4. ESCAPE

ROME’S P.O.V

“ I am so sorry you are leaving. I will come say bye to your mother.”

“ We will be leaving as soon as she gets home, Mrs. Majola.” I said, turning and waving.

“ Okay. Bye bye sweet Rome.”

I waved one last time before jumping on my skateboard. Six houses down and one to go. My eyes ran to our driveways and saw my mother’s car but it wasn’t the only one there. A frown made its way on my face. Who was that? The dark tinted windows made me feel uneasy. I stared at the number plate realizing it was from another province.

My stomach twisted into knots.

Back and forth I stared between our house and the Dlamini’s house.

I did not care for Thembela. I didn't like children. But Angelica. All through my goodbye’s I made sure I put the Dlamini’s last because I wanted to spend more time there. I was the only one in my age group allowed to carry baby Angelica. Angelica loved folding her tiny fingers around my thumb then bringing it to her mouth to suck. I loved Angelica. Sometimes