It had been five days since Mmabatho was admitted to the hospital. Her days were filled with visits from Sandile, Ona, and even Sandile's parents, who treated her like family. However, this afternoon was quietâjust Mmabatho, the TV playing some reality show in the background, and the rhythmic beeping of hospital monitors.
She was halfway through scrolling aimlessly on her phone when the door creaked open. She looked up to see Andile standing there, holding a bouquet of bright yellow tulips.
"Hey," he said awkwardly, stepping in and placing the flowers on the bedside table.
"Hi," Mmabatho replied, her tone uncertain but not unkind.
An awkward silence lingered until Andile shifted in his chair. "Can we talk?"
Mmabatho hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
Andile took a deep breath and started, "I know I hurt you. I'm sorry for everythingâfor not explaining what really happened that day. The woman you saw me with was just an old friendânothing happened, but I understand how it looked."
Mmabatho crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "You could've just said that then, instead of letting me feel like a fool."
"I know," he said quietly. "I messed up. But I don't want to lose you completely, even if we're just friends."
After a moment, Mmabatho sighed. "I don't know if I can trust you like that again, but... friends? I think I can handle that."
Andile smiled faintly. "Friends."
They spent the afternoon catching up, their conversation drifting to lighter topics. Mmabatho even told him about the fight she'd had with Khanyiswa.
"She said some horrible things," Mmabatho said, shaking her head. "But honestly? I've already got enough to deal with without adding her drama to my plate."
Andile chuckled. "Drama seems to follow her everywhere."
Their casual chat was interrupted by the simultaneous pinging of their phones. Both picked them up, but Mmabatho gasped first.
On her screen was a photo of Khanyiswa kissing another man. It wasn't a friendly peck eitherâit was the kind of kiss that made it clear there was more going on.
"Are you seeing this?" Mmabatho asked, holding her phone up.
Andile frowned, staring at his own screen. "Yeah. That's... definitely not Sandile."
Panic filled Mmabatho's voice. "What if he's already seen it? I've been calling him, but he hasn't answered."
"I'll try," Andile offered, dialing Sandile's number. It rang endlessly before going to voicemail.
"Damn it," Andile muttered. "I'll go find him. Stay here and rest."
Before Mmabatho could argue, he was out the door.
Andile drove to Sandile's office, a sense of urgency buzzing through him. When he arrived, the receptionist informed him Sandile was in a meeting. He paced the waiting area, trying to figure out the best way to break the news.
As soon as Sandile stepped out of the meeting, Andile intercepted him. "We need to talk. Now."
Sandile frowned, his irritation evident. "Ufunani, Andile?"
They walked to his office, and as soon as the door closed, Sandile crossed his arms. "If this is about Mmabathoâ"
"It is," Andile interrupted. "But before you bite my head off, let me say this: we talked. We're good now, but only as friends. Nothing more."
Sandile's stance softened slightly. "Alright. So what's the problem?"
Andile handed him the phone. "This."
Sandile's face went pale as he stared at the photo. His jaw clenched, and he slammed the phone onto his desk. "What the hell is this?"
Andile stayed quiet, letting the picture speak for itself.
Sandile's eyes burned with fury. "She's got some nerve."
Andile nodded. "I thought you should hear it from me before it spread any further."
"Thanks," Sandile said, his tone sharp. "I'll handle it."
The evening was tense, thick with the weight of unspoken words. Sandile had been pacing around the living room for hours, his mind racing with anger, betrayal, and disbelief. He could feel the image of Khanyiswa kissing another man burned into his mind, replaying over and over like a never-ending loop. He was furious, not just because of the infidelity but because everything he had tried to build with her seemed to have been a lie.
At 19:00 PM, the front door creaked open, and Sandile didn't need to look to know who it was. Khanyiswa entered, her steps slow, almost reluctant. Her eyes met his, but she quickly glanced away, sensing the storm that was brewing in the room.
Sandile didn't wait. He stood up abruptly, his movements sharp. Without a word, he pulled his phone from his pocket and thrust it toward her.
"Yintoni le kaka, Khanyiswa?" he demanded, his voice low and full of anger. He pointed to the picture of her kissing another man, the betrayal staring back at them both. (What the hell is this)
Khanyiswa's face drained of color as she saw the photo. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were stuck. The guilt, the shame, it was all too much to bear. She tried to avoid his gaze, her eyes darting to the floor and then back to him.
