SCREWED★

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I sat quietly battling with my emotions as I waited in the room.

There he was.
Standing miserably between the two police officers. He looked so pale and weak. My heart was torn into a million pieces.

He sat down, and the policeman loudly shouted
"5 minutes Ma"

I shook my head, trying to withhold the tears.

"Nakupenda, my love."

Hearing him speak broke me further, and I burst into tears.

He looked down in disappointment.
Then he placed his hands on top of mine.

"The bracelet looks really good on you, my love....."he stammered.

I smiled.

"We made a baby, Bongani, I'm two months pregnant,"

He was so surprised.
I sat watching my heavily worded man lost for words.

"This is beautiful, baby," he finally spoke.

"Zama Mweunda," That's going to be her name.

He smiled, and tears slowly fell down his face.

"I'm so sorry, baby," he stammered.

"This is not how I wanted things to end. The Screwed life I lived just wouldn't stop biting. Yes, drugs. Yes, drug, Lord. But that's not what I wanted. I moved down here to settle, to at least change my trajectory and get a life that was worthy. That's why the low job at Reece Winery. I wanted to start afresh, this time on a clean slate."

He sniffed. Looked into my eyes and continued.

"My hands are blood stained, I deserve everything happening now...."

Now even more broken, I dared to ask,
"Why, Zama?"

He grew silent.

"The rest of the guys were out to kill you. If they got you out of the picture, then things would settle.
They informed me as their boss, even though I didn't want to get involved again, I couldn't. I had grown to love you genuinely, and I couldn't watch to see you die.
That's why I took you to the island that night, to keep you safe. "

He held my hand again, " I can't watch to see you hurt.
This is all on me.
Street life, thug life...it's all on me. The blood, the deaths...its all on me.
Every single thing.....it's all on me
Baby, promise me you would live and move on. That's the best gift you could ever give to me. "

Take care of yourself and our Zama.
I know she'd grow into a smart and beautiful young woman like you.
You will always be in my heart.

The policemen ruthlessly came in.
"It's time Madam", they forcefully held Bongani up

"Always and forever, my love," his words echoed as they took him away.

"Always and forever, my Zizwe"