14/02/2025
Alone
Chapter 5
"Mmm…" A long, drawn-out moan escapes my lips as Craig finds just the right spot. His pace quickens, his breathing turning ragged, I know he's close. But I can’t have him getting there before me.
I slip a hand between us, my fingers brushing against my already sensitive bud. The touch sends an electric current through my body, pleasure unfurling like a slow-burning flame. Everything else fades away—there's only this moment, this feeling. The slide of his sweat-slicked skin against mine. The weight of his body covering me, grounding me. His strength makes me feel small, protected, completely undone.
Nothing feels better than this.
It’s the ultimate release, the kind that clears the mind in a way even yoga could never manage. His breath catches—a telltale hitch. A second later, I feel him pulse deep inside me, and that’s all it takes to send me spiraling. My body clenches tight, surrendering to the pleasure crashing over me like a tidal wave.
For a moment, there’s only the sound of our harsh, uneven breathing filling the small room. Craig moves to roll off me, but I wrap my arms around him, holding him close. I love this, the aftermath, the quiet intimacy as our bodies realign. He lets me cling to him, even though I know he hates the suffocating heat. But he gives me these few moments.
Then the moment shatters.
The blaring ring of my phone slices through the silence.
Craig groans, his voice laced with irritation. "Who the hell is calling this early?"
I barely hear him as I reach for my phone, my heart lurching at the name flashing on the screen. Lungi.
A knot of unease tightens in my stomach. "Lungi?"
Her voice trembles. "Ami… something really bad happened last night."
The air in my lungs vanishes. "What do you mean?"
"Uncle Zamani… he sent people after us. We had to run."
"What?"
In the background, I hear my aunt groan. Like I wasn’t supposed to hear that. Panic fuels my movements as I scramble off the bed, frantically gathering my scattered clothes.
"You weren’t supposed to hear that," Aunt Xoli mumbles as she takes over the conversation.
"Aunty, are you guys okay?" My voice comes out rushed.
A heavy sigh. "Yes, we’re fine. We’re at a hotel now."
"A hotel? Aunty Xoli, what’s going on?"
Another sigh. This one more resigned. "A few weeks ago, I sent your uncle summons. The eviction process finally concluded. I guess he wasn’t happy about that."
Craig watches me from the bed, concern flickering in his eyes. But I can’t focus on that now.
"What do you mean, Aunty?"
I shove my feet into my shoes, tying the laces with trembling fingers. The unease in my stomach only grows. Whatever happened last night, it’s worse than I can imagine.
I sling my bag over my shoulder, my hands shaking as I fumble to stuff my phone into my pocket. My heartbeat pounds in my ears, a frantic drum urging me to move faster as my mind spins with worst-case scenarios. I need to get home. Now. Craig tries to stop me, his hand catching my wrist, his eyes filled with concern.
“Ami, wait. You can’t just go. What is going on? This sounds serious.”
“I know, Craig,” I say, shaking my head. “But I must, my family needs me. I can’t just stay here while my aunt is dealing with s**t alone.”
He hesitates, running a hand through his tousled hair. “At least let me drive you.”
I shake my head again. “No, I need to do this on my own.” This is also the worst time to bring a new boyfriend to them.
With that, I walk away, ignoring the worry in his eyes. My mind is already spiralling, heart pounding in my chest. I need to get back to my dorm, pack a bag, and go home.
When I push open the door to my dorm room, I’m surprised to see Nandi walking in at the same time, her hoodie pulled low over her face. My eyes narrow. It’s early, too early for her to be coming back. Meaning she didn’t spend the night here either.
“Hey,” I say, curiosity stirring in my gut, but I keep my voice casual.
“Hey,” she replies simply, her voice calm, unreadable as always.
Nandi is private, reserved, and we have an unspoken rule: we don’t pry. Unlike my easy camaraderie with Craig or the fierce loyalty I share with Aunt Xoli and Lungi, my relationship with Nandi is built on quiet cohabitation. We respect each other's space, never pushing beyond surface-level interactions. It’s a stark contrast to my best friends, Pulane and Candice, who have no qualms about prying into every detail of my life. They’d demand answers, dissect every word, and probably offer to storm home with me. With Nandi, it’s different—we coexist in our own separate worlds, only occasionally colliding in shared spaces. Still, I can’t help but wonder about the things she keeps hidden.
I don’t ask. Instead, I head straight for my wardrobe and start throwing clothes into my bag.
“Going somewhere?” Nandi asks, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
I pause, my hand gripping a pair of jeans. “Home.”
She tilts her head slightly. “I thought you said your aunt didn’t want you coming back before the Easter break.”
“She doesn’t.” I zip up my bag. “But I’m going anyway.”
Nandi watches me for a beat, then nods. “Hope everything’s okay.”
I let out a breath. “It’s not. My uncle—” My throat tightens, the reality of the situation sinking in. “He sent people after my aunt and cousin. They had to run in the middle of the night.”
