FORBIDDEN TIES

13.

Keeya Modise

It’s been a week of total silence between Mlungisi and me. After everything that happened, I made the difficult decision to delete his number, block him on all platforms, and shut him out of my life for good. I had to. He’s a family man, and no matter how much I wanted to convince myself otherwise, I was just a pawn in his game—a temporary escape when things got rough in his marriage. I fell for it, thinking that maybe, just maybe, there was something real between us. But I know better now.

It wasn’t easy at first. There were nights when I stared at my phone, half-expecting a message from him, half-hoping he’d apologize, tell me I was more than just a fling to him. But that message never came. Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t. Mlungisi had already made his choice, and it wasn’t me. I had to accept that.

Yesterday, Friday, my parents came over and offered to take Enzo for the weekend. They claimed they wanted to spend time with her, but I knew they sensed how worn out I was. Between being a single mom, working at the hospital, and dealing with the emotional fallout of Mlungisi, I barely had time to catch my breath. I love my daughter more than anything, but I needed this break—a weekend to clear my head, to focus on myself for a change.

Just as I was settling into the idea of a quiet weekend alone, my sister, Sbusi, decided to surprise me with a visit. As soon as I saw her at my door, her usual wide grin plastered across her face, I felt a wave of relief. I hadn’t seen her in weeks, and I didn’t realize just how much I missed her until that moment.

We spent Friday night catching up, talking about everything from work to life, to family drama. I didn’t tell her about Mlungisi, though. Even though she knew about our “relationship,” I wasn’t ready to dive into the details of how badly it had ended. The truth was, I still felt ashamed. Ashamed for letting myself get caught up in it, for believing his lies, for thinking that I could somehow mean more to him than just an affair.

But Sbusi, being the intuitive sister she is, picked up on my mood. “Keeya, you’ve been off for a while. You sure you don’t want to talk about what’s going on?”

I shook my head, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing, really. I’m just tired. Work’s been crazy, and… you know, life as a mom.”

She didn’t push any further, but I could tell she didn’t buy it. Still, she let it slide, and instead, we focused on planning for the weekend.

Today, Saturday, she insisted we have a girls' day out. “You need to pamper yourself,” she said, dragging me out of bed. “Let’s go get our nails and hair done. It’s long overdue!”

I couldn’t argue with her. After everything, I needed some self-care. We went to our favorite salon, where I decided on a long frontal weave and nails that matched—red and bold. I even got some lashes done to complete the look. It was a reminder to myself that I am still Keeya Modise, a woman who deserves to look and feel good, despite everything.

Sbusi, always the daring one, opted for a blonde frontal and nude nails. She was glowing, her energy infectious. By the time we were done, I felt a little lighter, like maybe, just maybe, I could move on from everything.

After the salon, we hit the shops, grabbing a few new outfits and shoes. Shopping therapy—it’s a real thing, and it worked. We laughed and joked the whole afternoon, talking about everything except the elephant in the room: Mlungisi.

Later, we grabbed lunch at a cozy café, sitting outside under the warm October sun. We sipped on iced teas and devoured sandwiches while talking about our plans for the rest of the weekend. I was content, thinking we’d end the day with a movie night or maybe some wine at home.