𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠|𝟏𝟖+

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

"Minnie" Ona calls out and I look up. "You can't be sitting on the floor, you'll catch a cold" I look away from her. "The babies are already in bed, you also need to sleep" She informs me.

It's been a year since Samkelo's passing and we found out who why he was killed today. "Minentle please" She sighs. "I was the one who was supposed to die Ona" I mutter. "O bua ka eng?" She frowns.

"The bullet that shot Samkelo... It was meant for me" I choke out. He knew that someone was watching us, the missing gun explains it all. I was the target, I was the one who was supposed to get shot. He took the bullet for me...

"Ha-eh, you've already suffered enough, I won't let you blame yourself for his death" She helps me up from the floor. "What if his family blames me for his death?" I express. "Then they'll have me to deal with, I'm not scared of them" She rolls her eyes. "Let's get you to bed"

"I'm not a child Ona, go sleep. You must be tired" I offer. "Me, sleep? Nna I'm going out" She walks towards the door, waving and exiting.

*
"Mama, where are we?" Khanya looks around the place. "We're in KZN" I answer her. "k- What?" Luzuko squints his eyes in anticipation. "It's KZN baby" I correct him. "Lovie and Mkhulu's other house is here" Liya states and I nod in response.

I park my car on the driveway, and unbuckle their seatbelts. I help them out of the car and towards the house. I ring the doorbell and Sima opens it a few moments later. "Hey" She beams and let's us in. "Hi Aunty Sima" Luzuko pulls up his hands, motioning for Sima to carry him.

We walks into the house with Khanya talking our ears off. "Sima, u-" Ma'Lwethu stops talking when she sees us. "Lovie!" Khanya shouts, literally running into her arms. "I'm so glad you're finally here, Sima has been waiting all night"

"Me? You're the one who's been checking the driveway every thirty minutes" Sima scowls making Ma'Lwethu glare at her. "Minentle, Unjani sisi?" She turns to me. "I'm good and yourself?". "I'm great now that you're here" I smile in response.

"Would you mind if I left them here for a few hours? I need to go get a few things from the store" I suddenly ask. "You don't have to ask, go ahead" She dismisses and I nod, kneeling down to Liyema's level.

"I'll be right back okay? Take care of your siblings" He's the responsible one here. "Okay" He mutters and I peck his cheeks. I stand up, doing the same with Liyakhanya and Luzuko before heading out to my car. I get in and drive to the pavilion shopping mall.

I head to Woolworths and buy groceries for the week and a two bouquet of flowers before going back to my car and driving to the estate I'll be staying in for the week. I unpack the groceries and change into a much more comfortable outfit.

I take a nap and find myself waking up around nine. It's too late to drive back right now. I pull out my phone calling Ma'Lwethu, she answers on the fourth ring. "Hello?" She answers.

"Hi, Mah. I was wondering if the triplets could stay over tonight, It's really late and I don't feel like driving" The mansion is a bit far from here and the road is not a pleasant one to drive on during this time of the night.

"They're more than welcome, do you want to talk to them?" She proposes. "Please" I add and she chuckles. "Mama" It's Luzuko. "Hey baby, are you still okay?" I get up, putting on my slippers. "Never better"

I laugh at his answer. "That's good to hear, can you give your sister the phone?". "Okay... I love you" He adds. "I love you more" I hear shuffling in the background. "Mama" My smile brightens. "Hey Sunshine"

"Can we stay with Lovie tonight?". "Of course, but I'll come fetch you tommorow, it's not up for any discussions Liyakhanya" I know how she can be. "Okay" She mutters. "I love you, can you give your brother the phone?". "I love you too" She days before calling out for Liyema.

"Mama" Liyema says, I can already see the scowl on his face. "Stop frowning" I immediately say. "I am not frowning" He defends. "Liyema" I warn. "Minentle" Minentle? "Heyi wena, Minentle ke mang?". "Sorry"

"Are you still coming to fetch us?" He anticipates. "I'll come fetch you tommorow, Is that okay with you?" I bite the inside of my cheek. "Yeah... Can you please bring my lollipops with you?"

"Are you still having nightmares?" I ask, concerned. "They started yesterday" He mutters. "Liyema... Should I come fetch you?" I starts searching for my keys. "No, I'm fine. I promise". "O-kay. Call me and I'll come fetch you, okay?"

"Okay, I love you" I stop worrying. "I love you too. Give the phone back to Lovie" He mutters a small wait before he calls out for her. "Minentle" She takes the phone from him. "Thank you, I'll come and fetch them tommorow evening". "We'll be expecting you"

With that we say our goodbyes and hang up. I make myself something to eat and have a few glasses of wine before passing out on the couch, falling into deep slumber.

*

I wince, opening my eyes and dragging my feet back into my room. I take a long well deserved bath to soothe my aching muscles before getting dressed into an appropriate outfit.

I woke up feeling a bit sour today so anything just pisses me off at the moment. I sigh, tieing my hair down into a low ponytail and wrapping my scarf around my hair.

I grab my purse, keys and the flowers I got yesterday. I get into my car, driving off. I reach the graveyard and drive a little further until I reach the private grave site. I park my car and take in deep breaths before opening the door and grabbing the flowers from the passanger seat.

I contemplate with myself before finally making up my mind and walking towards the entrance. I shakily, pass by the security guarding the gate- yes they have their own security, at a grave site, when I said they were rich, they are rich rich.

I walk a little further tightly clutching onto the flowers. I stop by the familiar graves, I place the flowers near the multiple ones resting there. I turn to the one near it 'Siphephelo Nkosikhona Zungu' I place the other flowers there before turning back to Samkelo's grave.

I don't know how many times I've been here but I haven't been able to utter a word... Until today. "Hey" I blink my tears away. "I can't believe you've been gone for a year now" I mutter, feeling my lip quivering. "And it's all my fault" I add.

"I am the one that's supposed to be lying there, I'm the one that was supposed to get shot Samkelo." I breathe out. "I miss you, I miss you so much that it hurts and being the reason behind it hurts even more... I'm sorry"

I sadly smile. "They look more like you every single day, mostly Liyema and it's scary" I say the last part to myself. "I love you Samkelo, I always will. I'll find whoever did this and I'll make them pay, I promise I'll make them pay"

I spend a few more minutes there before heading back to my car and driving back to the estate with tears pooling at my eyes. I park my car, shuffling with the keys and I get int, slamming the door shut.

I slip off my pumps and get into bed, curling up into a little ball, crying my lungs out.