Dylan is checking for her pulse.
She runs to his side and starts shouting her name,
“Annie! Annie!Muka!”
She opens her eyes briefly.
“ She’s alive,” Dylan sighs with relief. Tanya takes out her phone and calls an ambulance.
They drive after the ambulance but when they get to the hospital they have to wait a full hour before the doctor comes to speak to them.
“ Annie has a number of broken ribs and a broken wrist but she will heal. Nothing points to any further damage than that.”
Tanya asks if she can see her whilst Dylan calls her parents.
Annie is awake now but she looks like she’s been beaten to a pulp. Her right eye is swollen shut and her lip is split open. She’s crying. Tanya’s heart goes out to her, all she can think of is how Mainini had died. Tears start falling and she can’t stop them. She holds Annie’s hand and they cry together, silently; one for the pain she feels and the other in understanding of that pain. Right then Tanya knows she has to take Mhamha to therapy no matter what. They both need it. She will suggest it to Annie too, later.
Just then Dylan walks in and is also silent for a few minutes. He doesn’t know where to start. He’s angry, angry that he knew this would happen but hadn’t done anything. He’s angry with Tapiwa for being such a beast of a man, taking advantage of Annie.
He clears his throat and says, “ Annie, I called your parents. They will be here soon. Could you please tell us what happened?”
Annie tries to sit up but can’t. She clears her throat and Tanya can see she’s in a lot of pain.
Her voice is barely audible as she speaks,
“I went to Tapiwa’s flat to tell him the wedding was off. I should have tried for a public place but I needed the privacy. When I told him he seemed calm at first, then all of a sudden he lashed out calling me all sorts of names. He started hitting me telling me I was a nobody and I couldn’t do that to him. He kicked me in the stomach so hard I heard something break …..,” she breaks off.
She sighs heavily,” I remember thinking I was going to die…I was going to die and no one would find me. Somehow I managed to get out of that flat and ran. Someone saw me running and helped me. I gave them your address and that’s where they dropped me.”
Tanya is shaken, visibly so. It’s as if she’s reliving her own childhood.
Dylan says,” I’m sorry this happened to you Annie. I should have done something. The doctor says you will be fine, but I suggest you file a police report as soon as you can. Tapiwa can’t get away with this.”
Tanya agrees. They stay with her till her parents come. They explain how the abuse has been going on for a while. Annie’s father is livid, he wants to go and find Tapiwa right then and there. Annie’s mother is heartbroken for her child and sad that Annie hadn’t been able to tell her such things.
Dylan calms him down and promises to get Tapiwa to come and apologise. He mentions to them that they should talk to Annie about pressing charges.
Dylan and Tanya drive home in silence, both consumed by their own thoughts. They find everyone asleep except for Gogo Kupa who wants to know what had happened. Tanya explains briefly to her mother and promising to give her details in the morning.
As they enter their bedroom Dylan turns to her, “I feel like we should pray about this now, please join me.”
Tanya nods, in complete agreement and they kneel at the foot of the bed.
“Father we come to you this evening,” Dylan starts.
“We are still in mourning; and yet we find ourselves in a more burdening situation. We are confused, angry and at a loss. We are drained and overwhelmed. You led us to these two young people to guide them and yet we feel as if we’ve failed.”
Tanya squeezes his hand, assuring him that she feels the same.
“Lord Jesus we need you to show yourself, in us and through us. Strengthen us and give us wisdom. May we know how to be there for Annie and how to deal with Tapiwa. The situation requires forgiveness, we have none. Dear Lord…help us”
And with that plea they go to bed, knowing that only God is be able to fix this mess. He’ll fix everything else too; Tanya is wholly convinced of it.
She’s in awe of how much she has grown; from her past and insecurities to the mother and wife who is aware of her shortcomings. If anything, she has more understanding of who she is now. Granted, a few areas still need work but she’s making conscious efforts to improve herself…for Dylan and for her children. And that alone brings a little bit of peace within her.
First thing tomorrow she’ll talk to Dylan and apologize for keeping money from him. She’ll talk to Mhamha too; therapy is definitely needed. Her past needs facing, one last time. Maybe she will finally grieve Manini, and maybe her mother will heal too…
