Bound by Legacy, Chosen by Love

Genesis POV It has been almost three hours since I was left dumbstruck by what my grandmother said. Her words keep replaying in my head like one of my late grandfather’s old back-in-the-day jams, scratched, loud, and impossible to ignore. My father… I could tell just by looking him in the eyes that he is not pleased by the news. But for my mother’s sake, he’s going along with it. My mother, on the other hand, keeps looking at her mother—my grandmother—pleadingly. Unfortunately, the old woman is in serious mode today. No mercy. No softness. My uncle tried to lighten the mood by saying, “It’s only for five years, and once the five years end, we can all move on.” I scoffed at the only five years. Like he’s talking about five days. Even five days is too long to bind yourself like this! What am I talking about, you may ask? Well… I’m talking about the fact that I am about to be married off like some piece of property that comes with a deed. LOL, right? Ahhh—let me take you back to the very beginning before I continue with this madness. Eight Hours Earlier… Flashback “Good morning, family,” I said with a smile as I walked into the dining room. My parents were already seated, deep in conversation. My younger brother, currently on recess from varsity, sat scrolling through his phone, acting like a fully grown man just because he’s in his second year. My younger sister was glued to her phone, doing whatever Gen Z does these days. “Good morning, Sweetpea,” Dad said, finally turning his attention to me. “Ready to take over the world?” he asked, as he always does. “You bet I am, Fa,” I replied, taking a bite straight from Lebone’s bacon. “Get your own plate, miss!” Lebone protested, clutching her plate protectively. She’s in eleventh grade and already thinks she runs the house. “Why would I do that when there’s already a plate made for me right in front of you?” I shot back, grabbing her plate and moving to the other side of the table. “Manners, Genesis!” my mother snapped, glaring at me. “What manners, Ma?” I asked innocently as I placed the plate down and snatched Thabo’s juice from his hand. He rolled his eyes. “Mom, I honestly don’t know why you still bother with her.” Dad laughed. “Ahhh, it’s so good to have all my babies at home again. The house will finally be lively.” His words filled me with warmth. He was right—it had been a while since the five of us sat together like this. Thabo is usually at varsity, and I’m always away for what Dad tells people is “shopping.” “Any plans for today, kids?” Dad asked cheerfully. Knowing him, this meant a braai later. “I—” I started, but Mom cut me off. “Whoever has plans must cancel them. Mom, Zaire, and Star are coming this afternoon.” Zaire is my mother’s elder brother, and Star is her younger sister. Mom is the middle child. “Really, Ma? What do they want now?” Lebone groaned. And honestly? I was right there with her. Don’t get me wrong—we love our maternal family as much as our paternal side, but our grandmother is just… too perfect. “Now, now,” Mom said quickly. “Ma hasn’t visited in a long time, and it will be good for all of us to be together.” She smiled, like she was trying to convince herself more than us. After breakfast and a bit of random chatter, I excused myself, claiming I had something to take care of. Just before noon, I heard commotion downstairs. That alone told me—my maternal family had arrived. I walked down and immediately ran into my aunt Star. “Ncwoo… that’s my little baby,” she said, pulling me into a hug. As always, I hugged her back. “Do you know why DOOM called this meeting?” I whispered. “She and her son have been very secretive lately,” she replied, releasing me. “I guess we’ll have to sit and hear it from them,” I said, spotting my uncle smiling at me. “Uncle Z, what’s going on?” I asked, fist-bumping him before pulling him into a hug. “That’s my first child,” he laughed, hugging me tightly. You can probably tell—I’m the first of everything. First daughter. First granddaughter. First niece. “Too tight,” I managed to say. He laughed and let go. That’s when I turned and saw my grandmother standing there, gripping my late grandfather’s cane. She doesn’t need it for balance, it’s just always ready… in case she needs to discipline someone. “Hello, Maggie,” I said, opening my arms. She smiled and hugged me. “Still using Papa’s cane as a weapon formed against us, I see.” She lightly tapped my back with it. “Anything to get you in line, my little one.” Lunch went smoothly, especially with my aunt-bestie Star. She’s a legend among women. Five years ago, she was customarily married, and just before entering her in-laws’ home to perform her duties, she called a family meeting and refused to go through with it. I clapped the hardest that day. The man was obsessive, possessive—and abusive. Walking away was the bravest thing she ever did. Just as I finished my last bone, my grandmother cleared her throat. “It’s getting late. We should begin the meeting.” We all moved to the family room. Lebone escaped upstairs, claiming she needed to study. Thabo followed us but leaned against the door, towering like a bodyguard—built just like Dad. And that’s when everything changed.