Unmasked
Chapter 25

We have both stopped crying, I want to get into Zac’s head right now and ask him what is going through his mind.

‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’

He sighs deeply.

‘I want to blame her, I want to say that she pushed me way too hard but I guess I had demons that were just waiting to come out and it’s sad that she was in that position to face them.’

I don’t respond.

‘I started therapy, I was going to change but then I realized that my therapist was just using me for information and so I didn’t want to go there anymore.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Thando’s mother.’

I look at him. I know her profession but it would have never clicked that she was his therapist. And why didn’t I know about this?

‘I was diagnosed with a multiple personality disorder.’ He says sniffing some mucus.

‘I know what that is but how?’

‘She told me that I had two personalities, one that wanted to do right by myself and the other that continued to hurt people through out just so I could protect you.’

I can hear from his voice that he wants to start crying again.

‘So there was a part that didn’t even want Thando, one that was ready to even kill him. And then there was a part that gave her all the information she and him needed to get us behind bars. They offered me a few years if only I pleaded guilty and gave them some information to use against you.’

I shouldn’t be shocked, I mean Thando has been acting off the past few months but I can’t help but get hurt. I thought we had something solid, I thought he was the man that would make all my dreams and aspirations come through. I thought I had finally arrived home.

‘I think he has some good in him, but his mother on the other end wants so many things from him. She wants a life through him and because he loves her so much he is so blinded by everything.’

This feels like he is talking about a different man. The Thando I got married to is a man that could stand his ground, yes he loves his mother but hearing Zac talk like this about him feels like he is talking about another person.

‘I am sorry that it’s us all over again who have to go through something like this, I wish life was kinder even to you after everything we have gone through.’

I shake my head.

‘Life happens Zac. I want to say that we deserve half the things that we have gone through.’

He stops me.

‘Despite everything I think we have had a really good life. Except we found people who played us.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I doubt Thando’s mother is as innocent as she wants to make all of us believe. She dug into us and that’s why she allowed her son to even marry you, she always knew. She wanted a redemption for her son’s career by ruining us. Especially you.’

I look back at the relationship that I have had with her, I think of all the times I actually thought that she was nice to me. The times I almost believed that she was like the mother I never had and yet like the rest of us she just wanted the best for her son.

‘I would never let anything happen to you Zara, I would be damned to allow the world to shame you whilst I am still alive. I would have to be rotting in my grave before anyone touches a hair on your head.’

My eyes well up. His tears have started to fall.

‘Zac why do you love me this much? I know we are siblings but.’

He puts a finger to my lips making me stop talking.

‘You are bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. You and I have been sharing everything even before we came to this world. We are all we have, when the people who were supposed to protect us hurt you I knew it was always going to be us and Zara I just don’t love you because of everything you have been through. I love you because you deserve to be loved. I love you because you are a good person, I love you because past your mistakes, past your mask, you are still a very good person and I love you more because in a world where everyone sees my mask, you see my face.’ He pauses, tears falling hard.

‘You have always seen my face and you have loved me still. Sister I love you. With everything in me and I want only the best for you.’

We are both crying uncontrollably. Zac has never been this raw with me and no one loves us like we love each other. Raw. Real. Unmasked.

‘It is time.’

I shake my head.

‘Zara it is time, call the cops.’

I shake my head again more tears falling.

He picks up his phone and dials the nearest police station, he gives them the details of everything that had happened and our location and when they are done talking he cuts the line.

‘There is a safe in my bedroom with all my life savings, the combination is your birthday. I want you to get everything and build a life for yourself, do me a favour Zara and never allow anyone to step on you. Don’t allow the world to take advantage of you.’

I have heard everything he has said but I can’t stop crying, I cry for what seems like forever until the cops come. I watch on as my brother is man handled, Celine’s body is taken away and I am just there crying. They take me in as well to give a statement and when I get there I am met by Thando and his mother and for the first time in years I see his face.

‘What happened?’ He asks

I remove my wedding ring and hand it to him wordlessly then follow the officer who brought me in.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏽‍♀️