"I am scared Siya."
I tell him as we drive through our neighborhood now a few blocks from our home and he reaches for my hand over the console and he gives it a gentle squeeze.
"I am scared to, but like before, there's nothing we haven't gotten through together."
"I know... I just... I don't know what I am going to do if we lose her too."
I tell him when the car comes to a stop and he looks at me with my hand still wrapped around in his.
"Were not going to lose her, I promise you."
He says and I give him a little nod before letting his hand go and we make it inside of the house.
The smell of all these different plants hits my nostrils as soon as we get in burnt and boiled and all the windows are closed all of them. We make our way to Nkanyezis room when we don't find anybody and we find Anele sitting on the bed with her gently caressing her hair while she lays unconscious next to her but she's breathing, she's alive that's one thing I look to find first.
Her eyes shoot up at us and she gets up from her bed when we get near her and she looks at us and I look at Nkanyezi.
"What's wrong with her Anele ?"
I ask and she sighs before she looks at Siya too and she looks at me.
"I think we need to call Bab Gwala , he can help you."
"Why can't you Anele I mean your here already."
Siya contests and she shakes her head.
"I can't intervene anymore than I have."
"Were giving you permission to help her as her parents we consent, we're asking you to intervene."
I tell her and she stares at the both of us back and forth.
"I can't."
She says and I feel the back of my eyes sting as I stare back at my baby on the bed unconscious.
"Anele I know that I went over the line with Owethu but... we need you right now, your the only person I trust to do the right thing right now."
"Even if I wanted to, I am not In the best space with them."
She explains vaguely, them being the gang underground.
"And besides, I've already asked too much of them and they don't even want me too, so me being here alone, is not something that sits right with them, especially with what ive deprived them."
"What you deprived them?"
I ask and she looks between us again and she clears her throat as her features grow scared and her eyes begin to water.
"What did you do Anele ?"
I ask and a small tear escapes her lid.
"What did you do ?"
I ask again.
"I was only trying to protect my daughter ,protect her from what this gift has cost me."
"And which is what ?"
Siya asks as he also grows a little impatient with Anele which he rarely does because I would be surprised if he didn't, this is his daughter too after all, he'd never be the same again if we lost her too.
"They wanted a vessel in which they could communicate through they wanted somebody who would bridge the gap between everybody else in the family and them, the living and the dead..."
"But that's what's Owethus always been able to do..."
I answer and she nods her head.
"But they started demanding more and they I denied them from ever getting more from her because she's only a child Siya... she's just a baby and then I had to make a decision a sacrifice in exchange for my babies freedom..."
She says as she looks at Siya and I can see the anger grow on Siyas face.
