INCLINATION

CHAPTER 53 | Don't Give Up

EMIHLE.

The smell of something burning is what wakes me up. I quickly sit up from the bed and look around the bedroom panicking that the house is on fire but it's not. There's no smoke or any that I can see. I get up, head to the bathroom to relieve myself. When I walk out after a while, the bedroom door is unlocked. The door is left open.

I look at it for a while hesitating then decide to walk out. I slowly walk and the moment I descend the stairs, the smell of burnt food is what greets me. What did Walter of Blessing burn now? I head to the kitchen and I'm surprised to find Hlanga standing next to the stove looking at whatever he burnt.

I pass him, open the fridge and take the juice inside. I pour myself a glass then as I'm about to walk back out again but he stops me.
" I'm sorry I locked you up. I panicked and I couldn't let you leave. Emy, I know you need space but please don't leave me."
I look at him, look at where his hands are then back at him. We have a staring contest until he decides to let go of me.

" You can do all the healing you want here, you don't have to go to your grandparents' farm. I'll stay out of your way, I promise."
" What did I do to deserve what you're doing to me?"
" You did nothing, I'm the one who has messed up so much, I don't even know where to start. Emy, I can't do this thing without you"
" Why are you treating me like I'm a prisoner?"
" I panicked….I'm scared. I'm scared of losing you"

" I'm going to go upstairs, get my bags then walk out of this house. You will not stop me and if you try to do what you did, I won't stop you but I want you to know this, I will do everything in my power to make sure that you never see this child I'm carrying. I will raise it alone and with the help of my family and they will never know that you ever existed. Do you understand Hlanga?"

" You can't use our child and punish me for what I did. If you leave this house, how am I going to be there for you when you get sick and…"
" I managed just fine when you were halfway across the world. You weren't there when I needed you and you think I will need you now? No, I don't. I'll be just fine without you"

" You have every right to be angry at me and hate me but please Emy, don't leave us"
" Who's us? Aya is my son and wherever I go, he goes with me."
" But he's going to want to know why you're moving out"
" He's in the middle of exams so I won't tell him because I want him to focus on them only, but as soon as they are done. You are going to tell him what you did to our family and watch him as his heart breaks because of you. You are going to have to live with what you did to our family."

" This might make him hate me, lose him"
" You should have thought about that. He's not going to hate you but be very disappointed and maybe lose some little respect for you. You will have to deal with that"
I leave him with that and go upstairs. He follows me.

" Are you really going to your grandparents farm?"
" Give me my phone, I need to call Aya" I put on my slippers then walk out and head to Aya's bedroom. I take out his suitcases then begin to pack his clothes.
" So you're really leaving me and taking our son"
I really don't want to talk to this man. I wish he would leave me alone and let me pack in peace.

I ignore him, pack whatever I think Aya will need while he's standing on the door watching me. When I'm done, I zip the traveling bags.
" My phone Hlanga, we need to leave before it gets dark"
Right at that moment, Aya walks in looking tired.
" Dad, mom…" he looks at us as he walks in then sees his bags. " Are we going somewhere?"

" Yes we are my love. Remember that talk we had about me moving out and you'll have to live half of the week with me and the other with your father?"
He stands next to me. He looks at his father then me. I think he can sense the tension between us. " Yeah, I do but ma, we haven't found the house yet"
" I wanted to surprise you with this before I went to the hospital. I bought the house that you really loved. The one with the huge backyard. You kept talking about how many cricket games you are going to play with your friends and turn the basement into a man cave….."