Azalea The Queen

Azalea

My head turned from the baby in my arms to my sister so fast I almost snapped my neck. I must've imagined it, there was no way I heard Azola say that. But as my eyes made contact with her face, I knew that she had said it and I wasn't imagining anything.

"Azola, what do you mean, 'I can keep her' Why would you say something like that? This is your baby." I nearly yelled at her when I saw the indifference in her features. "Azola, have you gone mad?" I whispered the words to her because the baby was starting to get cranky, oh but she heard me.

"I do not want her, you seem to love her, so keep her." With more words coming out of her mouth I was convinced that my sister was crazy. I put the baby in the cot.

"I'll be outside when you need me." My husband said as he gave me a slight smile and exited the ward.

I got closer to my sister's bed and took her hand in mine. She looked far away like her mind wasn't even thinking straight. I sighed. "Zola, talk to me mntaka ma, what's going on?"

My mother's child

"I don't want it!" She almost yelled as she glared at me. "You can sell it or throw it away for all I care, I don't want his child!" She looked furious. She couldn't even look at the baby. Her baby. I looked at my sister, feeling my eyes burning from the tears that wanted to escape.

"Azola-" I was cut short by my sister's sobs as her body vibrated from the crying. I immediately pulled her closer to my chest and let her cry. "Nxese sisi, let it all out." I rubbed circles on her back, and after what felt like minutes, Azola pulled back from me and wiped her face clean of any tears.

I'm sorry sister

"I- I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, I shouldn't-" I took her hand in mine again. I shook my head at her, it was my way of letting her know that I understood, she needn't say a word to me. "Can I see her?" A different tone took over my sister as her eyes glided over to the small cot where her little angel lay.

Feeling giddy again as I did when I saw the baby for the first time, I rushed to the cot and took the delicate soul in my arms. Careful not to drop her, I slowly handed her to her mother before she could refuse again. Azola shakily took her child from me in her arms.

Without saying anything, she just stared at her baby and played with her tiny hands.

"What are you gonna name her?" I was so curious because I knew partially I wanted to name the baby as well.

"Everything happened so fast that I didn't even have the time to think of a name for her." Without looking at me she replied. That feeling of helplessness for my sister returned again. I sighed.

"You don't have to name her now, take your time," I said. She nodded, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

***

"Okay, careful." I was acting like an overprotective mother as I guided my sister to her room. Samkelo had called home and told them all about our arrival a few hours ago as we waited for the doctor to examine and discharge the mother and baby.

Upon our arrival, everything was ready, one of the maids cleaned one of the rooms and made it comfortable enough for the new mom. Azola sat down with a grunt. I fixed the pillows so that she was resting against the headboard. One of the appointed maids put the baby in the mother's hands.

"You still remember how to breastfeed her?" Before we left the hospital, the nurse had told Azola that the child needed to be breastfed so she could be well nourished. Baby girl immediately latched to the nipple, the minute her mother took her breast out.

"Easy there tiger," Azola chuckled as she looked at her daughter with admiration. "This hurts like hell." She winced, but the small smile on her face couldn't be missed. As much as it hurt her, she enjoyed it nonetheless.

"Well, new mom, I have to go freshen up. I'll be back to check on you and the baby after." I told her. She smiled up at me and nodded.

Before I could reach the door, Azola's voice stopped me.

"Thank you, Sisi." I turned to her and gave her a hearty smile. I was just glad that my sister was safe and the baby was safe as well.

***

I breathed out the stress of the day on my husband as he held me in his arms under the warm water of our shower. It felt good. Being in his arms after a long day was like falling into a piece of cotton candy.

"Sthandwa sam," I hummed a reply in return. "I'm proud of you, you did something amazing today. From helping your sister out in that situation, you amaze me every single day." I swear my heart could be heard by the whole of Africa. I smiled against his wet chest before raising my head to look up at Samkelo.

"Ngiyabonga, even though anyone else in my position could've done what I did for their sister." He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. My eyes shut on their own accord, welcoming the all-too-familiar feeling I get when I'm in his embrace. I loved this man.