Echoes Of The Heart

Episode 3

little better…it’s just that I had gotten curious about something you said during the interview. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be taking care of yourself when you are so young. Don’t you have siblings, relatives?”
“Like I told you last time, I don’t need your pity Sir,” she retorted.

Ted bit his lower lip in frustration. He hadn’t meant to say that. The words all came out wrong. “You don’t need to call me Sir you know,” he tried to take another route. “I am just an intern, together with Martin. Us interviewing you that day was part of some exercise for when we eventually join the firm.”

“I see,” she reluctantly replied.
“Your mood has suddenly changed, did I cause that?” Ted appeared concerned.
“Not really,” she lied, “I was just thinking about something. How is it like studying abroad? I have always envied people who can afford something like that.”
“You have superb grades. Why don’t you try applying for a scholarship to study abroad? I could help you with that….”

And just like that, the topic had completely shifted and by the time Ted was dropping her off outside the flats, he had come to learn one fact about Sibusiswe; she did not like talking about her life or her past.

However, for some reason he couldn’t seem to understand, Ted’s curiosity about Sibusiswe grew even further. There was something about her that kept gnawing at him and forcing him to want to get closer to her. It was the first time he was having such complicated feelings towards a woman.
I know what you are curious about , Sibusiswe thought as she watched Ted’s vehicle disappear from the premises. But what good will it do you if you knew the truth?

Martin Mwewa’s red Benz pulled into one of the empty spots on the top level parking lot at Manda Hill. A few seconds later, he was joined in the car by a mysterious looking man in a large cap covering half his face.
Despite the weather, the strange man was dressed in a huge brown coat on top of his regular fitting blue jeans and red t-shirt. He removed a brown envelop from the inside pocket of his coat and handed it to Martin, taking caution not to have the exchange witnessed by anyone.
“Is everything I need in here?” Martin asked, not once turning to look at the man.
“Yes boss,” replied the strange man. “There wasn’t much to collect in the first place, just the usual info.”
“Open that,” Martin pointed to the compartment by the passenger’s seat.
“Thanks boss,” the man said, taking the small envelop he found in the compartment. “Later boss,” he said and without waiting for a response got out of the vehicle, closed the door and left.
“Now let’s see what you are all about my little miss vixen,” Martin said as he opened the envelop, a smirk playing on his face.

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“Was that my sin mother?” Sibusiswe placed her hand on her mother’s head stone which had the inscription;
In Loving Memory of
Miriam Nc’ube
1958 – 2001
If my tears were the price,
Will I have cried enough
in this lifetime?

What if I could turn back time,
Would you still call me your daughter?
“If I had not taken a step in that direction… if I had done the right thing like I had promised you…would I have been happy? Is that why these tears won’t stop?” the twenty-nine year old Sibu cried whilst leaning her head against the head stone.
“You think I deserve all this too, don’t you? But for how long will I keep feeling this pain? Till when will you stop torturing me mother?
“I just want to breath Ma…let me live…just once…only once… please make it all go away. I am so sorry….”

With her legs spread apart under her long skirt, Sibusiswe lowered her head and buried her face in her hands, crying her heart out into the night.