Unmasked

I have been married to Thando for close to two years now. I didn’t think I would ever be the wife that would sit and watch the clock hour for hour wondering when my husband would finally walk through the door. My husband has made deliberate efforts never to work shifts that would leave me alone for a long time in the night and the latest he has ever been away from home is 9PM.

I sip from my fresh cup of coffee and look at the time for the billionth time. It’s almost 4 in the morning now and he hasn’t called or even texted. This is my six cup of coffee from the time I started waiting and I know the doctor clearly mentioned that it’s not good for the baby but I need it to stay awake.

I check my phone to see if I have missed any message but there is nothing. My pride can’t allow me to call him because I know I have messed up really bad. Some things were said that night in my conversation with Zac and I don’t think I will ever be able to take them back. Now I have my husband who is hurt and my brother too.

I am brought out of my reverie when the gate opens. I rush to the window and open the curtain, Thando drives in but then doesn’t come out of the car for another ten minutes.

‘You are awake.’ He says when he walks into the house.

I was hoping to see a drunk husband, but he is as sober as day.

‘I couldn’t sleep knowing you are out there.’

‘It’s not good for your body. Get some rest.’ He says.

He walks away from me and goes to the bedroom and I am left there standing in awe. I am not sure what I expected but all these hours of me waiting for him to get back home feel like a waste because how does he just come and say less than twenty words to me and goes to sleep?

I won’t start a fight, I also know that if I go to bed, I will be tempted to confront this so I start cleaning the house. The house help will be in, in a few hours but I don’t care because I just need to keep my mind busy. By the time he is getting out of bed at 8 in the morning I have worn myself out by cleaning the house, doing the dishes and laundry. I have also taken a bath from the spare bedroom and now I want to prepare something to eat.

‘You were cleaning?’ He asks looking around the kitchen

‘Good morning to you too.’ I say instead leaning against the counter. My back is aching from the work I have been doing, I know the doctor said that I take it easy but I needed the distraction.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I am fine.’

‘Sit down, let me prepare you something to eat.’

I want to protest. I was raised in a home where we would sweep everything under the rug and I promised myself that it would never be like that in my home but now I just don’t have the energy.

‘I am going to the farm later, I need to see mum.’ He informs me without even looking at me

‘Thando so you think that running away from me is a good idea right now?’

He turns around.

‘What do you mean running away? As far as I am concerned I am just going to see my mother. Or is there anything wrong with that?’

For the sake of not arguing, I just shake my head.

‘Oh and I might need you to come down to the station tomorrow.’

‘For what?’

‘The investigation.’

‘Why? I thought my name was cleared in all this mess.’

‘It was. But don’t forget that Lona has an alibi and names are being dropped.’

‘My name was dropped?’

‘I can’t discuss that with you Zara. It’s for the case.’

‘I am your wife for crying out loud Thando. Can’t you give me a heads up?’

‘Unfortunately that’s not how I work.’

‘And who is doing the investigation?’

‘I am.’

‘Wow. I don’t know why I am not shocked.’

‘Zara I am not your enemy. I am just trying to do my job.’

‘And have you thought about how that affects me as your wife? As the mother of your unborn child?’

‘We just need to find the truth. There is a huge possibility that we convicted the wrong person. That I convicted the wrong person. And I will never be okay with myself until the real culprit is brought to book. I just want my conscious to be clear.’

‘And you think I might be the killer.’

‘Stop imagining things Zara.’

‘I want to count the number of times you have called me Zara but it’s all good.’

He looks at his phone.

‘Is everything okay?’

‘We just took down an illegal operation last night, names are being given.’

‘Illegal operation?’

‘Something called Plot 15, very disgusting place like this. I don’t know what would happen to people to find themselves in such a place.’

I just smile wordlessly.

‘My colleagues want to know how I got hold of it and they still can’t believe that it was an anonymous tip.’

I get my phone and unblock Zac then send him a message.

‘What did you do?’ I ask angrily.

‘You have seen nothing yet.’ Comes the response

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️