SHATTERED DREAMS

CHAPTER FORTY

The room felt heavy with anticipation as I prepared to share the revelation that had turned my world upside down. Hlelo sat beside me, her presence a steadying force, but I could sense her own concern mirrored in her eyes. I took a deep breath, the words swirling in my mind as I began to recount the events that had brought us here.

“I need to tell you both about something that happened a few weeks ago,” I started, my voice steady but laced with urgency. “When Hlelo and I were at the Netcare Clinic for Phiwo’s check-up, we saw a little boy—he looked just like me, almost like a younger version of myself.”

The room fell silent, my parents’ expressions shifting to confusion as they processed what I was saying. I could see Sthandile’s eyes widen in surprise.

“What do you mean, Mbulazi?” my father asked, his brows furrowing. “A boy who looks like you?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, nodding slowly. “He was about three years old, and when I saw him, I felt this wave of unease. I didn’t recognize the mother at all, and it struck me as odd. It was almost as if I was looking in a mirror.”

“What did you do?” my mother asked, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

“I contacted my private investigator to look into it,” I replied, feeling the weight of their gaze as I shared the details. “After some digging, I discovered something that shocked me. This boy…he’s the son of my twin brother, Sibusiso Dlamini, who has lived in Cape Town his whole life. Recently, he moved to Johannesburg with his family.”

The room went quiet as my parents absorbed this revelation. I could see the wheels turning in their minds, confusion etched across their faces.

“But we have no knowledge of any twin brother, Sbanisethu,” my father said, his tone incredulous. “You’ve always been our only child.”

“I know, Baba,” I replied, my voice a mix of frustration and uncertainty. “It doesn’t make sense to me either. But the evidence is there. I saw the boy; the investigator confirmed it. Sibusiso has been living under the radar, but he’s here now, and I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t just coincidence.”

“But why haven’t we heard about this before?” my mother interjected, her brows knitted together. “A twin brother…how could this happen without us knowing?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair in exasperation. “It seems Sibusiso wanted to keep his life separate. I can’t help but feel that there’s more to this story that I need to uncover. It’s all just too much.”

Dlamini was a name that should have echoed through our family history, yet here we were, grappling with a truth that felt like it had been hidden in plain sight. My parents exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern.

“Have you spoken to this Sibusiso?” my father asked, breaking the silence.

“No, not yet. I want to understand more before I reach out to him. I need to process what this means for our family.”

My mother looked at me, her eyes softening. “This is a lot to take in, Mbulazi. But whatever happens, we’re here for you and Hlelo. We will figure this out together.”

Hlelo squeezed my hand, and I felt a flicker of hope amid the confusion. “Thank you, Ma. It means the world to know you’re on our side.”

As the evening wore on, I could see my parents grappling with their own feelings about this revelation. It was uncharted territory for all of us, a sudden twist in our family narrative that none of us were prepared for. But I knew one thing for certain: whatever the future held, I had to face it head-on, not just for myself, but for my family and for Phiwo.