The Fall: Mehlo'Amanzi

Chapter Seven : Kissed!

Vuyiswa reminded me of the Sun. The sunrise marks the beginning of a new journey. Everything seems quiet and calm when the sun hides behind the clouds. As the clouds seperate, the sun is able to shed light into nature. Nature is at its best when something in the orange promises a brighter day ahead. The mountains shielded the land of my forefathers. The view brought us closer to the sky. Sometimes, I wonder, what if the sky shows people what heaven looks like? What if the sky carries a spiritual message from another dimension of life?

'Why do you capture pictures of the sunrise?' My cousin, Bongani, always wondered.

'You look at the sky differently when your favourite person is up there,' I answered.

"She's just a pretty girl from the city who speaks English all day," - was my maternal family's first impression of me. Also, my resting face is allegedly intimidating. My cousins didn't know until the ancestoral ceremonies started, that I'm actually kinda cool. Who else would've snuck out numerous amounts of beer, stolen from the elders' stash, whose eye sights were not vivid anymore? I mean, I know I earlier said alcohol tastes like dog piss. Well... I changed my mind. Anytime is a good time to get sloshed!
There eventually came a day when Bongani had done all the chores asked of him. It was after sunset. We chased after the yellow effect into the night as we walked a distance to get to the other side of the mountain. A long journey just to get freshly baked fat cakes.

'So, is English all you ever speak?'

'Haibo, Bongani. My parents are African, you know?'

'The accent... You sound like you speak at big events at school. Do you?'

'I wish. But I do not. I'm just too shy, I guess.'

'You shouldn't be, mzala! You see, you sound like those women on Radio. The ones who speak dominantly and confidently. If I had a voice like yours, I'd never shut--'

Then Bongani fell. A bunch of kids that were walking behind us released a loud laughter.

'Mzala,' I giggled. After all, it is funny when someone trips and falls. 'Just get up already.'

But Bongani laid there. At first, I thought he was too embarrassed to ever show his face. I tried to pick him up by his arm. A loud gasp was released from my breath. My face was stained by a reaction of shock. What do I do? My clumpsy hands let Bongani's arm slip away.

'Help! Somebody, help!' I cried.

Bongani's mouth was flooded with blood. His eyeballs were rolling back. His body uncontrollably shaked. As I got on my knees to carry his upper body in my arms, he groaned; he failed to utter words. Death was written all over Bongani's face.

'Don't close your eyes, please. Don't go to sleep, okay? Stay with me,' I pleaded with him.

My anxious hands failed to carry a firm grip of Bongani. I panted. Every bone of my body began to shiver. Goosebumps all over my flesh. The last thing I ever wanted was to watch my beloved cousin exhale his last breath to death. Nothing could prepare me for this.
I remember arriving home the Monday after I had slept over Kamo's house during the weekend. It was after Vuyiswa's funeral. Mama was not home. The house was quiet. My saliva stuck on my throat. Every air I let out had suffocated me whilst it was inside. My bag slipped through my clumpsy hands. My hands were cold, all of a sudden. The burden on my shoulder weighed heavy. I could no longer carry it alone. I picked my phone up. I dialed a number.

'Phindi?' the person on the line answered. His masculine voice carried dominance and a strained, deep effect.

'Mokhele, I--' then tears poured down my cheeks. My throat brought back all my words.