Chapter 13 - The Courthouse

I married Faith in a small ceremony at the courthouse.

No big production. No cameras. Just us, a magistrate, and two witnesses.

It felt right. Honest. Real.

I'd been sober for three years. I'd made amends with everyone I could — the band, my family, even Palesa, who'd actually apologized for her part in everything. She was married now too, to a sound engineer, and seemed genuinely happy.

I'd tried one more time to reach out to Amahle. To tell her I was sorry, that I understood now what I'd destroyed. Themba had called me personally.

"She's moved on, Kagiso. Completely. She doesn't think about you anymore. She doesn't hate you. She just… doesn't care. And that's healthy. That's what she needs."

"I know. I just wanted her to know—"

"She knows. Trust me, she knows. But she doesn't need your apology to be happy. She's happy because she chose to be. Because she built a life that doesn't include you."

It had hurt. But it was also freeing.

I didn't need Amahle's forgiveness to move forward. I needed to forgive myself. To accept that I'd made terrible choices and hurt someone I loved, and that I couldn't undo any of it.

All I could do was be better. Do better.

Faith understood. She knew my history, knew I was a work in progress. She loved me anyway.

"You ready?" she asked, straightening my tie.

"Yeah. I'm ready."

We walked into the courthouse hand in hand.

I'd never have what Amahle and Themba had. I'd never have that fairy-tale ending, that perfect family, that complete redemption.

But I had this. A second chance. A woman who believed in me. A life that was smaller but more authentic.

And maybe that was enough.

Maybe that was all I deserved.