Laced

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Nambitha Zungu

Zweli is here today. He’s here to change my bandages and dress my wounds. I don’t have a lot, the big on is on my thigh, and then it’s the bandage on my head. Muzi is leaning against the vanity watching. Zweli is talkative, I’ve gotten used to him these past few days, he’s striking up a conversation.
“Don’t look at me now being so clued up about dressing wounds, I would panic when I was in med school.” he’s a funny guy in general.
His stories are interesting, and I always get excited when he comes to visit, but today my focus is not on him, it’s on the man standing behind him. Muzi looks so out of it.
“Manzini?” he looks up.
His eyes look sunken, almost like he’s on the verge of losing consciousness. I can’t be the only one who sees this.
“Zweli he looks sick.” I tell him.
Muzi quickly snaps out of it and comes to sit next to me.
“What were you saying.” Zweli is staring at him intently.
“You look pale.” Zweli says.
“I didn’t sleep last night.” Muzi answers.
He really didn’t. He was tossing and turning the whole night. You’d expect someone who was as tired as him to sleep peacefully, but he didn’t.
“I have some calming tablets that can make you sleep.” Zweli tells him.
Muzi only nods and offers a low thank you. I look at him sideways. I’m suspicious of his behaviour, why is he looking so weak all of a sudden when he looked okay just yesterday? It’s not like he did much to tire him out like he is now. Zuzile was here this morning and she made me breakfast while he got a chance to sleep in.
Is he back on drugs?
I’m not going to question him in front of Zweli so I sit and continue to listen and laugh at his stories while he finishes up with the bandages. When he’s done, Muzi offers to walk him out, but he kindly declines, stating that he looks like he’s about to faint.
“Please ask Zuzile to come up if she’s still here.” I ask Zweli.
“Sure! Bye guys.” he makes his way out.
He’s such a pure breath of fresh air. I shift to sit comfortably and stare at Muzi. He’s still looking like he’s far in thought.
“Muzi, are you using again?” he turns his head in my direction and frowns.
“What? No.” his eyes are roaming.
He’s lying to me.
“Muzi you are lying to me. Look at me.” he looks at me.
His eyes are even sunken.
“Buka amehlo akho!” I unintentionally shout at him.
“Why are you shouting at me?” his voice is sluggish.
Before I can even answer him, and give him a piece of my mind, Zuzile walks in holding a bowl with steaming hot water.
“Sesingafelwa umutnu endlini.” okay she’s being a little dramatic.
“What’s wrong Yise?” she says closing the door.
As she draws closer, I can smell the minty flavour of the water. She comes to touch his forehead.
“I’m fine.” Muzi says.
I can’t help but shake my head. He’s not okay.
“He’s not okay Ma, look at his skin.” Zuzile visibly agrees with me because she’s shaking her head too.
“Is it flu?” I’m guessing she doesn’t know about the drug use.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about, I’m fine.” he’s so stubborn.
“Awukho right. I bought you water to steam so take off your clothes so you can steam. You’ll feel better.” she’s such a mom.
The mint is so strong, if I can smell it from here, imagine how strong it will be for him.
“Zuzile usuqalile.” Muzi is still being stubborn.
She’s not listening. She goes to take a blanket in the wardrobe, it’s the big thick one. She instructs me to help him take off his clothes, and he doesn’t look willing. I take off his t-shirt, he’s so weak he doesn’t even have the strength to fight me, and then he says he’s okay.
“Come!” Zuzile says pulling his hand.
She’s trying to make this comfortable for him. She put a pillow for him to kneel on. He’s still trying to protest, but she brings the blanket to cover his whole body.
“Ehlisa ikhanda lapho.” she reprimands.
“It’s hot in here.” he whines.
“That’s the point! Stop complaining, you’ll be okay.” they could easily be mother and son, it’s so cute.
She comes to sit on the bed with me. I still don’t know where we are, everyone refuses to tell me. But Zuzile comes here often; if not in the morning, she’s here later in the afternoon. I’m guessing it’s not too far from her house.
“What did Zweli say about your wounds? Are they healing?” she’s checking in.
“Yes, he said they are doing well. He also said I don’t have to bandage my head everyday so I can catch a break. Hopefully by next week, I’ll be walking normally again.”
“That’s very good sweetie. And then when everything is over, you are going to attend therapy right?” I wonder what gave her that crazy idea.
I don’t need therapy. I’ve been to therapy, that on its own was traumatic enough.
“No, I’m not going to therapy. I’m okay.” she frowns.
“I know you are a strong woman, and you were able to conquer the enemy, but that was a traumatic experience, you need to deal with it.”
“I can always deal with it outside of therapy. I don’t want to go back there, that place is dark and scary.” she looks at me, concern dancing on her face.
“I think you need to give it some more thought, it might be good for you. But we obviously can’t force you to go if you don’t want to.” she says ever so calmly.
Yeah, I’m not going to give it any more thought. I’m not crazy to go back there. They say wellness centre, I say hell.
Muzi is groaning under the blanket, it doesn’t sound pleasant.
“Are you okay?” Zuzile asks him.
He doesn’t answer so that prompts her to stand and uncover him. First of all, he’s soaked in sweat, secondly, his face is red like a tomato.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
He starts gagging, and before Zuzile can respond, he vomits into the dish of water. He’s definitely not okay.
Yoh Muzi!