We're Still Human

Chapter 15: Mother Knows...I Don't Know I Ain't Rapunzel

*TRIGGER WARNING: BRIEF MENTIONS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, FEEL FREE TO SKIP CHAPTER*

You know, fairytales end when you step back into reality sometimes. And for me, my fairytale has just ended by walking through the front door.

It was a bold move to stand up to my mom, but hell, I needed my girlfriend to know that I'm not letting my mother ruin or control our relationship. Of course, my mom doesn't know that we're dating, but she knows something is up, and that's why she's marking her territory.

I wonder how she's going to react when Sanele comes out. More so if I ever do.

There's a cake on the table, with my medal beside it. My family stands, and my father is the first to hug me.

"Gold, she brought gold!" He pinches my cheek. "That's my daughter."

"Damn right she is," my mother sneers.

"Can you not?" My dad reprimands my mother as Sanele chuckles. "And you, you need to get the knife."

"Who are we gutting?"

"Hai man, just follow orders." My dad sucks his teeth together as Sanele goes to the kitchen. "Did you enjoy celebrating with your friends?"

"I did, it was everything." I grin at him.

"Who did you celebrate with?"

"Just a few friends, you know. Kendall—"

"Did she tell you how she yelled at me in front of her friend?" My mother boasts a ton of attitude with that statement.

"Mom, I said I'd be back at a reasonable time, and I'm here. You wanted to scare Kendall off!"

"Because she's going to corrupt you," my mother replies.

"Ma, Thandie just won gold, why are you doing this?" Sanele steps in for me, walking over to me with his arms crossed. "Is this really necessary?"

"Yeah, I don't understand it either," my dad chimes in. "This should be a moment to celebrate."

"Nothando."

I look away from her and focus my eyes on my big brother, who extends his hand to put on my shoulder. My dad stands by me as well, as my mom faces off with us in the middle of the living room.

"Nothando, I'm going to ask you this once, and once only," she starts. "Do you have feelings for that girl?"

"Hey!" My dad protests.

The room becomes incredibly silent, my fear more palpable than ever. Defending Kendall was always going to be a bold move, but denying her outrightly is something I could never imagine my worst enemy doing to me.

"I care about her, ma," I firmly say, my hands balling into tight fists. "I love her."

I close my eyes, awaiting a slap from my mother, but it never comes. Instead, she claps her hands once, and I open my eyes, startled by how close in proximity she has gotten to me as my eyes were shut. I look up at her, her gaze unfiltered, explaining everything I need to know about how she feels.

Betrayed.

"Do you remember Sydney?" She asks, her tone cold. Despondent.

"Ma, I—"

"Do you remember Sydney, Nothando?"

I hesitate to answer. She's putting me on the spot for a reason; to embarrass me, to show me that I'm just her trophy daughter after all, and not someone with human feelings.

This is what she does; she builds you up long enough to tear you down with one click of her fingers. Her tongue has always been the sharpest aspect of my mom's; so quick witted and disrespectful. I guess that's where I get it from sometimes.

And I'm right for wanting to change that aspect of me.

"Ma, that's enough." Sanele steps up, removing his cap. "I can't let you do this to her. You can do that to me, but I'm not going to let you do this to her."

"Do what?"

"Ma, even if she does have feelings for Kendall, can that not be the basis of your respect and admiration for your daughter?" He shakes his head. "Where's the love? You know, the one that they call unconditional?"

"Love always comes with a condition, one that Nothando hasn't really seemed to grasp yet."

"Nokutenda," my dad says to my mom. "I will not tolerate this behavior from you."

My mom clicks her tongue in defiance. "She's my daughter too."

"If I'm being honest, sometimes I wish I wasn't," I whisper.

Sanele's eyes widen, and my father turns around. I fall to the ground as my mom slaps me clean across the face, my cheek stinging from the impact. I was waiting for it, I knew tonight wouldn't end without one.

And now that I've been hit, I can say what I want freely.

"Is anything I do ever enough for you?" I whimper, tears blurring my vision as I attempt to stare at her. "Anything?"

Sanele helps me up and consoles me, embracing me tightly as I stare at my mom through tears.

"You don't want to be my daughter anymore?"

"Nokutenda, consider your words very wisely." My dad reprimands my mother again.

"When that girl breaks your heart, and trust me, she will, don't think there will be a home for you to come running back to. You want a mother? I'm not that for you."

"You never have been," I cry. "You just want to show me off to your coworkers and shit, you don't give a damn about me or Sanele! Only you, mom, only you!"

"Don't speak to me like that—"

"If you don't consider me your daughter then I'll talk to you however I want!"

"You little—"

My dad holds my mom back as I break out of Sanele's grip, storming to the kitchen and grabbing the medal. I rush up the stairs, ignoring my mother's obvious insults being hurled at me downstairs, and pack an overnight bag, ready to go and see my girlfriend.

I've had enough.

I make my way down the stairs again, not daring to look at my mother. My dad doesn't say anything, and as I walk out the door, Sanele follows me out, grabbing my arm.

"Thando, be safe out there, okay?" He says, and I drop the bag, crying again. Sanele rushes to hug me tightly, caressing my head. "Dad and I will fix this. Do not come back until I tell you to, okay? Mom won't be like this forever."

"It really sounds like she will," I mumble into his shoulder. "God, I hate this so much."

"It's okay, it'll be okay," he reassures me. I let go of him to wipe my tears. "Please text me whatever you need, I'll be here. I'm home now, Thandie, you're not alone."

I reach out for my phone and dial Kendall, giving the phone to Sanele for him to take. He speaks to her, and after a brief breakdown, he hangs up. He proceeds to give me his jacket as we walk down the pavement.

"Come on, I'll wait here with you." He sits down on the tar. "She's on her way, alright?"

I nod, sitting by him, trying to drown out the noise of my mother yelling and throwing things in the distance.