Sandile didn't give her time to gather herself. He pressed further. "What the hell, Khanyiswa? How could you do this?"
She hesitated, struggling to come up with a lie, but the truth had already slipped out in a moment of weakness. She sighed, defeated. "It's true, okay? I kissed him. I... I didn't mean for it to happen, but it did."
Sandile's jaw tightened. "And you thought that was okay? After everything we've been through?"
Khanyiswa's voice faltered. "You don't understand. You've been so consumed with Mmabatho and the babyâ" She stopped herself, realizing she was about to say too much. But it was already too late.
Sandile looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "You mean, you cheated because I'm focused on the baby? Is that your excuse?"
Khanyiswa crossed her arms, growing defensive. "You don't get it, Sandile. I wanted a child, but I didn't want to get fat. So, I suggested the surrogacy option, and you went along with it. But you've barely paid attention to me since then. You're always with Mmabatho or talking about the baby. You didn't even care about how I was feeling. I was lonely."
Sandile shook his head, incredulous. "So instead of coming to me, you went and kissed another man? Is that how you deal with things? You think I don't care about you? I've been working my ass off, trying to provide for this family, and this is how you repay me?"
Khanyiswa's face twisted with frustration. "You're too busy with her! You don't see me anymore. It's like I'm invisible to you!"
The room was thick with tension as Sandile let out a frustrated breath. "I don't see you anymore? Khanyiswa, you're the one who didn't want to have a child the traditional way because you were too worried about your appearance. Now you're telling me I don't pay attention to you?"
Khanyiswa flinched at the reminder of her own selfishness. She had pushed him into the surrogacy idea, too concerned about her looks to go through a normal pregnancy, and now here they were, broken because of it. The realization hit her hard, but her pride kept her from fully admitting she was wrong.
Sandile's chest heaved with anger. "You don't get it, Khanyiswa. Mmabatho is carrying our babyâour baby. And yet you thought cheating on me was the solution to feeling neglected?" His voice broke as the frustration boiled over. "You've crossed a line that can't be undone."
The silence between them was deafening. The sting of betrayal hung heavy in the air. Sandile's face hardened as he stepped back, his voice now cold and final.
"I want a divorce. I'm done. You'll be hearing from my lawyers."
Khanyiswa's breath caught in her throat as his words sank in. Divorce? Just like that? She felt like the floor had dropped out from under her, but she knew, deep down, that it was her own fault. The damage had been done.
She opened her mouth to say somethingâanythingâbut Sandile was already walking away, his back turned to her. The sound of his footsteps faded as he left, leaving her standing in the center of the room, stunned and broken.
Later that evening, Sandile drove to the hospital, desperate for some sort of solace. His emotions were a messâhe was angry, heartbroken, and completely lost. The weight of his wife's betrayal was heavy, and he didn't know how to move forward.
When he walked into the hospital, he was greeted by the sight of Mmabatho sitting by the window, reading aloud to the baby. The soft glow from the setting sun illuminated her face, and for a moment, Sandile just stood there, watching her. The serenity she radiated was a stark contrast to the chaos he was feeling inside.
When Mmabatho noticed him, she immediately set the book down and sat up, her concern evident. "Sandile? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He walked over to her slowly, the weight of the day pressing down on him. "I don't know what to do anymore, Mmabatho. Khanyiswa... she cheated on me. I can't believe it. After everything we've been through, she did this."
Mmabatho's eyes softened, and she reached out to him, her touch gentle but firm. "I'm so sorry, Sandile. I can't imagine how much this hurts."
The tears welled up in his eyes, and he didn't fight them. "I don't know who she is anymore. I don't know if I can ever forgive her."
Mmabatho didn't say anything. She simply took his hand and placed it gently on her belly, where the baby was kicking. The soft movement of the baby under his palm was a small reminder of something pure and real. Something worth holding on to.
"It's going to be okay," Mmabatho whispered, her voice soothing. "You'll figure it out. You have to."
Sandile closed his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of her hand and the baby's movements calm him. Maybe he didn't have all the answers right now, but for the first time in hours, he felt like there might be hope.
"Thank you," he whispered, squeezing her hand gently. "I needed this."