At the age of twelve my parents divorced, l lived with my father. My mother remarried and l didn't get along with her new family. l got used to having familiar people around me. My father, Donald Chizema was a constant traveller, so l stayed with his friend's family. The Tinonesana's were family friends and Mr Tinonesana was my father's childhood friend and employee.
He managed my father's local beerhall. That is how l came to know Morris, the oldest child of the Tinonesana family. He was 4 years older than me, and was my first crush. We went to different schools, he was at Churchill and my father sent me to Herentals.
When l first began my form one he was practically there for me especially when my father went on his usual business trips. We always went to school together and we met at the bus stop with him constantly telling his friends to back off.
It was cute and l was head over heels in love with him. The guys in my hood then thought l was his little sister. When l went back home when my father came back. He would wait for me after school opposite my school gate. Then walk me to my bus stop.
It was embarrassing because he would tie my shoe laces, kiss my cheek and we would walk hand in hand to the bus stop. At the age of 15 , when l was in form 3 and he in form 6, we started dating. It was sweet since he was my first boyfriend. We dated for almost a year and he broke it off. Break ups were a first for me and l was hurt. I decided to keep my distance.
So when my father went on his regular business trips, l stayed at home. That's when l began misbehaving and became a rebel. I started dating any guy that was better than my ex. My results became poor reflected by the friends l kept.
After living alone for mostly 4 years, my father stopped going on his regular business trips and then concentrated on his businesses here. He wanted me to take over the local beer hall. At that time l was fresh from A level and hadn't even begun to apply for varsity.
l did, only to realise that Morris worked there as manager. I dealt with the fear and faced him. It was fine at first until the nigga began sending Cupid my way. l dodged the arrows all the time. When he realised he couldn't succeed , he made my stay hell but l managed to make the most of it. One of my friends frequened the beer hall.
He was my former xulie, (slang for schoolmate) and was my best friend's ex. We spent most of the time talking during after hours when l was done with the paper work which annoyed Morris but l didn't care. He began turning my father against me, he was jelous about my relationship with Dexter whom l just flirted with.
l didn't try to correct him knowing he would be hot-headed bull headed for a matador and won't believe me. My father then banned me from seeing him which was absurd. I didn't listen and continued doing what l knew best.
Hanging out with my friends.
Everyday we had fights that always ended with him saying that l was no better than my mother which practically left me crying everyday. He would walk out and l was often left to nurse my broken heart.
In order to get away from the pain, l moved out and started living with my friend, Rumbidzai who lived in Kuwadzana Extension. Everything started okay, we stopped clubbing every Friday. It was good, my life was good until l tried to mend the broken bridge.
I called my father and he rejected the call. I called again and Morris answered.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I want to come back. l hate fighting with you. Please Baba l-"
"You should have thought about it before you left."
"Morris! What are you doing with my father's phone?"
"If l were you l would stay within my limits. You left on your own Elizabeth."
"Don't call me that." I said,
"I'm not required to follow your wish anymore. You're just a reminder of what he lost . The daughter you once were."
"Listen-"
"No you listen. You are a disappointment. You will never achieve anything in life."
"Whether l do. Or whether l don't. It has nothing to with you"
"You are right, it doesn't ."