep sending mummy money."

I snapped out of my trance. "I'm not giving you anything. You're an evil woman!" I felt a hot slap on my cheek. "Did you just hit me?!"
"Yes, and if you weren't pregnant, I would've beat you until you bled! I've done it before and I'll do it again!"