Distanced but Destined(A South African love story)

Chapter 15

I stared at this man but I still couldn't recognise him. Maybe it was one of mom's friends, I couldn't recall. He stood up and sat on my bed while holding my hand. He constantly kept on apologising and I couldn't understand why. My mom could see the confusion on my face and held the man by his arm and led him out of my room. "She isn't ready Miles, she barely remembers you, you, you've been gone for so long" "Why are you acting like I left because I wanted to. Sindiswa you tried to frame me for fraud and then kept my daughter away from me. She's lying in this hospital because of that jailbird and you're still keeping me away from her, cha angivumi" he said. A short movie played in my head, it was my dad. "Baba!" I screamed from my bed. I tried to get out of bed and run to him but my body was still painful. Instead he came to me and gave me the longest hug with tears in his eyes. "Ngikukhumbulile. Why did you even leave me?" I asked. "Nkosazane yami, sometimes we have to do what's best for us. Put our lives first" he replied. "Baba what about my life or Nkanyezi's? Did it even matter to you?" he scratched his head, I could feel his grip tightening on my hand. "Get some rest my emperor, I'll explain some things later" he said. Just then the doctor strolled in. she was a petite young woman in her late twenties with the most beautiful smile. "Oh the young lady has woken up. Good Morning, how are you feeling Ms. Sono?" she smiled at me. "My body aches, a lot. I can barely move it" "That's just a bit of the swelling, well what's left of it. You should be able to move your body properly in a day's time. Mrs. Sono, we'll have to run a couple of tests to confirm that nothing is fractured so she'll be taken to the x-ray at about 2pm and if all is well then she'll be going home tomorrow afternoon" "Thank you so much Dr. Philay" my mom said. "It's my job to help, get well soon Ms. Sono" I turned my body to face the beautiful view of the rising sun that I could see from the window. I instantly fell into a deep sleep.

"No you are not allowed to open your eyes, not until we arrive" Nosipho said as she covered my eyes with a pitch black cloth. "This is ridiculous. You're acting like I've never been in an airport before" "If you knew where we were going then that would ruin the surprise right, so we'll blindfold you till we arrive" Nolwazi responded. She held my arm and directed me into the airplane. "Pretty quiet" I thought to myself. The flight didn't take that long and in no time I was walking blindfolded in a city with thousands of people. I felt embarrassed. "I can't believe you guys have managed to keep her blindfolded for so long, I would've removed that blindfold a long time ago" I heard a voice say. "Lesa? Oh my word are you in on this too?" she cleared her throat and I could hear Nosipho chuckle. "Uh, n, no Nompi, well, technically I was forced. I told them that their plan was stupid" I wasn't a big fan of surprises and every step I took I got even more irritated. We reached a quiet place and all of a sudden I was walking on grass. The girls removed the blindfold and I saw a pathway, it was dark. I turned back to see every one of my friends, and Sizwe with baby Nosipho in his arms. She was just about three months old, yet she was the most cutest and precious thing. She even smiled a lot. They were all dressed in peach off-the-shoulder full length empire waist dresses with their hair and make-up done. The boys were dressed in white tuxedos with peach ties. A tear fell from my eye, "you guys, you're so beautiful" I said. "Don't look at us, today's all about you" Teejay said. Lesa pulled out a white and peach princess off-the-shoulder wedding dress with lace. I'd never seen a dress so beautiful. "He's right, today is your day. Now quickly put this on, they're waiting for us on the other side" my hair and make-up was done, I don't know how but I guess Nolwazi and Nosipho fiddled with it on our way here. I quickly put on the dress and the veil that came with the crown. I felt like the emperor my dad had always said I was. Everyone walked in pairs until we got to the other side. A beautiful garden with a huge marquee in the middle. The theme for the wedding was peach and blush, that explained our dresses and tuxes. And to my surprise, there he was. Andre Dube. All beautiful in his black tux and pink tie. He looked really nervous and that was really cute about him. I smiled a little, everything was perfect. Loyiso, Lesley, Kenan, Faye and Karabo were waiting for us, as well as my handsome dad. "You look beautiful my emperor, are you ready?" he asked "I don't know if I want to be an empress but I guess it's time to hand over my crown". He chuckled, "love makes you do such things" Andre's face brightened at the sight of my bridal party. He calmed down just a little bit. Nosipho, Sizwe and baby Nosipho walked down the white carpet first followed by Faye and Lesley. Then it was Loyiso and Lesa, Karabo and Teejay, Nolwazi and Percy and lastly Kenan with his girlfriend. And there I was, standing in the middle, the center of attention. The butterflies flew around in my stomach, making me nervous yet very joyous. Just then the piano man started playing "You" by Jesse Powell, my favourite song. I slowly walked down the aisle with my father by my side. An unexpected tear rolled down Andre's cheek, it made my heart beat faster. Those few seconds I spent on that white carpet determined my forever. Filled with laughter, smiles, butterflies and tears. "Do you Andre Dube take Nompilo Sono to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?" "I do" "Do you Nompilo Sono take Andre Dube to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?" "I do" "You may now say your vows" Lesley pulled out Andre's phone and gave it to him.
"You know I'm not good with these things but here goes. From the first day I laid my eyes on you, I knew I wanted to see you again. I saw the beauty of the heavens in your eyes. Your beauty, heart and mind inspire me to be the best person I can be. I promise to love you for eternity, admiring our similarities, respecting our differences, honoring you, respecting you, being faithful to you and sharing every second of my life with you. I love you Nompilo Sono"
Nosipho handed me my vows. At that moment, Prince Nkosinathi walked in, hand in hand with Sinothando. I watched him make his way to his seat and looked down again.
"My father always said that I was an emperor who would one day have to give up her crown and become an empress. In this beautiful garden I dedicate myself to you. Although our lives may change like the seasons, I will love you. As our love grows like a seed to a beautiful flower, I will love you. We will stand together, strong, nurtured by each other's love until the end. And today I lay down my crown for you, I will always love you Andre Dube"
"Ladies and gentleman, Mr. and Mrs. Dube, Andre, you may kiss your bride" Andre leaned in for the kiss, our lips touched, "Nompi, wake up" my mother said.

I looked around and once again, I was in hospital. Surrounded by needles and test tubes. "What's going on?" I asked. "Your x-ray went well and the doctor found nothing wrong with you so you will be coming home tomorrow" I shifted my back and I could barely feel pain. The swelling had gone down. "What if I don't want to go home Ma, there are too many skeletons in your closet. I can't handle secrets being revealed everyday" She looked down. My dad walked in with lunch, McDonalds, pulled a chair and sat down beside me. "I brought you your favourite, MCFeast Deluxe" I sat up and smiled remembering the time Andre had promised to buy me McDonalds "And that smile?" My dad asked. "I had a dream dad. Everything was so beautiful, so perfect. Andre was there. McDonalds reminds me of him. He is my soulmate" I said. "Who is this Andre you keep on mentioning?" my mom asked. "Someone I love. Someone who cares for me. Someone who'd take a bullet for me. Someone who'd make the world stop for me. Someone who lives in Johannesburg" I sighed. "But he's so far away baby" my dad said. "Distance means nothing if you are destined dad. We're distanced but destined, I know we are" "How about we go to Johannesburg to look for your soul mate, as soon as you get out of here?" my dad proposed. I kissed him on the cheek. "I love you daddy"

Translations
Cha angivumi - No I don't agree
Baba - Dad
Ngikukhumbulile - I missed you
Nkosazane yami - my princess

Completed at 4am, 28 March 16.
"You" by Jesse Powell is in the music box. Check it out!
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Twitter: @nomy_mash