Man: What do you want woman?

Woman: Oh, I think it's what you want rather.

Man: Speak, I don't have time for this.

Woman: Sinoxolo Zulu.

Man: How the fuck do you know that name?

Woman: Isn't that the woman you in love with, she's with someone else now isn't she?

The man scowled at the woman. She smirked as she had accomplished what she had came here for, to ignite fire that was already put out. She touched a nerve, and she knew if she offered him a good enough deal, she'll get his help too.

Woman: Alright then, here's the thing, I need you to help me get her out of the way.

Man: What? Are fucken crazy, you want me to kill a woman I love, you must be-

Woman: Oh calm down, who said anything about killing? I just want you to sleep with her, and I'll handle the rest.

Man: Sleep with her? She's with someone else how-

Woman: Afraid of a little competition? Listen I need her to be caught cheating so I can make my move and you gonna help me with that.

The woman walked closer to the man flirtatiously. The red dress that stung onto her body and revealing a lot of cleavage, her heels clicking onto the tile floor, her red lipstick being so prominent on her face as her hair was tyed up in a slick neat ponytail.

She stood in front of the man and put her hands on his chest.

Man: And why would I help you?

Woman: You not helping me, we helping each other here, you get the woman and I...

Man: What do you get?

She removed her hands from his chest and tried to leave, but he took hold of her wrist and pulling her closer to his chest, he put his hands around her waist and looked at her in a poker face.

Man: What- Do- You- Get-?

He trailed kisses on her neck and her exposed boobs. She moaned out loud as she was getting wet by each kiss.

Woman: I-I get the guy.

The man chuckled, he unzipped her dress and it fell on the floor, exposing her matching black bra and thong. Her ass was petite, he picked her up and put her on his desk, he stared at her with a lot of lust as she was also horny.

Man: The bad ones gotta be sexy huh!

***

Me: Why do you always have to think about money ma? Can't you think about me for once, I'm your child ma.

mother: Why am I getting calls from James telling me you cheated on him, awunamahloni Monalisa? (Have you no shame?)

Me: I didn't cheat on James ma, you know this so called James you love so much abused me, he traumatized me ma, don't you care at all. For goodness sake he raped me.

She laughed through the phone, I felt my heart clutch. I'll never understand why she hates me so much that she'll let her greed get in the way. It hurts to know that my mother wasn't always like this. She was loving and strict but she loved me. Or at least that's what she showed when Daddy was around.

Mother: Monalisa weh, usangene? uthi uJames wenzeni? (Are you crazy? James did what?)

Me: He raped me ma, he took my virginity without my consent. And he killed my child.

Mother: Mxm, how can your own husband rape you, he's your husband for fucks sake, you got dick from outside your marriage and now you accusing a good man for raping you, you are disgusting.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek, I wiped it away, how can she say all that. Is James money really that much to hate your daughter like this. I sat on my bed feeling like I could just die. I stayed quiet as more tears streamed down my face. I didn't have anything left in me to say to her. If she couldn't believe what I was saying instead putting words in my mouth, there was no point.

Mother: And I know that you disrespected James a lot, he had to do what he had to do to put you in line, as for him abusing you, please he was straightening you. And that bastard child was probably one of your boyfriends, you a disgrace Monalisa man.

I sobbed as the phone slid out of my hands hitting the floor, I'm not strong enough to deal with such things, why God? Just as I thought I had found a way out, thinking that my mother will eventually see James for who he is but I was wrong. It's me she hates, I sobbed, my heart hurt, it hurt so much, I stumbled to the bathroom and rambled through the cabinets and I found what I was looking for. Taking the small blade, I ran the bathtub, I strip my clothes off and when the tub was full I got it.

The blade opened up my wrist a little, the tears strolled down, and the blade went deeper, my father's memories together flashed in my mind, the blade went deeper, James raping me and beating me, calling me names. The blade went deeper, my child and that was it. I felt numb and the blade fell on the floor with my blood coloring the once plain water red. I sank in and put both my arms inside the tub. My eyes rolled back, thinking that was it, but I heard sounds outside the room. I could hear someone calling out for me from outside the room.

I closed off all sounds, just focusing on the wound that sting like hell but it's the only thing I could feel. Before sinking under the water completely I felt hard and warm hands scoop me up from the water, I was lifted up. My eyes were fighting to close but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to close them, next thing I was huddled up in some white sheet.

Snakes: Fuck, Mona what did you do? Stay awake baby please, don't close your eyes.

He pressed on the wound while looking around for a phone, he called the ambulance. I could see that he was shaking. I still had a little strength to lift my not injured hand. I held his face in my hand. My eyes barely even open just keeping on. I stroked his cheek, this man was beautiful, but I would break him, I don't deserve him, I'm too broken.

Snakes: Mona listen to me, oh fuck what did you do, what the hell did you do- listen the ambulance is on it's way okay, you gonna be okay I promise you please stay awake for me.

Me: I'm tired.

I was tired, tired of feeling pain constantly, tired of being treated like trash and tired of grieving my baby's death. I needed to rest. Mndeni took my hand in his and kissed the palm. How it hurt to see him cry, because of me.

Snakes: Why did you do this Mona, couldn't you trust me to take care of you?

Me: I trust you, I don't trust myself to take of you the way-

I coughed, and blood came out, I guess this is how I die right. But now, I don't want to die, seeing him, worried for me like that, breaking down because of me, did he care that much for me. He can't do this now, I'm already dying. He shushed me and wiped the blood with his fingers.

Me: You making it hard for me to die.

Snakes: I'm not supposed to make it easy, you not supposed to die. In fact you'll be fine, just hang in there please.

One thing I wanted now was to live. Because somehow I couldn't find myself to see him that distraught.

I heard the ambulance siren and then I passed out.