Battles in the shadows

LAURETTA RAKWELA: A NEW DAWN

THREE YEARS LATER

"Mr. and Mrs. Rakwela, please take good care of Laura. She has gone through a lot already. Be gentle with her, try to understand what she needs now; a good and peaceful home." Janet Dikobe told the middle aged couple who will be Laura's new parents. It was now three years since Lorato Moloi's death and still her husband was still missing. Laura spent a month in the hospital being attended to by a psychotherapist. After that her nightmares about the murder did not stop. She was watched carefully each time she goes to bed. The truth of the matter; Laura wants to keep the brutal memory of her mother's murder alive, until she finds out what happened to Patrick, then she would be able to have her peace.

Laura was now thirteen and filled with intense bitterness for all that has happened to her. She felt cursed and jinxed. First it was her biological mother that dumped her, then her first parents who were racist, then Patrick Moloi killed her precious mother. Deep inside her heart she prayed that her new family loved her and accept her. Mr. and Mrs. Rakwela have two children; twenty one year old David and fifteen year old Phillip. Mrs. Rakwela had decided after Phillip was born that they should help their community by adopting a child instead of making another one of their own.

"Latoya, please I have no problem with keeping Lauretta here with me. I am begging you in the name of God, please take very good care of her."

"Janet, I am a psychologist with a blessed family. I promise you that nothing bad will happen to her. We will be her last family."

"Thank you my friend. I believe now that God allowed us to meet for a purpose. Safe journey back." They hugged each other and then she turned to the blossoming beauty in front of her.

"My love, you know I love you right?" A tear escaped her eyes.

"Yes Mma. Dikobe. I know you do."

"These are good people and will take care of you maybe even more than I ever could."

"No Mma. Dikobe. No one could ever love me as you do and I love you very much, Mama."

Janet busted into fresh tears and tightly held Lauretta in her arms.

"Goodbye my baby. Till we meet again."

As Laura left Love Orphanage with her new family, Teacher Margaret walked up to Janet. "I hope we did the right thing Mma. Dikobe. I hope she will finally find peace."

TWO WEEKS LATER

"Mama! Mama! Mama!" Laura screamed from her sleep. Latoya and Mompati got up quickly and ran to their daughter's room. When they got there, Laura was sitting at the edge of her bed weeping profusely. Latoya wrapped her arms around Laura to comfort her.

"It's okay my dear, you're safe now."

This was an everyday occurrence since she arrived at their home. Perhaps it was the change of environment that triggered this new sign of insecurity. For the past year she has been sleeping well but now the reverse has just taken place.

"We are here my dear." Mompati Rakwela said and kissed her forehead.

As this went on, Phillip Rakwela the last child of the couple watched in disgust. He stood at the doorway of Laura's room filled with intense jealousy. All eyes have been on the new addition to the family since she came and he hated it.

"Are you alright now dear?" Latoya asks. Laura shook her head from side to side.

"I want to go back to sleep. Goodnight." She said and slowly got up; clambered back to bed and went back to sleep. Slowly Phillip went back to his room. The battle was not over yet, in fact it has only just began. How could she steal his parent's affection and expect that he accepts her? No! She will regret coming into the family.

"That I promise" he said through gritted teeth. All his parent cares about now is Laura. Laura dear! Laura darling! Are you okay Laura? Would you like some snacks Laura?

"Damn it Laura! You've picked the wrong person to mess with". As if it was not hard enough that David his older brother was his parent's favourite and he the black sheep of the family. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. From that night onward, Phillip decided to make life a living hell for his sister.