“We’re done here.” She put down the measuring tape.

“Okay.” I breathed a small sigh of relief and then moved away and started looking at the walls.

“Did you do these?” I asked, pointing to one of the many sketches on the wall.

“Yes.” She came and stood next to me.

“They’re really good.”

“I know. Watch out, Paris Fashion Week!” I laughed and Thembi joined in. What she lacked in boobs, she made up for in confidence, and I admired that. Her phone beeped and she glanced at the screen, immediately rolling her eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“My boyfriend is acting shady. We were supposed to go out tonight, and he’s canceling on me. Something’s up.”

“What do you think it is?”

She dropped her phone on the chair and then shrugged. “Don’t know. Are you dating anyone?” she asked, and I burst out laughing. She looked at me blankly, as if she didn’t know why I was laughing.

“No,” I said quickly.

“Leave your boyfriend or girlfriend in Joburg?”

“Well, kind of. I sort of left two back there . . . well, they’re my best friends, but they call me their girlfriend. Guy always jokes that we’re the only nonsexual threesome in the world.” I turned when I heard arguing coming from downstairs. Thembi threw her hands in the air in frustration.

“They couldn’t just wait a couple of hours before they started this! At least until you’ve left.”

I stood there awkwardly and tried not to listen as Thembi flopped into a chair, her usual bravado and confidence slipping off her. I felt sorry for her.

“I’m sure it will be over soon,” she said apologetically. “They’re ‘expressing’ themselves.” She gestured air quotes. “Apparently, it’s all part of having a healthy relationship. If you ask me, I don’t really know how healthy their relationship actually is.”

“My parents never used to fight. And they got divorced. Maybe you’re meant to fight sometimes,” I offered.

“Or maybe humans aren’t meant to be with one person for the rest of their lives. Maybe we were meant to be with a person for a period of time, get what we need from them in that moment, and then move on?” she said thoughtfully, and I immediately thought of Jake.

“Or maybe, some relationships are just toxic. Look what happened to Rose Maponyane. Did you see that art?”

My throat immediately tightened at the mention of it, and all I could manage was a small nod.

“Imagine getting into a relationship with someone who actually ends up harming you, or worse, killing you?” she said and looked straight at me. “It’s scary. But that’s a reality for many women in this country. And I tell you, whoever painted that stuff should be given a medal.”