Nandi’s expression doesn’t change, but there’s something in her eyes, a flicker of something unreadable. “That’s messed up.”
“Yeah,” I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I grab my phone and text Lungi. Send me the location of the hotel. A few seconds later, the notification pings. I give Nandi a small wave before heading out the door.
The drive home feels agonizingly slow, every second stretching longer than the last. By the time I step out of the taxi, I see Aunt Xoli standing outside the hotel entrance, arms folded, her face set in a determined scowl. Lungi is beside her, looking small but fierce, her eyes lighting up when she sees me.
“Ami!” she runs up and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Hey, Lungs,” I murmur into her hair, squeezing her tightly before pulling back to look at Aunt Xoli. “What’s going on?”
Aunt Xoli exhales, rubbing her temples. "I called a family meeting."
“A meeting?”
“With your grandmother and your uncle.”
The words settle heavily in the air between us. My stomach clenches, a mix of dread and anger twisting inside me. The thought of facing Zamani after what he did makes my skin crawl. My mind is racing with questions. What if he tries something again? What if it’s not safe? "Are you sure we should be doing this on our own?" I ask, my voice quieter than I intended. I know this isn’t going to end well, but I also know she won’t back down. She never does. My aunt has always fought alone, but not this time. Not anymore.
Aunt Xoli nods. “It’s time he answers for what he’s done.”
I glance at Lungi, then back at my aunt. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
She gives me a tired but grateful smile. "I have it under control, Ami. Trust me."
Lungi grabs my hand, in quiet solidarity as we move to the car.
My grandmother’s house is tense, the air thick with unsaid words when we arrive. My grandmother sits in her usual chair, her expression unreadable, while Uncle Zamani lounges like he owns the place. His smirk is lazy, arrogant, as if he knows something we don’t.
Aunt Xoli wastes no time. “You tried to have me killed.”
Silence.
Gogo’s eyes widen, her lips parting slightly in shock. Her hand trembles as she grips the armrest of her chair, her gaze flicking between Xoli and Zamani. For a moment, she seems lost, her breath uneven, as if struggling to comprehend the weight of the accusation. But then, just as quickly, she straightens her back, her expression hardening, masking whatever momentary disbelief had surfaced.
Zamani leans back, stretching his arms. “That’s a very serious accusation, my sister.”
“It’s not an accusation but facts Zamani,” she says, her voice like steel.
I step forward. “We know what you did.” My voice is steady, stronger than I expected it to be. “And we’re not going to let you get away with it.”
My grandmother clicks her tongue. “Ami, this is grown up business—”
“No, Gogo,” I say, cutting her off. “This is not just grown-up business. This is attempted murder.”
Her face tightens, but instead of reprimanding Zamani, she turns her gaze to Aunt Xoli. “Why must you always cause problems, Xoli? You provoke him, and then you act surprised when he reacts.”
Aunt Xoli lets out a humourless laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “Even now? Even after everything he’s done, you still find a way to blame me?”
Zamani shrugs. “I just wanted to scare her Magogo, that’s all. I never meant for anything to actually happen.”
Aunt Xoli crosses her arms. “That’s not what my witness says.”
Zamani stiffens. “What?”
“I have someone who saw everything. And they recorded it.”
His face drains of colour. “That’s a lie.”
“Is it?” Aunt Xoli tilts her head. “I guess we’ll find out when I hand it over to the police.”
Zamani’s eyes dart around the room, his confidence cracking.
“You have two choices, Zamani. You and your family leave Ami’s house or I have you arrested.”
For the first time, real fear flashes across his face.
Grandmother exhales deeply, rubbing her temples, her fingers lingering there for a moment as if trying to soothe an internal conflict. Her eyes flicker with something unreadable—frustration, guilt, or maybe even regret—but it vanishes just as quickly. When she finally speaks, her voice is low, measured, as if she’s carefully choosing her words. “Xoli, why can’t you let your brother stay at the house. Why must you always be a nuisance for everyone?”
Aunt Xoli’s jaw tightens, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “You will never change mama,” she says, her voice filled with exhaustion and rage. “And that’s why I’m done listening to you.”
Aunt Xoli steps forward. “You decide, Zamani. But understand this, your time of taking from my family is over.”
For the first time, he looks like he believes it. I truly hope so. But if his desperate attempt to justify his actions as he follows us out of the house are anything to go by, maybe he does think he is in trouble. I almost want to laugh as the prideful man paces the lawn, begging, justifying himself. Pathetic.
In the car, Aunt Xoli slumps back against the seat, exhaling sharply. She pinches the bridge of her nose, her fingers trembling just slightly.
“Do you think he’ll back off?” My voice is quiet, but the weight of the question fills the car.
“I don’t know,” she murmurs, pressing her lips together. “I hope he does.”
“Mama, I got it all on camera.”
