Chapter 8 - Six Years

Themba was waiting in the lobby. He'd been my rock through all of this — helping me find Samke when the first attorney wasn't aggressive enough, making sure I ate and slept, sitting with me when the loneliness got too heavy.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"It's done. I'm officially divorced."

He pulled me into a hug. I let myself sink into it, breathing in his familiar scent — coffee and cedar and something uniquely him.

"I'm proud of you," he said softly. "You fought for yourself. You didn't let him manipulate you into taking less than you deserved."

I pulled back, looked up at him. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"Yes, you could have. But I'm glad I could help."

There was something in his eyes. Something warm and careful and full of possibility.

"Themba," I said slowly. "Why did you help me? Really?"

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Because I've been in love with you since the day Kagiso introduced us. And watching him treat you like shit for the past six months has been torture."

My breath caught. "You… what?"

"I know the timing is terrible. I know you just got divorced and you need time to heal. I'm not asking for anything, Amahle. I just… I needed you to know. I needed you to know that you're extraordinary. That you deserve someone who sees that. Who would never, ever take you for granted."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. "How long have you felt this way?"

"Six years. Since the first time I heard you play. Since the first time you laughed at one of my terrible jokes. Since the first time I realized Kagiso had no idea how lucky he was."

"Why didn't you say anything?"