re being anything other than what was expected of you could lead to ruin. She'd learned early

ough anymore. It hadn

d the hum of students in the courtyard, Nomvula felt an unfamiliar tightness in her chest. Her heart, usually a rel

nd greetings from her colleagues, slipping pa

hanging notes under their desks. They didn't know it, but their innocence

er side. That moment, that glance, had left an imprint on her skin. Even now, with the pupils seated before her and the usual routine in m

e spoke fell into a void, unanswered. Her thoughts kept drifting b

o Mok

e the kind of freedom N

a project she was working on. The offer had been simple-too simple to be anything other than a

been to

nothing. Nomvula had listened, not trusting her own voice enough to say more than a few words. Bu

the knock on her doo

cking the door behind her as if the world outside might follow her in. She hadn't

e she wa

ing, had sent a flood of war

Lerato had said softly, her voice a

invited Lerato in, of course. It wasn't as if she could refuse. And when the door had closed behind

ed into something deeper. Something more dangerous. They had talked about everything and nothing, and yet the unspoken words between

se, one that Nomvula had been too afraid to v

had stay

n ever. It was a heavy weight pressi

she was expecting it, but she knew it was coming. She had felt i

se quickening before she even saw Lerato stand

sitant, but there was something daring in the way s

lied, her voice sounding

amed. She didn't wait for permission to sit on the couch; instead, she pulled herself i

to asked, her gaze soft

wasn't entirely sure if tha

ade Nomvula's heart skip. "I don't belie

spoken emotions. She wasn't sure if she was defending

m against Nomvula's skin. "You don't

, but they echoed throug

ainst hers again. This time, Nomvula didn't pull away. Their fingers intertwined

wanted to pull back, to retreat into her silence. But something inside he

mured, her lips brushing Nomvula's ear.

The thing she hadn't even known she wanted. A love that d

ust

died in her throat as Lerato's lips met hers in a kiss

, the silence of years slipping away with each hea

time in her life,