LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

08

LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

08

STHOKOZILE

Ronnie came through with her mother to see her. She was happy to see both of them.

Pam:I knew God would look out for us.

Her mother says, praying and thanking God for saving her life. She is grateful too to be alive. Although, she can't help but think about her paralysis. She looks over at Ronnie, who was awfully quiet.

"Babe," she calls out for him,but he is just staring blankly at her. Pam snaps her fingers in front of his face, and only then he gets out of his trance.

Pam:I will give you two some space.

She steps out, and Ronnie sits on the chair next to the bed.

Ronnie :I'm glad you're alive, babe. I thought I was going to lose you.

Sthoko: I couldn't leave you and our kids alone.

There's something off about him. It's like he's holding something back from her.

"Is everything okay?" she asks her, with her heart beating faintly. She was tired, must be the heavy dosages.

Ronnie: Yeah, everything is fine. I'm just glad my wife is okay, and we can go back home. The girls missed you.

Sthoko: I missed them too.

Her doctor enters the room, and greets them.

Doc: I'm glad to see my patient awake and making conversation.

She looks down at her legs and looks up to the doctor again.

Sthoko: I can't feel my legs..

Ram:I'm sorry, but you are temporarily paralyzed. It's nothing physiotherapy can't fix. Your accident wasn't that much severe, the positive thing is that it didn't leave any damage to your brain. Just bruises, and scratches. You will walk again, I promise you, Mrs Mtshali.

That seems to reassure her a bit. She would have been damned if she couldn't walk ever again.

Ronnie: Thank you doc, when can she start with that physiotherapy?

Ram: Maybe after six months, or when we are convinced she's ready.

Sthoko:Six months? That's a long time.

.

.

.

RONNIE

She is awake, and breathing. He is happy, but his mind can't shake off the cheating. Does he ask her now? Or wait until she is feeling better? She noticed something was off, because she kept asking if he was okay.

He left the hospital because he couldn't stand being in the same room as her. He may have been an alcoholic, but he has never cheated on her. Not even once. In all the 13 years they have been together, he has never looked at another woman that way. He has always had his eyes on her. He remained faithful, and respected their wedding vows. Do vows mean nothing to people anymore? He cannot imagine divorcing Sthoko, but she cheated!

Right now, he is at the local tavern, drinking his sorrows away. He is not proud of it, but he can't help it. He was prepared to be a better man for her. He was going to stop drinking, try to find a job, but he can't just let this slide. It's better Pam is at the house, so the girls have someone to watch them.

"Ngazile ukuthi le obuyizama ngeke iphele ndawo," he hears someone speaking behind him. It was Mabhiza.

Ronnie: Awuhlukane nami, Mabhiza(Leave me alone, Mabhiza)