CHAPTER 27
JIMMY KHAMBULE

The tests came back positive, I have
metastatic prostate cancer. It has spread to
my bones, lymph nodes, liver and lungs. My
doctor was shocked that I didn’t have any
symptoms seeing how much it has progressed.
She contacted all her urology friends in the
country and everyone couldn’t believe their
eyes; This is by far the worst case of prostate
cancer they have ever seen in their careers.
There’s no cure for metastatic prostate
cancer, the doctors can only slow down the
spread. They don’t want to tell it to me
straight but I know I’m going to die sooner
rather than later, the 5 years they are talking
about is just to give me hope.
I have never been this scared in my life, for
the first time in my life I’m thinking about
the after life and where my soul will go.
I haven’t told my family about the cancer,
things between all of us have been hectic. A
part of me believes that they will all rejoice
when they learn that my days on earth are
numbered, especially Sihle because she’s in
the holding cell because of me. One person
who might be hurt is Thulisile, that woman
has always loved me and I hurt her so much
in this life time. I wish I had left her sooner
rather than to keep her around and make her
wet the pillow each night.
I hope Thuli experiences true love and
happiness when I leave this world because I
have. The one year I was with Bubble
completed me in every way possible, I’ll
cherish the moments we shared forever. I’m
happy that she refused to be my second wife.
She was genuine with how she felt about me
too, that’s why she took my betrayal so hard,
I was the last person she expected to hurt her
that bad.
If we got married and I died right after I
would have taken her soul with me and that
wouldn’t have been fair on Basetsana. She’s
young and she still needs her mother.
I arrive at the hospital, I’m here to see doctor
Molote. She asked me to come see her, she
stressed how important it is for me to come
immediately. I know it’s not good news but
nothing will scare me now, I mean I already
have cancer and I’m going to die. What could
be more scary than death? Exactly.
I greet the nurse at the reception desk and
ask where doctor Molote is. She tells me to
sit down and she will page her for me. I thank
her and go take a seat.
“Mr. Khambule,” she says, standing infront of
me in her navy blue scrubs.
“Hello doctor,” we shake hands.
“Thank you for hurrying here. Please come
with me,” she says and I stand up then follow
behind her as she makes small talk.
We step into a small office and she shows me
where to sit before she settles on a chair
across from me.
“Did you find anything else on the scans?” I
ask with so much calmness.
“Everything is still the same, I just wanted to
run something by you,” I narrow my eyes.
“Okay, I’m listening,” I lean back, acting like
I’m calm but my heart is hummering against
my chest right now.
“I don’t know why but I just can’t sit back and
do nothing with your case,” she seems really
hurt but she shouldn’t. Next week we will be
starting with therapies to stop the
progression of my cancer. That’s all they can
do for me, she said it herself.
“There’s nothing you can do doctor, I have
accepted my reality. Please don’t let my
situation get to your head, you have other
patients you can still fully help,” I say and she
shakes her head.
“I can’t help you myself but I know someone
who can try and save your life. It’s a risk of
course but people have survived,” I narrow my
eyes, confused by what she just said.
“I don’t understand,” she grabs a file and
hands it to me.
“I know an oncologist in the states, Mayo
clinic, he is brilliant. He has a clinical trial for
metastatic prostate cancer, I called him and
asked him to look at your scans and he got
back to me this morning. You qualify for the
trial,” she says and I lean in.
“The clinical trial will save my life?” I ask
hurriedly.
“If it works it will give you more than the 5
years you have left because of this cancer.
But it’s possible that you might still die, Mr
Khambule. The file has every piece of
information you need, look at it and call me
with questions. Then decide if you want in,
we have a week to decide and fly you to
America,” what’s there to think about?
“I want in. Please call your friend and tell him
to expect me,” she tilts her head to the side.
“This is a huge decision, Mr Khambule. You
need to sit down with your family and tell
them, the day you leave might be the last
they ever see you. Give them a chance to
know this and process it,” she says and I
heave a sigh.
“I have heard you doctor.” I doubt I’ll tell them
though. I’ll write a letter explaining myself
and make sure it gets delivered to them
should I die. But if I make it out alive they
won’t have to know that I almost died
because I was infested with cancer.

