*Mother of Life* *Part 5 (chapter 1 finale)* *_By Timmy Turner_* As we walked into the the club, I gazed around in awe. The place looked like nothing I'd seen before, or maybe it's because I've never been in a night club before. Disco lights all over the place, tables set in very unique way, good music playing at a high volume making the atmosphere something else. It was a sight to behold and the atmosphere was nice, I could get used to this. I was woken up by the sound of Stars shouting my name. "Baby girl, it shouldn't be obvious that it's your first time here, act normal girl please. Too bad because no alcohol for you, we don't want you to ruin our future over there". She said as she let out a laughter that annoyed me to the gutter and pointing to my tummy. "Wait what!? What are you talking about..." Shy interrupted me before I could finish my sentence. "Nompilo look at us, we don't have the word 'fool' tattooed on our foreheads. Anyone can see that you my dear are carrying the heir to the one and only Trevor. And girl since we're here you have to tell us how you managed to bag that one". Stars immediately intervened as if she knew that I was suddenly uncomfortable. "Sweetheart, what she means to say is we know you are expecting and it's not good for you to just sit in that room all day everyday, depression is real my dear so let go and let loose and let's have fun. Forget about all that for the night, instead you were supposed to leave it all the the door and you take it on your way back home but for now we dancing the night away. Come here". She said as she stretched out her hand for me to hold and she pulled me to the dance floor. After a night of endless dancing and drinks and drunk men coming at us with lame punchlines trying to get laid the ladies decided to call it a night. In those few hours spent at the club I quickly got the hang of it and began to enjoy myself until the thought of going back to reality struck. The taxi dropped us off at the compound at exactly 02:25 am and to my amazement the light in our room was on. Oh flip, Trevor is home. How come because I thought he'd be out for the night like he usually does. Lucky for me the door was not locked, there's nothing frustrating as coming home late to a closed door and having to explain and beg to be let in. That's what always happened with my father. Our gate was locked at seven pm and whoever was in was in, if you're out, you're out and you should look forward to sleeping in the toilet which was outside together with the bathroom then wake up the next morning to a court session which always had one verdict, the crocodile skin belt. Remember I did highlight that in as much as Njomane was a gentleman, the law remained the law and failure to adhere to it had repurcursions. As I made my way into our bedroom I found Trevor sitting on the wooden chair with his elbows rested on his thighs and his hands squeezing each other. Now we were at the point where one would walk in the house coming from wherever and do whatever without greeting each other. We spoke to each other only if I needed something from him or vis versa. "Nompilo, it is almost three am and you're only walking into the house. Where do you come from?" He asked as I untied my belt inorder to take off my jeans and get into my night dress. "I was...." Before I could finish my sentence a throbbing pain suddenly landed on my face sending shivers down my spine and it was when I received the second slap on my face which sent me straight to the wardrobe and to the floor that I realized that I was being beaten up. "You were out with Shy and Stars, the most well known hoes in the city of Gweru. You go out with them huh, what did you do? Who did you meet? Talk, I'm asking you questions and I want answers!" This he said as he kicked me over and over on my back, on my stomach and on my head, well all over my body I guess. "Trevor I'm sorry, Im sorry please Trevor I'm sorry". I said as I begged for mercy while he kicked, punched, slapped and hauled insults at me. "Listen here my dear, my house my rules, never forget that. You should also remember that you're just here because of that baby you claim is mine but it won't be long before I get fed up with you and send you packing. Are we clear?" Trevor said as he held me the braids on my head holding me up to face him. All I could do at that moment was nod and pray that my baby survived what we just went through. The following morning I woke up to an empty bedside and this time it's actually what I hoped for. I was not ready to face Trevor, or rather the animal that I saw yesterday. After a long while of deep thought and crying I finally got myself to wake up and get out of bed. My first order of business was to look at the mirror and see how many dents I received from yesterday's panel beating. A swollen chick and a few bruises, one just above my left eye and one just underneath my lip weren't nothing that could stop me from going to the doctor to check up on my baby. I just had to live through the aches that I had all over my body. If it were up to me I'd spend the whole day in bed crying but I have to make sure my baby's okay. Speaking of the baby, when did I grow so fond of him? All it has brought me is pain and misery. First my father bashed me as if he was beating up a thieve and then kicked me out and now my boyfriend, the one I came all the way from Bulawayo hoping he'd accept me with my baby and we conquer the world together side by side has also bashed me and threatened to kick me out. My thoughts where disturbed by the fourth ring of my phone which had been ringing from a distance. After a brief search I finally found it under the bed with four missed calls from my mother and that invited yet another stream of tears. I swear my tear supply is going to run dry. After another session of crying I finally managed to compose myself and return my mother's calls. You see hearing my mom's voice always seemed to comfort me, I don't know how it did it but just hearing her answer the call and and