Zamageda his heart

chapter 3 'or is it?'

As soon as I drive away, I call Lihle and excitedly recount every detail of my encounter with Zipho. We squeal with delight, letting our inner 'delulu' selves run wild as we dissect every moment. We agree to knock off early tomorrow to pick out an outfit and do my makeup, because, let's be real, I haven't been in the dating scene for two whole years! The excitement and anxiety are palpable.

After arriving home, I freshen up, warm up my food, and settle in with a cold Savanna to balance it out. I dive into the details of my first case, jotting down the initial steps I need to take before heading out into the field. I also decide to bring a student on board to share the workload.Later, I call my mother for a quick catch-up and to wish my daughter a good night's sleep. Though she doesn't really care, I still make an effort to connect with her. By 10 pm, I wrap up my work and head to bed.

My alarm wakes me up, and I get ready for work by touching up my haircut and dressing in a crisp, formal outfit: a white shirt, navy tunic,  and black formal shoes. I arrive at the office, expecting to see Liz and Lihle engaged in their usual morning gossip, but instead, I'm surprised to find Amanda from HR sitting at the reception desk. I wave and walk past her, assuming Liz and Lihle are either grabbing coffee or setting up the boardroom, as they're never late.I settle into my workspace and begin tackling my tasks, leaving a sticky note for Lihle to request a student assistant from HR, preferably a third-year student, though I'm not particular about the university, given our limited options.

I become engrossed in my work until hunger strikes, reminding me that I haven't seen Lihle all morning. It's already 10 am, so I walk out to her desk, only to find it empty and her bag missing. This can only mean she didn't come in at all. I head to grab something to eat, still finding Amanda at the front desk. I greet her and ask about the whereabouts of her usual gossip partners, Liz and Lihle. She shrugs, telling me she hasn't spoken to any of them since last night.A faint pang of fear creeps in, but I brush it off, reasoning that they would surely inform me if anything were amiss. Still, the uncertainty lingers, and I can't shake off the feeling that something might be off

t's now 12 pm, and despite numerous attempts, I still can't reach Liz or Lihle. Growing increasingly concerned, I decide to check their locations using Find My Phone. The app reveals that Lihle's phone was last active at Lenmed Hospital, just a short drive from their complex. I try calling Graig again, but there's no answer. With a sense of foreboding, I inform HR and head to the hospital.The drive is nerve-wracking, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The possibility that something terrible has happened to not one, but both of my friends, is almost too much to bear. They're not just my colleagues; they're my little family, my support system. I'm terrified of what I might find at the hospital.

I park my car and rush to the reception desk, anxiously inquiring about Lihle and Liz. The receptionist's response brings a mix of emotions: relief that Liz isn't admitted, but concern that she hasn't contacted me. However, my attention is immediately diverted to Lihle's status. I make my way to the waiting room, where I find Graig looking like a shadow of his former self. The past few hours have taken a toll on him, etching deep lines of worry and fatigue on his face.As I approach him, my mind spirals into a daze, flooded with worst-case scenarios. I tap his shoulder, and he turns to me with eyes that scream pain and sorrow. The energy around him is heavy, weighed down by the crushing grief of losing a loved one. It's as if the air is thick with despair, making it hard to breathe. The silence between us is deafening, punctuated only by the unspoken fear of what's to come

Graig envelops me in a bone-crushing hug, unleashing a gut-wrenching sob that shakes his entire body. My heart shatters for him, and I'm rendered speechless, unable to ask what happened. I hold him, letting him pour out his grief, as the weight of his pain becomes almost unbearable.When he finally composes himself, he delivers the devastating news: the girls were involved in a car crash on their way to work. Lihle has been in surgery since arrival, but... Liz didn't make it. The words hang in the air like a challenge, refusing to be absorbed. I struggle to process the loss, my mind rebelling against the harsh reality.Graig continues, his voice cracking, that someone needs to identify Liz's body, but he's been too distraught to call anyone. The burden of this task settles upon me, and I feel the gravity of the situation sinking inAt this moment, shock overwhelms me, accompanied by a tidal wave of emotions: denial, grief, anger, and disbelief. But I quickly compose myself, recognizing the weight of responsibility that now rests on my shoulders. With a sense of determination, I slowly walk to my car and dial Zenande's number, Lihle's older sister. I recount everything Graig told me, asking her to break the news to their parents.But my mind refuses to accept the reality of Liz's passing. I convince myself that there must be a mistake, that Liz is still alive. With a glimmer of hope, I drive to the police station, determined to confirm that my friend is indeed alive, and that the person they have is not her. I need to see it with my own eyes, to believe it.