SHATTERED DREAMS

CHAPTER FIVE

In the dim light of dawn, I awoke to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. My body still tense from the events of the previous night, I reached for it with trembling hands. A message from Mthandeni appeared on the screen:

"I’ve informed Mr. Sbanisethu about your request to visit your old neighborhood. He is displeased but has given his reluctant approval. I will be at the estate in an hour to escort you. Stay strong, Miss Hlelolwenkosi."

I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Mthandeni’s steady presence, even if it felt as though my world was falling apart. The thought of revisiting my old neighborhood brought a small flicker of hope. It was a part of my life where I had been free—before Sbanisethu, before the stifling expectations.

I sat up, gathering the strength to face the day. The confrontation with Sbanisethu had shaken me, but I couldn't let him see that. My decision to divorce him was firm, even though it meant severing ties with a life I had only just begun to understand. It was time to reclaim the version of myself that had been left behind.

As I showered and dressed, I thought about the last time I’d seen my friends. It felt like a lifetime ago, a time when laughter came easily, and the weight of duty hadn’t yet cast its shadow. Would they recognize me now, with all the changes I had undergone?

I tied my hair back and chose a simple white blouse and jeans—nothing that screamed “wealth” or “status.” I wanted to blend in, to feel like the Hlelolwenkosi I used to be.

When I descended the grand staircase, MaDlamini was waiting for me at the bottom, her usual warmth replaced by a cautious expression.

“Are you sure about this, Hlelolwenkosi?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re walking away from a powerful family. This could bring more trouble than you realize.”

“I’m sure, MaDlamini,” I replied, my voice steady. “I can’t live like this anymore. I deserve a life where I have control over my own choices.”

She sighed, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and resignation. “I just hope you know what you’re doing, my dear.”

“I do,” I whispered, though in my heart, doubts still lingered.

Mthandeni arrived as promised, his presence like a fortress shielding me from the uncertainty of the future. He opened the door to the sleek black car, his face impassive but his eyes betraying a hint of solidarity.

We drove in silence, the tension between us unspoken but understood. As we passed through the familiar streets of my old neighborhood, a wave of nostalgia hit me. The small, colorful houses, the children playing in the streets, the vendors selling fruits and vegetables on the sidewalks—it was all just as I remembered. Yet, I felt like a stranger in a place that had once been my home.

When we pulled up to the small park where I used to meet my friends, I saw them—Ntombi, Lebo, and Anele—sitting on a bench, laughing just like they always had. For a moment, I hesitated. Would they accept me after everything that had happened?

Mthandeni’s voice broke the silence. “Take your time, Miss. I’ll be here.”

I nodded, stepping out of the car and walking toward them. As soon as Ntombi saw me, her face lit up with surprise.

“Hlelo! Oh my God, it’s really you!” she exclaimed, jumping up to hug me.

The others followed, enveloping me in a flurry of warmth and excitement. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a sense of belonging.

“We thought you’d forgotten about us,” Lebo teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Never,” I replied, a genuine smile spreading across my face. “I’ve missed you all so much.”

We sat on the bench, catching up on each other’s lives. Ntombi had started her own small business, Lebo was engaged, and Anele had just returned from traveling. I listened to their stories, laughing along with them, but all the while, the weight of my own situation lingered in the back of my mind.

“So, what’s it like living in that big estate with Sbanisethu?” Anele asked, her tone curious but cautious.

I hesitated for a moment before answering. “It’s… complicated. Things aren’t exactly what they seem from the outside.”

Ntombi frowned, her playful expression fading. “What do you mean?”

I looked at them, my friends who had known me through all the ups and downs of my life. If anyone could understand, it would be them.

“I’m leaving him,” I said, my voice steady but quiet. “I’ve asked for a divorce.”

Their eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then Ntombi spoke.

“Hlelo, are you serious? You’re really walking away from all of that?”

“I have to,” I replied, feeling the weight of the words as I spoke them. “It’s not the life I want. I feel trapped, like I’m just a pawn in someone else’s game.”

Anele nodded slowly, her eyes soft with understanding. “It takes a lot of courage to do what you’re doing. We’re here for you, whatever you need.”

Lebo reached out and squeezed my hand. “You’ll get through this, Hlelo. You’re stronger than you think.”

Their support filled me with a sense of relief, but I knew this was just the beginning of a long, difficult road.

As the afternoon stretched on, we laughed and reminisced, the familiar comfort of their presence soothing my frayed nerves. But deep down, I knew that the storm was far from over.

When it was time to leave, I hugged each of them tightly, promising to stay in touch. Mthandeni opened the car door, and as I climbed in, I glanced back at the park, a bittersweet ache in my chest.

As we drove back to the estate, I could feel the tension building once again. Sbanisethu’s threats from the night before echoed in my mind. I knew I had defied him in a way that he would not easily forgive.

The estate loomed ahead, its grand gates opening as we approached. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever lay beyond them. The battle was far from over, but I was no longer fighting it alone.

As I stepped out of the car, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I would face Sbanisethu, his family, and all the forces trying to control my life. And I would win.

For the first time in a long while, I knew exactly who I was—and I was ready to fight for her.