CONTINUED CHAPTER TWO
684 Words
Just quiet, controlled tears that slipped down her cheeks while she wiped the counter for the fifth time even though it was already spotless.
She kept her head down, her braids falling forward to hide her face, her hand moving in small circles on the glossy surface. She wasn’t even wiping anymore — she was trying to steady herself. Trying to breathe. Trying to understand why her heart reacted this way over a man she barely knew.
“Get it together,” she whispered to herself, wiping the tears before they could fall again.
But they fell anyway.
Her chest ached.
Not because Ntsika owed her anything — he didn’t.
Not because she thought he would choose her — she wasn’t that naïve.
But because for a small moment, when he looked at her… she felt seen.
Deeply. Softly. Truthfully.
And seeing him walk out with Sihle felt like the universe was reminding her that beautiful moments weren’t always promises. Sometimes they were just lessons.
She grabbed a tissue and blew her nose quietly, not wanting her coworkers to notice. The pharmacy was nearly empty — just the hum of the fridges and the faint gospel music playing from her phone behind the counter.
When she finally lifted her head, she whispered a prayer under her breath.
“God, please… remove anything from my heart that isn’t from You.”
She wiped her last tear and tried to pull herself together just as the door chimed again.
A man walked in — older, maybe in his fifties, wearing a navy jacket and holding a small prescription slip. He glanced at her with a warm smile.
“Long morning?” he asked gently.
She cleared her throat and forced a smile. “Something like that. How can I help you, sir?”
As she filled his order, he watched her with soft, fatherly eyes.
“You know,” he said suddenly, “my wife always says this: ‘When God closes a door, don’t stand there crying, because the right one might be opening behind you.’”
Buhle froze.
Her chest tightened.
She blinked slowly, trying to stop fresh tears from rising.
The man chuckled softly. “Don’t know why I said that. Felt like someone needed to hear it today.”
She handed him his medicine with shaking hands.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “Really.”
He nodded and left.
And for a moment, she stood there in silence — stunned by the timing, by the message, by the strange peace washing over her.
Maybe things were not as they seemed.
Maybe God was rewiring paths she hadn’t even walked yet.
She walked to the back room to breathe, placing her hand over her chest.
But just as she reached for the storeroom door, her coworker Siya rushed toward her with wide eyes.
“Buhle!” Siya whisper-shouted. “You won’t believe this…”
Buhle frowned. “What now?”
Siya leaned closer, excitement buzzing through her expression.
“That guy from earlier — the one you were helping — the tall one?”
Buhle’s heartbeat thudded.
“Ntsika?” she whispered before she could stop herself.
“Yes! Him!” Siya said, almost bouncing. “He’s outside. Alone. Just… standing there.”
Buhle’s breath caught.
“What do you mean alone?” she asked. Siya shrugged. “I don’t know. He looks like he’s arguing with someone on the phone. Pacing. Stressed. And he keeps looking at the door like he wants to come back inside.”
Buhle’s stomach dropped.
Siya grinned mischievously. “Girl, I think you shook something in that man’s spirit.”
Buhle opened her mouth — but nothing came out.
She didn’t know what this meant.
She didn’t know if she wanted him to come inside.
She didn’t know if she could handle it.
Because her heart was already bruised.
Already aching.
Already confused.
But destiny wasn’t finished.
Because just then — before she could gather herself — the pharmacy door chimed again…
And Ntsika walked back in.
Alone.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes searching directly for her.
- Writer
