Two weeks.
That's how long it had been since I last saw Slavy. Two weeks since the night everything broke since the hospital, since the silence.
Two weeks without his voice, without his anger, without those storm-gray eyes that always seemed one breath away from violence or love I could never tell which.
Did he miss me too? Or had he already buried me somewhere in the shadows of his world?
I sighed, pushing the thought away as I buttoned the cuff of my brown long-sleeved dress. It brushed against my ankles when I moved, the fabric soft but heavy like a memory I couldn't let go of. My reflection in the mirror looked pale, thinner than before, but the earrings and small hair clips in my afro gave me life. A fragile kind of beauty, like a cracked diamond.
Ashly poked her head through the door.
"Tess, you ready?"
Her bright tone barely masked the worry in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm ready," I said, grabbing my bag.
"You look amazing," she said, smiling.
"Thanks." My smile didn't quite reach my eyes, but it was enough to convince her.
Downstairs, the scent of coffee and buttered toast filled the air. Mrs. Bronco stood by the stove, flipping eggs with a little hum. For a brief moment, the house felt… warm. Alive.
"Good morning," I said softly.
Her eyes widened, then she gasped dramatically. "Heaven must be missing an angel, because she just walked into my kitchen!"
I laughed really laughed for the first time in a while. The sound felt strange, rusty, but warm.
Ashly's smile faded a little as she studied me. "Are you sure you're ready to go back? You just got better, Tess."
I forced a small smile. "I'll be fine. No one knows… you know. About the cancer."
Ashly hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Just… stay away from Slavy, okay?"
My hand froze mid-air. "What?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He got suspended. They said he almost killed a student last week."
The words hit like a slap.
"What are you talking about?"
She glanced around, lowering her voice further. "Apparently some guy stepped on his shoe, and Slavy lost it. Beat him so bad, he nearly stopped breathing. If Haze hadn't pulled him off, the guy would've died."
My heart dropped, cold and heavy. For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
"That's not him," I said quietly, more to myself than to her.
Ashly gave me a look part pity, part disbelief but didn't argue.
"Okay, girls," Mrs. Bronco said cheerfully, unaware of the storm brewing in my chest. "Wash your plates and let's go before you're late."
I washed mine in silence. The water was warm against my trembling hands, but it couldn't wash away the fear forming a knot in my stomach.
Minutes later, we were in the car. Mrs. Bronco hummed along to the radio while I stared out the window, watching the palm trees blur past. The sun shone too bright for how heavy my heart felt.
When we arrived, she turned to us with her usual smile. "I'll pick you girls up later. Dinner's on me tonight!"
She pressed a fifty-rand note into my hand. I managed a small thank-you and stepped out.
The school gates felt colder than I remembered. The whispers started as soon as I walked in eyes watching me, scanning me. I could feel it. Every glance, every half-smile.
"Ashly," I whispered, tugging at her sleeve, "is it just me, or is everyone staring?"
She smirked. "Girl, they're staring because you look look gorgeous."
I laughed softly, but my chest felt tight. The laughter in my throat didn't sound like mine.
Then — chaos.
"SLAVVY, STOP!!!"
The shout tore through the courtyard.
Students scattered like birds. My heart lurched as I ran toward the sound.
And there he was — Slavy.
My breath caught in my chest. He wasn't the boy I remembered — he was something darker, rawer. His fists came down like thunder on another student's face, over and over, each hit landing with a sickening crack. Blood splattered the concrete, his shirt, his knuckles.
People tried to pull him off, but he swung wildly, knocking one down with a single blow. The air vibrated with fear.
"Slavy, stop!" I screamed, my voice shaking. But he didn't hear me.
His eyes God, his eyes were wild. Empty and burning all at once.
I couldn't take it anymore. I stepped forward.
My hand trembled as I reached out and touched his arm.
He turned lightning-fast his fist swinging toward me.
I gasped, closing my eyes. I waited for the pain, for the crack of bone.
But it never came.
Instead, all I felt was the pounding of his heart against mine — his chest brushing mine, our breaths tangled in the air between us.
I opened my eyes.
His glare melted the instant he saw me. The monster vanished, and the boy I knew — the broken, beautiful boy came back.
"Tess…" he whispered, like saying my name hurt.
My vision blurred with tears. I saw pain in his eyes — deep, haunting pain — and something else. Regret.
"Slavvy Micheal Junior!" The principal's voice thundered through the chaos. "My office. NOW!"
He didn't look away from me, even as teachers grabbed his arms. His jaw tightened, eyes locked on mine like I was the only thing holding him to this world.
Sky appeared beside him, yelling something I couldn't hear. He turned on her, shouting, eyes wild again but his anger wasn't directed at her. It was everything all of it — boiling out of him
And then he was gone.
The crowd dispersed, the whispers resumed, but all I heard was the echo of his voice and the sound of my own heartbeat hammering in my ears.
By the end of the day, I was running through the school like someone searching for air. His car was still there. But he wasn't.
I spun around and ran straight into Haze.
He looked wrecked. Eyes bloodshot, knuckles bruised, face pale.
"Testimony," he said quietly, almost in disbelief.
"Haze, where is he? Where's Slavy?" My words tumbled out.
He looked down. His jaw clenched. "He's not here. The police took him. A few hours ago."
My body went cold.
"He got arrested?" I whispered.
He nodded slowly, voice breaking. "I don't know what happened between you two, but he's been… gone since that day. You know, the hospital. He won't talk to anyone. He's angry all the time. Empty. It's like he's haunted by something he can't fight."
Tears burned his eyes, and he turned away quickly as one of his friends called for him.
I stood there, rooted, as my world shattered all over again.
Ashly appeared beside me, her voice distant. "Testimony, let's go."
I barely heard her. My gaze followed Haze as he slid into Slavy's car. The engine roared, and in seconds, he was gone.
I swallowed hard and got into Mrs. Bronco's car. She greeted us with a cheerful smile. "Hope you girls enjoyed your day!"
I didn't answer.
Ashly started chatting about something gossip, laughter but her words faded into background noise. My mind was elsewhere.
Ten minutes later, we passed a church — Assemblies of God.
"Stop the car," I said suddenly.
Mrs. Bronco frowned. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"I… I can't do dinner tonight. I need to go to church," I said, my voice shaking slightly.
"Church?" she repeated, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," I whispered. "I just need… to be in His presence."
Something in my tone must've convinced her, because she didn't ask again. She pulled over.
The cold evening wind hit my skin as soon as I stepped out. It carried the scent of rain and wet asphalt that smell right before a storm.
The church doors stood open, golden light spilling out into the night.
I pulled my dress tighter around me and walked inside.
I didn't know if I was going there to pray for forgiveness, or for Slavy… or maybe just for strength to survive the next wave of pain coming my way.
But one thing I knew for sure in that moment, the girl I was two weeks ago was gone.
And what stood in her place was someone who'd already seen heaven, hell, and the kind of love that could destroy a soul.