SHATTERED DREAMS

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I stepped out of the car, my eyes sweeping over the familiar surroundings of Sbanisethu’s family home. The warmth of the air wrapped around me, and the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of the flowers I used to tend in the garden. This place held so many memories, but everything felt different now. I felt different.

As I approached the grand front door, it swung open before I could even knock. MaDlamini stood there, smiling widely, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I was greeted with warmth rather than the tension that had lingered between us for so long.

“Hlelo!” MaDlamini exclaimed, pulling me into a tight embrace. I hadn’t expected that. Her arms around me were comforting, but they also reminded me of why I had stayed away for so long.

“I’ve missed you, Ma,” I whispered, leaning into the hug. It felt good, but I couldn’t shake the uneasiness bubbling beneath the surface.

She stepped back and looked me over with that same critical yet affectionate eye. “You’ve lost weight, child. We’ll need to fix that. Come inside, let’s get you something to eat.”

I smiled, but the knot in my stomach only tightened. Sbanisethu was behind her, smiling too, though he kept his distance. It felt like he was letting his mother take the lead, as if unsure of his own place in this reunion. I followed MaDlamini into the house, where the familiar faces of the staff greeted me with smiles and eager words. Their warmth helped ease the tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying.

As we moved further into the house, I heard the soft approach of footsteps. Mrs. Khumalo, the senior staff member, came forward with a smile that reached her eyes. She had always treated me with respect, something I valued more than I could say.

“Welcome home, sisi,” she said warmly. “It’s good to have you back.”

I nodded, grateful for her words. For a moment, it felt like I was slipping back into the life I had left behind, like everything was falling into place again. But then, I noticed something—or rather, someone—was missing.

“Mthandeni,” I said, my brow furrowing. “I haven’t seen him. Is he off today?”

The change was subtle, but I saw it. MaDlamini’s expression faltered for just a second. It was long enough for my heart to sink.

Sbanisethu stepped forward, his face tightening. “Hlelo, there’s something we need to talk about.”

The dread I had been trying to push away came crashing down around me. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice quiet but tense.

“Mthandeni was let go,” MaDlamini said softly, her tone firm but apologetic. “A week after he helped you leave.”

Her words felt like a punch to the gut. “What?” I whispered, barely able to process what she was saying. “You fired him? Because he helped me?”

Sbanisethu stepped closer, guilt etched on his face. “It wasn’t an easy decision, Hlelo. But after you left, there was so much tension in the family. My father… he felt like Mthandeni had crossed a line.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it. “Crossed a line? He was doing his job, Sbanisethu! He didn’t deserve to lose his job because of me.”

“It wasn’t just that,” he tried to explain. “There were other things, too. Issues that had been building for a while. But yes, your leaving was the final straw for my father.”

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, anger and guilt warring inside me. Mthandeni had been nothing but loyal. He had done what no one else had the courage to do, and now he had lost everything because of it.

“I need to find him,” I said suddenly, the resolve in my voice surprising even me.

“Hlelo, it’s not that simple,” Sbanisethu said, his tone gentle but firm. “He’s not in town anymore. He went back to his village after everything happened.”

I closed my eyes, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my chest. “This is all my fault,” I muttered, guilt creeping into every corner of my mind.

MaDlamini placed a hand on my arm, her touch meant to comfort, but it only made the guilt worse. “Don’t carry this burden alone, Hlelo. Mthandeni made his choices. It’s unfortunate, but we all need to move forward.”

But how could I? Mthandeni hadn’t just been a staff member—he had been a friend, someone who had looked out for me when no one else had. I nodded absently, not really hearing MaDlamini’s words. Inside, I was drowning in guilt.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. The house staff and MaDlamini tried to make me feel at home, but all I could think about was Mthandeni. I wondered where he was, if he had found new work, or if he was struggling. I had to do something. I had to find a way to help him, even if it was from afar.

That evening, after dinner, I sat with Sbanisethu in the living room, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. He knew I was still thinking about Mthandeni, but he didn’t push me to talk. We sat there, both lost in our own thoughts.

“I’ll find a way to make it right,” Sbanisethu said softly, breaking the silence.

I turned to him, unsure of how that would even be possible. “How?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted, his gaze steady. “But I promise, we’ll find a way. Together.”

His words offered some comfort, though they couldn’t erase the guilt that gnawed at me. I appreciated his willingness to stand by me, to help me make things right, even though I wasn’t sure how we could.

As the night wore on, I leaned back, trying to take solace in the warmth of the welcome I had received, even though it had been overshadowed by the bitter truth of what had happened to Mthandeni. I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but at least I wasn’t walking it alone. For now, that had to be enough.

"I am beyond grateful and completely overwhelmed by the love and support my first novel has received! Reaching 520 views and 42 votes in less than a week is more than I could have imagined. Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to read, vote, and share. Your encouragement means the world to me and motivates me to keep writing. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to continue this journey with all of you❤️!"