One last chance

chapter 11

[Mbalenhle]
"And our next graduate with 12 distinction in faculty of economics and accounting, Mbalenhle Qwabe" the MC spoke through the mic , i smiled as i walked to the front with a smile on my face ,my heels made noise ,i looked at the space that was suppose to be occupied by my parents but it was empty ,tears filled my eyes as i held the certificate on my chest unbelievably that i was here , i took a deep breath wiping the tears falling on my eyes as i held the mic.

"Three years ago had you told me i would be here i would say you lying, in just a period of time my life changed direction that i didn't think i would reach here ,three years ago i lost my father it was hard and all i did was just want to join him, it hurt me beyond and a month after i found out i was pregnant,i was just 19 years old and pregnant "i chuckled "as if that was not enough i lost my bursary and i had no way to continue with education i was on the verge of giving up but my daughter reminded me ,she was my daily reminder why i had to fight,she may not be old enough to know how she changed my life for the better but she did , i woke up and had a plan , apply for funding and find a job to support my daughter and that's exactly what i did, my peers graduated but i was set on the goal and never gave up three years later here i am with the economist certificate on my hand,my mother and my daughter couldn't be here today because my daughter was admitted but i know they proud of me " i stepped away after that holding my certificate in hand this was finally my happy ending one more trip for Mo and i kick start my  career.
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Deep down in my gut i wasn't at ease, i could feel something that was wrong but i had ignored the feeling,perhaps it had to do with Lwethu, leaving her like this wasn't something i hated, i couldn't even enjoy my graduation because she was in the hospital bed ,she was released today and thankfully she was better , or perhaps it had its days,, i always felt this way about the trips but today was worse ,i felt the need to stay but ignored the feeling, i took a deep breath as i held tightly to lwethu, i didn't want to leave her but i had or i would be dinner to Mo,he was friendly but you can't poke a snake in its hole ofcause it will attack.

"Mbali where are you going kahle kahle" she asked i bitten my lower lip at that trying to think of a lie , it was better when i was still staying on campus because she knew nothing.

"Some conference ma just to network and find a job easily, Sasa invited me to be her plus one" i responded she nodded before dismissing me telling me how late i will be if i won't let Lwethu go.

"I love you nana okay" i said kissing her forehead before going on my feet ,i walked away and got into the car , Mo was fetching me ofcause with sasa, they took me to the airport,my heart leaped into my throat immediately as always as the bag left my hand and went to the claim buggage, i know mo had the inside man but it always is scary, knowing my suitcase consisted drugs , my mind wasn't at ease even after boarding the plane , i always relax when i come back scott free, i pressed my head on the window , I've always enjoyed this seat , seeing the sky above, i tightly buckled up my belt before continuing where i left off on my book, eventually i feel asleep, i promise myself that this was really the last time ,i couldn't keep doing this for goodness sake i had a whole degree on my name ,from now i would make my father proud I'll start my career and maybe in 5 years to come i will start my own company after gaining enough expirience and after i had saved enough money, maybe in 10 years to come i would buy my mother a house and she will live her life like the queen she is, and i will take care off her and Lwethu too we would finally be happy, the way the handsome stranger didn't want to be found Lwethu looked exactly like me , three years but she had my personality well mama says that but i know that she took most of my features.

"Ladies and gentlemen we about to land please buckle up ,thank you" the women said in the speaker , i pressed my head on the window knowing i was just above New York, i was jet legged i couldn't wait to get into the hotel and rest ,10 minutes later we landed softly ,i stood up and grabbed my side bag above me before stepping out of the plane, i descended the stairs letting in the hot weather of New York, i grabbed my phone and texted Mo that i had arrived he assured me that the driver will be waiting for me outside the airport as usual, i walked to buggage claim and stood for a while until my luggage arrived,i grabbed it before dragging it on the white tile, families were excited seeing their family as they rushed to hug them, a man was waiting with ballons on his hand and a huge board written welcom to America baby ,probably the women came with K-1 visa.

"Mbalenhle kwabe" the man wearing a shirt and he had tucked it into the pants perfectly , ontop he was wearing a jacket, i wanted to remark on how he pronounced my surnane but its American nature so i saved my breath and nodded.

"Will need to search your bag please"my heart leaped up into my throat as the forcefully did that , only then did i realise the man on uniform besides him, i flinched at how tightly he dragged me away from the airport,tears blured my vision , what was going on ,my mind was fuzy although i was hearing what he was saying the only word i caught was , i was arrested ,one mistake and my life came crumbling down, in a foreign country and i knew no one, my worst fear came true, being arrested and never seeing lwethu ,a question came into mind , they knew exactly my name and knew where to check.