Aunt Xoli and I whip around so fast I hear my own neck crack. Lungi sits smugly in the back seat, waving her phone like a golden ticket. Her eyes sparkle with mischief and pride.
“Recorded evidence is important, Mama!” she announces, grinning.
Aunt Xoli blinks before shaking her head in disbelief. “Smart girl!” she says, reaching over to ruffle Lungi’s braids.
I lean in as she presses play. The video shows Uncle Zamani standing in the yard, frustration lacing his voice as he begs Aunt Xoli.
“I only wanted to scare you, Xoli!” he says, his tone exasperated. “I would never actually kill you. I promise not to something this stupid again, please my sister.”
But my stomach twists as I watch. He admits to it, plain as day. The so-called scare tactic. The fact that he even considered it makes my skin crawl.
“Do you think this will be enough?” Hope stirs inside me, hesitant but growing.
“There’s only one way to find out.” Aunt Xoli starts the car, steering us toward the nearest police station.
The officer watches the footage, his frown deepening. “This is enough to start an investigation. If you want to press charges, ma’am, you can.”
But Aunt Xoli doesn’t answer right away. Her fingers tap restlessly against her knee.
“Aunty, if that man hadn’t warned you…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Who knows what could have happened?”
I don’t trust Uncle Zamani. Not after this. But I see the hesitation in my aunt’s face. She doesn’t want to take that step. Not yet.
“There’s one more place we need to go before heading home.”
I don’t expect where we end up.
When she pulls up outside my parents’ old house, I tense.
They let us in without hesitation. The security cameras above the gate must still be working.
I glance around as we drive through. The garden is pristine, the pool water shimmering under the midday sun. But it’s the swing that catches my eye—the one my father built. It still stands, its frame weathered but sturdy. A dozen childhood memories rush back at once. The sound of his laughter as he pushed me higher, the wind whipping through my face, my feet kicking high in the air.
I shake the thoughts away. That life is long gone.
The front door swings open, and Aunt Yoli steps out. Her usual air of superiority is gone. She looks frazzled, as if she’s been pacing for hours.
“Xoli, thank you for coming!”
I glance at my aunt, surprised. I didn’t know Aunt Yoli was the one who invited us.
Inside, the house is unfamiliar. The furniture is new, modern, expensive-looking. Nothing from my childhood remains.
“Ami, I didn’t know you were back.”
I blink. That’s the first time she’s ever spoken to me directly.
“How’s university?”
Before I can answer, Aunt Xoli cuts in. “Why did you call me here, Yoli?” She drops onto the nearest couch, Lungi and I flanking her like loyal soldiers.
Aunt Yoli wrings her hands, her nails gleaming under the natural light streaming through the windows. “Zamani called.”
Aunt Xoli’s expression doesn’t shift. “Did he tell you what he tried to do?”
Aunt Yoli sighs. “It was stupid. He just wanted to scare you off, Xoli. Surely you don’t think your own brother wanted you dead?”
Aunt Xoli’s eyes flash. “All I know is if a good Samaritan hadn’t warned me, Lungi and I wouldn’t be sitting here answering your ridiculous question.”
Aunt Yoli lowers her gaze.
“I’m sorry, Xoli,” she whispers. “Zamani’s business isn’t doing well. He hasn’t told anyone, not even me, but I can see it. If we lose this house… we have nowhere else to go. My salary alone won’t cover rent.”
“That’s not my problem, Yoli.” Aunt Xoli’s voice is steady, unwavering. “I have my own struggles, but you don’t see me illegally occupying someone else’s home.”
Aunt Yoli exhales shakily. “Can you at least not go to the police?” Desperation creeps into her voice. “We’ll move out—I’ll make sure of it. Just don’t report him.”
Aunt Xoli doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she takes Lungi’s phone, scrolls to the video, and presses play.
Aunt Yoli gasps as she listens to Zamani’s words.
“I don’t just have my witness’s statement,” Aunt Xoli says, her tone sharp. “I have this too. Tell your husband he has one week to vacate Ami’s house. I’m not playing with you.”
She stands abruptly, and we follow her lead.
Back in the car, silence stretches between us.
“Do you think it worked?” Lungi finally asks.
“If they know what’s good for them,” Aunt Xoli mutters, gripping the wheel.
But when we pull into our driveway, my stomach sinks.
The front door lock is broken.
The TV—gone. A few other electronics, missing.
I swallow hard. “They made it look like a robbery.”
Aunt Xoli exhales slowly, surveying the mess. “He won’t do anything else.”
I wish I had her confidence.
But at least I have one more night here before I head back to res in the morning. I’m not leaving them alone with this mess. It is my fault that she must deal with this. I’m always a burden.
We clean up, securing what we can, but the unease lingers.
Tomorrow morning, the burglar doors will be installed. Surveillance cameras, too.
I just pray my uncle isn’t reckless enough to try something again.
Because next time? There won’t be warnings.
