The hidden pain
230 Words
As the night wore on, the music softened and one by one, people drifted away to rest. The moonlight spilled gently over the yard, glimmering on the empty dishes and fading embers of the fire.
Zanele stepped outside, her shawl drawn tightly around her shoulders. She needed the air — the noise, the laughter, even the music had begun to feel too heavy. The quiet of the night pressed against her ears like comfort and loneliness all at once.
She didn’t hear Nkosikhona approach until his voice broke the silence.
“MaZee,” he said softly, using the nickname he’d given her as a child, “you disappeared. Are you alright?”
Zanele forced a smile, brushing at her cheeks as if wiping away dust instead of tears.
“I’m fine, Nkosikhona. Just tired. You know how these gatherings are.”
He studied her face for a moment, unconvinced. “I heard voices earlier… between you and uncle Mandla. I—”
She cut him off gently. “You shouldn’t worry about grown people’s matters, mntanami. Go rest.”
Her tone was calm, but her eyes betrayed the storm she was holding back. She turned away before he could say anything more, the soft rustle of her dress swallowed by the night air.
Nkosikhona watched her walk away, her shadow stretching across the yard — strong, graceful, and heartbreakingly alone.
- Writer
