Things fall apart

It had been a week since her sister's death and she could not understand what God was thinking to let her sister die like that. How could God take her sister away leaving her children as orphans. Natasha was boiling inside to a point where she was becoming angry with God. Ruvimbo had been married to Jerry for three years and they had had two children, a boy named Josh and a girl named Rudo. They had received job offer to work in Mozambique and they wanted to go there to assess the offer to see if they could accept the offer. So, they asked Natasha to stay at their house helping their maid look after their kids for that week they would be away. They drove to Mozambique and had decided to turn the offer down and stay in Zimbabwe but as they were driving back Jerry lost control of the car and it crashed. The couple died on the spot.

Natasha was in deep pain because she was so close to Ruvimbo. They were two in their family and when their parents died, it was Ruvimbo who had been there for her ever since. She had taken her through high school and college and never complained of that being a burden. Now Natasha was a successful fashion designer who designed clothes for Edgars Zimbabwe, all because of her sister and now she was gone. For good. Even after her marriage to Jerry, she never abandoned her sister. She loved Natasha and when Jerry came he also loved her.

When the call came that her sister had passed on Natasha was crashed and she wanted to be left alone to languish herself in sorrow but things could not let her. She was the one to run around passing the message, organising the funeral and things like that. She just left the kids with Brenda the maid and had not returned home since morning. When everything was set, she called Brenda and organised for her to come to the funeral with the kids. She asked Tariro her best friend who was coming to Masvingo for the funeral to bring Brenda and the kids.

"Natasha" an uncle called.

"Yes sekuru" she answered

"There is not enough bread for everyone here to eat"

"Ok sekuru I will go and buy some bread. How many loaves?"

"the kitchen said just two dozen"

Natasha does not waste any time; she grabs her keys and her wallet and drives off. She could just have sent someone but she just wanted to get some air. The grief was killing her so she thought if she gets to do one or two things, it could distract her from the pain. Meanwhile, at home Brenda had arrived with the kids and Josh, the two-year-old was calling out for mommy. Those who were attending the funeral wept aloud when they heard him for they knew that wherever Ruvimbo had gone she would never be able to hear her son calling for her. Natasha came back with the bread and as she stepped into the house, Josh roused from Brenda and ran to her arms.

"mommy" he said sounding so relieved

Natasha was speechless because of what Josh had just called her. When Josh started speaking, he referred to Natasha as Natie but this development here and now changed Natasha's life forever. Natasha hugged the little boy tightly and she cried so much. She had lost a beloved sister but at that moment she did not want these children to lose their mother. Ruvimbo was gone but she did not want these children to feel it. And so, it was in that moment that Natasha became a mother.

When the funeral was over, a family meeting was called by the uncles of the family to discuss the future of the children and the property, of course. As the people were arguing Natasha stood up.

"stop it all of you" she said

"these two children you see here are not orphans. They may have lost their parents but they are not orphans. You know why? Because I am here and they see me as their mother. I want to be their mother. So, stop all the arguing."

"but my dear, you are still a child yourself, how then do you plan on being a mother when you do not know the first thing about being a mother, let alone raising two children." Ambuya Marara said. People nodded agreeing with what ambuya Marara had said.

"I am a single girl who has never been married and true I do not know the first thing about being a mother but I love Josh and I love Rudo. Plus, Brenda will be there with me. She knows these kids, she has stayed with them since their birth, she will help me. Besides that, is there anyone here who would want to take the kids?"

There was silence

Natasha was pained that nobody wanted the kids but she was happy that they were hers now. The family then agreed to let Natasha have everything that belonged to her sister so that she can raise the kids. After everything people departed and Natasha also left for home to Harare. She was with her friends who had come to the funeral, Brenda and the kids. As the girls were talking, one of her friends Tariro asked where Quinton was and why he hadn't come for the funeral. That's when it hit her, since her sister's death she had not spoken to Quinton or heard from him.

Quinton was her boyfriend and they had been together for a year and half. They had met at a church fundraiser and they had hit it ever since. Quinton was a nice guy, handsome and successful. He was an accountant at the NMB bank in Harare. Quinton was one of those guys who loved to be in control of everything and because of that he had a position in the church and at his workplace he was some kind of a boss.

"Oh my God, I did not tell Quinton about the funeral" Natasha told her friend frantically," that's why I have not heard from him. He is angry with me"

Tariro replied, "girl, if what you are thinking is true then we should find you a new man. You know why? Because I am your best friend of many years. You did not tell me about the accident. I heard it when it was announced in the church but didn't I come. I am here because that's what you do when you love someone. Especially at this time, he should be understanding more than ever. My dear when I heard it at the church I knew I had to come regardless of the fact that you didn't tell me. So, your boyfriend better has a good reason for not showing up because if not, I will just dump him for you."

Natasha laughed at the way her friend had spoken with emotion over what her boyfriend had done. That was why she loved her. Tariro had genuine love and she knew she meant every word she had said. As she thought about it, she really realized that there was really no good reason why her boyfriend hadn't showed up for the funeral or just giving her a call. Even though she thought that, Natasha gave him the benefit of doubt and decides that as soon as she arrives in Harare she would go and see Quinton and clear everything.