She hasn’t responded to the ARVs the way Mandla has; apparently adults have a harder time on the meds than children do. Still, she’s grateful that Thembeka was spared contracting the virus. The thought of having sex with a man was so distasteful to her that she’d told Mongezi she wouldn’t have sex before marriage, knowing full well he had no intention of marrying her. It was this that saved her.

There are many who are not as lucky, and the news from the squatter camp is bleak. Dozens of their mutual friends have either passed away or are dying slow, painful deaths as their bodies are ravaged by opportunistic infections. The fear surrounding the disease has intensified to the point that no one dares disclose their status for fear of persecution. Those who are close to the end, and cannot hide their condition even if they tried, have been threatened by lynch mobs and even dragged from their homes.

Mama Beauty reports that she fears an entire generation is systematically being wiped out, leaving behind orphans to be raised by women like her: mothers in their golden years whose children should be taking care of them, but who are now raising their grandchildren as they helplessly watch their children die, one by one.

Zodwa pulls Thembeka even closer, grateful for her vitality. “Where’s Delilah?” Zodwa asks once they part.

“It’s the anniversary,” Thembeka reminds her. “She took Ruth’s ashes on a hike and said not to wait for her for breakfast.”

A whole year.

How has it been that long since Zodwa came inside and saw Delilah’s stricken face? Then again, what’s a year when so much has changed in the past four years since Zodwa was raped? She thinks back to the day she went to see the nyanga so that she could change her fate. How naïve she was to think that such a thing was possible.

Zodwa remembers the dream the healer asked her about, the one that had woken her from her sleep and made her decide to see the healer in the first place.

What did you dream the last time you slept?

I dreamt I was being chased.

By what?

Two white owls. Their wingspan stretched across the sky, blocking out the sun.

And then what happened?

I thought they were going to kill me, but it wasn’t me they wanted.

What then?

The baby. They snatched it from me and flew away.