Unmasked

I feel like a Zombie. You know when you haven’t had enough sleep and you are high on coffee and there is just no way that you can sleep. Zac has decided to block me everywhere and I hate that there is no way I can reach him. I understand that he is upset with me but tipping off Thando over Plot 15 is too low even for him.

‘Are you okay?’ Thando asks. He is just from having his lunch, he decided to cook for us but with the way I am feeling I don’t think I can manage to swallow anything.

‘I am fine.’ I lie trying not to look at him. We already have so much going on I don’t want to add to it.

‘I think we need to talk.’

‘What about?’ I ask looking away from the television and in his direction. He has put his phone down and he looks serious.

‘About last night.’

‘Okay.’

‘Do you want to tell me where you went?’

‘I needed some air, after what I found out I didn’t think I wanted to come and face you.’

‘I see.’

‘Thando, I have been going through so much of late and I just need some space to breathe.’

He shakes his head.

‘What?’

‘I don’t think you have been going through so much Zara, I think the correct thing here is that you have found yourself in a situation where you weren’t supposed to. I don’t even want you to start explaining to me because I can almost guess that you will lie to me. Zara you never loved me.’

I swallow hard.

‘You and your brother decided to use me. You only got close to me because you wanted to get off the case.’

‘That’s not true. I was already off the case when you and I started dating.’

‘That maybe true but your move was calculated. You knew that a day like this would come and you would need me in your side so you had to do whatever it took to get married to me so that I would pay a blind eye.’

I want to speak up but he lifts his hand to make me stop speaking.

‘Now I am curious. Why would you tie your life down to someone just so they can get you off a case? What is it that you and your brother are hiding that he had to sacrifice you and the rest of your life.’

‘Thando you think you know anything but you don’t. I am in this marriage because I love you, I am in it because I want to do life with you and it’s very insulting that you would think otherwise.’

‘Are you believing your lies?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Are you believing your own lies? Because it sounds to me like you have been lying to yourself so much that you are finally believing your own lies.’

‘Is this about the recording? You haven’t even given me chance to explain myself and yet you are convinced that I am here to hurt you. Thando why would you think so lowly of me? For crying out loud if I was here for the reasons you think I am would I be pregnant for you?’

My eyes are welling up. Crocodile tears because how else am I getting out of this situation?

‘I am giving you a chance to come clean Zara. You have hurt me enough now you have the chance to redeem yourself but it looks to me like the lies are still going on. So here is what we are going to do.’

He pauses for effect.

‘I will continue to play my role as a husband, I will provide for you and our unborn child but do not expect anything else from me. I am giving you a chance ti think through your life and what you want, and when the day comes that I have to open up investigations and your names come up best believe I will treat you like any other person under investigation. For your sake, I hope you have a good explanation for the conversation you had with your brother because in case you don’t realise it, this is my life you are toying with Zara. This is my life you are taking for a joy ride and I will never forgive you if you have just been using me for your personal gain.’

Without saying another word he stands up and leaves me in the living room, goosebumps forming on my skin. If I thought getting married to Thando would save me, I have just realised that I placed myself in hell fire. And it’s either I bring down my mask or burn to ashes.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️