BEING A WIFE OF A PRISONER

Chapter 75

NARRATOR

At 4am Sihle was already up and ready to start her day. She couldn’t sleep a wink after last night. Her mind couldn’t shut down and let her rest. She dragged her feet out of the bathroom after taking a shower and find Ben awake too.

Ben: Hey.

Sihle: Hi.

Ben: Did you get any sleep at all?

She shook her head and sat on the edge of the bed.

Sihle: I couldn’t.

Ben: I know. I was sleeping right next to you. How do you feel?

Her lips quivered.

Sihle: I’m between a rock and a hard place. I’m angry at her for not trusting me enough.

Her glossy eyes find his.

Sihle: She was my best friend, Benjamin.

Ben: I know baby.

Sihle: She’s like a sister from another mother.

Ben kicked off the blankets and crawled to her. Wrapping his around her, he picked her up and placed her on his lap. Sihle buried her face on his chest crying.

Sihle: I don’t know how she is now compared to what she was back then. I want to be so mad at her but that call left me torn.

Ben: She must had a reason to do what she did. Nobody just fakes their death for the fun of it.

Sihle: How do I start comforting her? Where will I start even looking for her?

Ben: She was married right?

Sihle nodded.

Ben: Start by confronting the husband. I’m sure he knows something if he also doesn’t know means that she’s running away from someone or something that’s life threatening.

She raised her head and packed his lips with her moist lip.

Sihle: Thank you. I don’t know what will do without you.

Ben smiled and kissed her lips. She broke the kiss getting off his lap.

Sihle: I think I will had over there now.

Ben: (shocked) Now? It’s not even 6 o’clock my love. You need to rest.

Sihle: I will rest when I get back.

Ben shook his head opening the covers.

Ben: No, you’re going to rest now. I’ll promise to drive you wherever you want to go when you wake up.

She sighed dropping the towel and slid under the covers. Ben got behind her and spooned her.

Sihle: I love you.

Ben: I love you too. Now sleep.

She faintly smiled closing her eyes. Hopefully she will get some sleep this time around because those words are still ringing in her head like a fresh whisper someone keeps whispering on her.

KAGISO

The intercom jolts me up from my slumber. I throw on some shorts after getting off the bed and padded downstairs barefooted. Normally I’m up and ready for the day by this time but I slept late because Junior and Sibahle. Since her father is still back in KZN I’m babysitting her for the time being, reliving the nanny from her duties.

Me: Who is it?

Voice: It’s Sihle.

I pause frown. I haven’t heard from this woman in years so you can how confused I am. I pick the remote and open the gate and march to the door to unlock it then march back on the stairs and sit on the last staircase. A knock comes through.