say, "my sunshine, my phone still works and it is equally able to receive calls you know that right". Just that always brought a huge ear to ear smile on my face and we'd laugh about everything until she ran out of airtime. This is something she did with all her children when we're away from home. Even though I looked forward to hearing her sweet voice, I knew this time it was different given the circumstances. So in this call all I had to do is answer the questions that would be thrown my way and hope she does not recognize that there is something wrong with me. She is already worried about the fact that I am squatting with my boyfriend, I wouldn't want to add to her plate. "Nompilo, are you okay?" That right there, you see that did that thing again of inviting a stream of tears and the tears gladly accepting the invitation. "Hello mom. I am fine, how are you and the rest of the family over there?" I replied after a while trying so hard to hold back my tears or at least let them out without a sound. "First of all Nompilo I am your mother. I know you better than you know yourself. Secondly me knowing you more than you know yourself should tell you that I can tell just from the sound of your voice that no you're not okay and lastly, you should know by now that you my dear are a bad liar. Now out with it please before I get on the next bus and find my way to that compound!" At this point she sounded really angry and I knew just then what I had to do but just as I tried to let out the first words my tears which seem to have lost their breaks came out once again and this time it was really loud. Finally my mother had reached out, for the first time since I left home all she did was send text messages checking on me and now just after I get yet another beating she calls me. I couldn't hold it so I did what all girls do to their mothers, I let it all out. "What happened, Nompilo you are starting to scare me now. I told you your father will come around he just needs time." She said in-between my cries. "I... I... I know". That's all I could let out at that moment. "Now what's the problem, is it Trevor? What did he do? Wait, did he beat you up? I always knew there was something off with that boy. Listen here my girl, this very moment pack your bags and get on the next bus, combi or whatever you can find. If it means you have to hitch hike then so be it. Right now start packing." She demanded. "You are coming home. If your father is not happy about it then he'll kick us both out." She continued The fact that my mom just prophesied my beating will remain a mystery to me but at that moment I did what a good girl does, take instructions. So I told my mom I didn't have enough money to get me to Bulawayo and she said she'd pick me up so I should request a pay forward arrangement with the driver. Back at home it hasn't been easy but eventually my father managed to find a way for us to peacefully coexist as unhappy as he was about my return. I do not now know which reason it was, whether it was his love for me or it was the fear of losing my mother since she openly declared that if I am to be kicked out we leave together or maybe it's simply because he doesn't have a choice I mean I'm his daughter after all. When I come to think of it I think it's the first reason, the second and the third reasons don't match with my father. He never gives in to any threat and he never doesn't have a choice and that's one of his attributes that made him the great and feared Njomane and it inspires me as well. A few days after I got home I had recieved some calls from Trevor which I ignored all the time. What does he want? He treated me like trash, like a rag or a homeless child he took in and now he has the guts to really call me, I really do not understand men at this point. One afternoon as I am preparing supper I hear Slindile's voice and it sounds like she is talking with my mom in the dinning room. "Nompilo, you have a visitor". My mom shouted and immediately I rushed to the dinning room where they were. I really missed my friend because I had not been allowed to even go to the shops since my return. "She says she has something for you. And it's from Trevor, claims it's private. Now tell me what could be private in my home?" My mother said as she looked at me. "I thought I made myself clear when I said you stay away from that boy". She continued. "It's a letter Mama he asked, he actually begged that I deliver it to Nompilo because she isn't answering his calls". Slindile said with a trembling voice. After a back and forth with my mother she finally allowed Slindile to go, leaving the letter behind which I failed to open until at night as I lay in my bed wondering what it is he had written in the letter. As I opened the letter, tears began to stream down my face. Yes that's the girl I've become, the one that cries all day everyday. The letter read... " dear Mother of Life I do not know where to even begin because i feel like anything I might say might sound like me being defensive, justifying my stupidity. I was very stupid and i really dont know what got into me that night. The whole situation has been overwhelming for me and I hadn't been able to come to terms with the pregnancy until now. I love you Nompilo and that has never changed I really wish I'd done things differently but just like they say, what's done is done and I am sorry, truly sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and I can't to meet our son. Trevor Now you see Trevor knew that no matter what, once he called me 'Mother of life's that smile would erupt on my face. And now he just said he can't wait to meet our son. Could this be the beginning of what I'd hoped for the day I stepped out of the gate of my father's house? Maybe it is the happy ending to my story or maybe it's just regret talking and he'll get back to his ways sooner or later, only time will tell. For now let me focus on healing and mending my relationship with my parents and wait on my baby who magically survived two brutal beatings.