A love like yours

it's a warzone

Amber: Gosh! My head is... pou...nding. Ma? I call for her. Ma where... No way! Ma? I try again, frantically rummaging the room for anything of hers that I can find. Ma? I say with a cracked voice because my mom's been kidn*pped. Why don't these people just take the money and go? Do they have to make us suffer like this?

Hang on, the bed's neatly made and the pictures of her and my dad are still where I left them. she must've tried fight right? My mom's too stubborn to just let things go like that. But what if she was in the kitchen making a sandwich? Or in the lounge with her feet soaked in Epsom salt when these monsters decided to take her? What if? What if? These what ifs won't help the situation right now, she's not here. She left me... For whatever reason. I pray my dad comes back home to me and in the meantime, I'll be nursing my hangover then move on to mending my broken heart. I kiss my sleeping beauty's big forehead and then try to decode on whether or not I should myself a glass of wine right now.

Smiso

Something doesn't feel right at all today. My mother taught me to never ignore that feeling but I can't pin it to something specific. What could possibly go wrong. I've spoken to Maggie and I have confirmation that everything is still going as per our plan. I was worried a

when she bailed on me but at least she kept her word. After reassuring myself that it's just nerves kicking in, I walk on over to my car and get driving until I get to Amber's home and pluck up all the courage I have before gently knock on front door. I'm shaking a bit and it's because I'm TERRIFIED of rejection. my mother did that all my life and I've had just about enough of that. I'm happy with what I see. She has mascara running down her face and her eyes are all puffed up. but what I can't fathom is... Why on Earth is she wearing a wedding gown? May I come in? I ask a moment after clearing my throat. "Whatever. I'm lonely anyway." She responds, shifting to make way for me to get inside never letting go of her wine glass.

You look like you haven't bathed in days, why?

Amber: Just shut and kiss me. Or do you mind the alcohol breath? because.. it's nothing really... I give her a peck on the lips and tell her to slow down.

"Let's take this to my place." I whisper into her ear and she's more than pleased to hear that. "Really? " She asks. "Sure babes. " I respond. I've got her!

Amber: What are we still waiting for? Let's go!

"We're waiting for to change out of that dress, you like ridiculous." I laugh at her a bit and we soon find ourselves laughing in unison. It's moments like these that meant to be savoured, to be captured. She comes out wearing a floral print top and navy ripped, high waisted jeans. Let's go. She says. She's not too drunk... Or is it me who'd like to believe that? None of that matters now, I just have to leave this place before anyone finds me here. Wait! she yells, panic stricken. My daughter! She continues. The alcohol seems to have completely left her body as she spirits the room that her daughter's in. She comes back carrying a sleeping Royalty bridal style and offers me a warm smile, "Thanks for waiting up. Now, make sure that you take far away from this house but most importantly, make sure that no one ever finds us, especially her lousy father. She smiles again and I can't help but wonder if she's still perfectly sane because from what I've heard from her mother, she's a stubborn one, especially when she's wasted. This comes as a complete shock to me, so much so that I takes while to comprehend and come to come to terms with it. A part of me still feels like it's being shucksed and Leon Schuster's gonna come out of nowhere laughing his pants off. The unsettling feeling's worn off now, or maybe I just got used to it. hm... I guess I'll never know. I tap the steering wheel with my thumb and bob my head to the melody of my favourite song: Benediction by August Alsina. I love it so much because it has a story to tell, and that story is mine. I can relate to that song word for word. Deep, deep down, I'm a troubled soul, I know this but I try very hard to suppress the emotions of hurt and distrust and to only allow the best ones to show. Even if I didn't act so tough all the time, who could I could tell on to bear all my secrets and tell a single soul? because my own family keeps disappointing me every chance that they get. Who could I run to because the truth of the matter is all I have in this world is me. Not my parents, relatives, none of them. All I've got is me.. And Amber now. My darling. We'll treat each other well and nothing will ever break us apart.

Maggie

Baba? Wenzani lapha? (Hubby? What are you doing here) I enquire in complete confusion as I come face to face with my husband.

"What do you think?" He roars

I'm not gonna guess. I say, remembering that I'm not here for him and even if he wanted to do something, Samkelo will be with me no matter what.

He gives me a light smirk and shakes his head. What to do with you? What to do with you? Before I can even think of something, I see. Samkelo but what gets to me the most is that he doesn't stand by me, he goes next to my husband's side. What exactly is going on here? I ask myself, now petrified