NALEDI MOLETSANE

I had the longest day at work today, I was
running around asking for documents and
begging people to submit reports. I was gone
for a couple of days and it was clearly a
holiday for many. I’m going to be impossible
this week and remind them that their
performance reflects on me as their manager.
I try to be respectful and thoughtful because
I’m younger than all of them but that’s
proving to be working against me. If they
respected me back as a human being and
their boss they would have done their jobs in
my absence.
I wish I didn’t ask Karabo to meet up with me
for dinner because I’m tired like a dog. I got
tempted to call and cancel but that would
have pissed her off. She was definitely going
to dislike me even more and that’s not what I
want. What I want is to tell her that she has
absolutely nothing to worry about when it
comes to me and Vhutshilo. I hope and pray
that she believes me and gives Bassie’s daddy
another chance because the guy really loves
her. I know this because he introduced her to
our girl, the most important person in his life.
I get to the restaurant and she’s already
sitting at the table, talking to the waitress.
I’m not late but I hope she hasn’t been
waiting for long. I need to get through to her,
for babby daddy’s sake. His happiness means
so much to me and I’ll do whatever it takes to
make sure he keeps his girl and they live
happily.
I pull a chair and greet her, she smiles
genuinely at me and greets back.
Karabo is asking the waitress questions about
their menu and the darling girl answers
gracefully. This is my favorite restaurant, I
know what I’m going to eat and drink so I
don’t have to look at the menu. Karabo is
finally done and the waitress looks at me and
I place my order.
“How are you?” she asks and I heave a sigh.
“I’m tired babe. I had the longest day at work
but the food is going to cheer me up,” I
answer and she chuckles, “How are you?”
“I’m okay, I guess,” she pulls her chair in, “So,
you wanted to meet,” she gets straight to it.
I clear my throat, “I’m sorry for causing
problems between you and Vhutshilo. It
wasn’t my intention,” She wasn’t expecting
this, it’s clear on her facial expression. I just
wonder what she thought I was going to talk
about.
“I want you to know that your man is an
amazing person. He loves you and wants a
future with you, Bassie and the kids you guys
will have. I need you to know and believe that
there’s nothing to our relationship but being
friends and Bassie’s parents. I’m not a fight
you two should be having, I promise I’m not a
threat to your relationship,” she presses her
lips into a thin line, I don’t know what’s going
on in her head right now. She could be cursing
me for all I know..
“Karabo, I don’t mean to overstep the line and
I know this is not my business but I felt like
we needed to have this convesation. I cannot
bare to see my daughters father hurting, he
misses you and I’m sure you miss him too,”
she smiles.
“You’re right, I miss him too,” that’s a relieve,
they still have a chance.
“Then reach out, you guys don’t have to be
hurting like this,” she blows out a sigh.
“I honestly don’t know where these
insecurities come from, I have always been a
confident woman. I don’t recognize the person
I see when I look in the mirror. Vhutshilo has
always been honest about his dynamic and I
thought I would survive it but it’s hard. I just
need to stop overthinking things and try to
take everyday as it comes,” oh thank you
Jesus.
“You don’t have to accept everything. If
something genuinely bothers you talk to
either of us about it and we will try to
change it to accommodate you. Karabo, your
feelings matter,” her shoulders sag in relief, I
wasn’t aware she was tense.
“Thank you, Naledi. I feel much better now, I
guess I wanted the reassurance to come from
you,” the waitress brings our drinks and tells
us the food will be brought soon.
We say thank you in unison and she leaves.
This one is getting a fat tip tonight. She
takes her job seriously.
“I’m looking at places, hopefully I will find one
soon so Bassie and I can move out,” she
quickly drops her eyes.
“Don’t just take anything, make sure it’s safe
and comfortable for you and Bassie,” that was
unexpected but it’s appreciated.
“Definitely babe,” I say and she picks up her
glass and takes a sip.
“I’d like to host everyone at my apartment,
like a do over. I’ll have games planned and
maybe watch a movie. I want to make things
right with Vhutshilo and show him that I’m
willing to make us work; I know having a
healthy relationship with you and Bassie will
prove just that. I’m not doing this solely to
score points with him, I genuinely want to get
to know you and your daughter,” that will
make him very happy.
“When would you like to have us over?” she
offers me a wide, excited smile.
“This Saturday if you don’t have anything
planned,” I promised Manana dinner on
Saturday but I’ll call her and ask to meet on
Friday instead. We have a lot to talk about,
this dinner for one and the tension in
Maswabi’s house.
“Bubble,” there’s only one person who calls me
that in the world.
My heart skips a bit. Please don’t judge me, I
loved this man dearly and I thought we had
forever. It’s only natural for my heart to react
this way when I see him.
“Hey,” I say softly and he smiles sweetly at
me. This man has always been handsome and
he looked younger than his age, but right now
he looks like he aged over night with those
worry lines and bags under his eyes.
“It’s good to see that you still come to our
spot,” he says with twinkling eyes.
“I can’t ditch a great place just because you
lied to me,” the happy twinkle is replaced by
sadness.
“Bubble, I’m sorry my love. I know there’s
nothing I can do or say to make you forgive
me, but I need you to know that it was all
real,” his words go straight for my heart, but
he’s right, I will never forgive him.
“It was never real because it started with lies,
Jimmy. We had our fun and now it’s over,
move on and leave me alone,” I grab my
cocktail and take a sip.
“I will always love you, Naledi Moletsane. My
heart beats only for you and it will remain so
until my dying day.” with that said he walks
away and I’m left feeling some type of way.
“Pshu! That was intense,” Karabo says and I
take a deep breath.
“It was babe. I just wish he would leave me
alone, stop calling me and leave the province
so we don’t bump into each other. I don’t
want to be reminded of what could have been
each time I see him,” she’s nodding her
understanding.
“You must have loved him then,” she says and
I nod vigorously. Why lie?
“Very much, but it’s over now and I want to
move forward, to focus on my career and
Bassie.” she was about to say something when
the waitress towers over us and serves our
food. Everything looks mouthwatering. Let me
eat, we will talk about boys some other time.