Chapter 7:
Days passed slowly.
Each morning, Puseletso woke up with one question in her heart:
Did I make it?
She had submitted the application with Mr. Dlamini's help, but now… all she could do was wait.
At home, nothing had changed.
MaNtuli still gave her orders.
Lerato still watched her quietly, as if trying to understand her.
But Puseletso was different now.
She carried a quiet strength inside her.
One afternoon, as the class was ending, Mr. Dlamini walked in holding a letter.
"Puseletso," he called.
Her heart skipped.
The room went silent.
"Come here."
Her legs felt heavy as she walked to the front. Every step felt like it echoed through her chest.
Mr. Dlamini handed her the envelope.
"This is for you."
Her fingers trembled as she held it. She could feel every heartbeat in her body.
"Open it," he said softly.
The classroom watched.
Puseletso slowly tore the envelope open and unfolded the paper inside.
Her eyes scanned the words.
Then stopped.
Then widened.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Sir…" she whispered, her voice breaking, "I… I got it."
The class erupted into murmurs.
Mr. Dlamini smiled proudly. "Congratulations, Puseletso. You've been accepted."
For a moment, she couldn't move.
All the pain.
All the nights.
All the tears.
It had led to this.
That afternoon, she walked home holding the letter tightly against her chest.
This time, she didn't feel small.
She felt… chosen.
When she entered the house, MaNtuli barely looked at her.
"You're late," she said sharply.
Puseletso took a deep breath.
"Auntie… I was accepted."
Silence.
MaNtuli slowly turned. "Accepted?"
"To the scholarship program. I'm going to the city."
For a moment, MaNtuli said nothing.
Then her face hardened.
"So you're leaving?" she asked coldly.
"Yes."
Lerato stepped closer, her eyes wide. "You're really going?"
Puseletso nodded.
That night felt heavier than any other.
There was no celebration.
No congratulations.
Only silence.
As she packed her small bag—just a few clothes, her books, and her journal—Puseletso paused.
This house had been filled with pain.
But it had also made her strong.
Before she left, she stood in front of MaNtuli.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said quietly.
MaNtuli didn't look at her. "Go then."
But her voice wasn't as strong as before.
Lerato walked Puseletso outside.
For once, there was no teasing. No laughter.
"I didn't think you'd actually do it," Lerato said softly.
"I didn't either," Puseletso admitted.
There was a pause.
Then Lerato looked down. "I… I'm sorry."
Puseletso studied her for a moment.
"Change," she said gently. "That's what matters."
The next morning, the village felt different.
The sun rose slowly, as if it knew this was not an ordinary day.
Puseletso stood at the edge of the road with her small bag.
Mr. Dlamini was there.
"So," he said with a smile, "ready?"
Puseletso looked back at the village one last time.
The dusty roads.
The baobab tree.
The life she was leaving behind.
"I'm ready," she said.
As the bus arrived, her heart pounded.
This wasn't just a journey.
It was a beginning.
She stepped onto the bus.
And as it pulled away, Puseletso didn't look back again.
Because for the first time in her life…
She was moving forward.