{"id":374,"date":"2024-12-15T03:49:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T01:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/?post_type=writer&#038;p=374"},"modified":"2025-01-16T01:02:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T23:02:49","slug":"elaine-pillay","status":"publish","type":"writer","link":"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/index.php\/writer\/elaine-pillay\/","title":{"rendered":"Elaine Pillay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull banner has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1cb2db7d wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgb(121,84,56) 0%,rgb(212,176,149) 100%);min-height:60vh;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignfull is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center banner-details is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a is-vertical is-content-justification-stretch is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-55a0e2a4 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:200px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:200px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group banner-title has-base-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-61b49547 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:48px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\">Elaine Pillay<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-e43cad2f1933aaeb80118d8bc5570f16 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-base-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Palesa had been on lockdown long before the president\u2019s announcement. Lockdown was a way of life since she\u2019d met \u201chim\u201d. For six years she\u2019d endured the beatings, the bruised body, frequent broken bones, and accusations of whoring around. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fc9f69e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div id=\"sonaar_music_16\"><div class=\"sonaar_audioplayer_block_cover\"><article id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\" class=\"iron_widget_radio srp_player_button\"><div class=\"iron-audioplayer  sonaar-no-artwork srp_hide_progressbar playlist_has_no_ctas\" id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083-30b74531fb\" data-id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\" data-track-sw-cursor=\"\" data-lazyload=\"\" data-albums=\"565\" data-category=\"\" data-url-playlist=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/?load=playlist.json&#038;title=&#038;albums=565&#038;category=&#038;posts_not_in=&#038;category_not_in=&#038;author=&#038;feed_title=&#038;feed=&#038;feed_img=&#038;el_widget_id=&#038;artwork=&#038;posts_per_pages=-1&#038;all_category=&#038;single_playlist=&#038;reverse_tracklist=&#038;audio_meta_field=&#038;repeater_meta_field=&#038;import_file=&#038;rss_items=-1&#038;rss_item_title=&#038;is_favorite=&#038;is_recentlyplayed=&#038;srp_order=date_DESC\" data-sticky-player=\"\" data-shuffle=\"false\" data-playlist_title=\"\" data-scrollbar=\"\" data-wave-color=\"\" data-wave-progress-color=\"\" data-spectro=\"\" data-no-wave=\"\" data-hide-progressbar=\"1\" data-progress-bar-style=\"\"data-feedurl=\"0\" data-notrackskip=\"\" data-no-loop-tracklist=\"\" data-playertemplate =\"skin_boxed_tracklist\" data-hide-artwork =\"1\" data-speedrate=\"1\"  data-tracks-per-page=\"\" data-pagination_scroll_offset=\"\" data-adaptive-colors=\"\" data-adaptive-colors-freeze=\"\" style=\"opacity:0;\"><div class=\"srp_player_boxed srp_player_grid\"><div class=\"album-player sr_waveform_mediaElement\"><div class=\"srp_player_meta\"><\/div><div class=\"srp_control_box\">\n            <div class=\"srp-play-button play srp-play-button-label-container sricon-play\" href=\"#\" style=\"\">\n                <div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"srp-play-button-label\" aria-label=\"Play\">Play<\/div>\n                <div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"srp-pause-button-label\" aria-label=\"Pause\">Pause<\/div>\n            <\/div><div class=\"srp_wave_box\"> <div class=\"player sr_player__inline \" ><div class=\"sr_progressbar\">\n                <div id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083-093c82d8ba-wave\" class=\"wave\">\n                 \n        <div class=\"sonaar_fake_wave\" style=\"height:70px\"> \n            <audio src=\"\" class=\"sonaar_media_element\"><\/audio> \n            <div class=\"sonaar_wave_base\"> \n                <canvas id=\"sonaar_wave_base_canvas\" class=\"\" height=\"70\" width=\"2540\"><\/canvas> \n                <svg><\/svg> \n            <\/div> \n            <div class=\"sonaar_wave_cut\"> \n                <canvas id=\"sonaar_wave_cut_canvas\" class=\"\" height=\"70\" width=\"2540\"><\/canvas> \n                <svg><\/svg> \n            <\/div> \n        <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                \n             <\/div><\/div><div class=\"srp_main_control\"><div class=\"control\"><div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"play\" style=\"opacity:0;\" aria-label=\"Play\" title=\"Play\/Pause\">\n                <i class=\"sricon-play\"><\/i>\n            <\/div><div class=\"srp_track_cta\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"playlist sr_waveform_mediaElement\"  id=\"playlist_arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\"><div class=\"srp_tracklist\"><ul class=\"srp_list\"><li \n            class=\"sr-playlist-item\" \n            data-audiopath=\"\"\n            data-showloading=\"1\"\n            data-albumTitle=\"Elaine Pillay\"\n            data-albumArt=\"\"\n            data-releasedate=\"\"\n            data-date=\"2024\/12\/19\"\n            data-date-formated=\"19 December 2024\"\n            data-show-date=\"\"\n            data-trackTitle=\"Palesa\u2019s Lockdown Escape\"\n            data-artist=\"\"\n            data-trackID=\"566\"\n            data-trackTime=\"5:15\"\n            data-relatedTrack=\"\"\n            data-post-url=\"\"\n            data-post-id=\"565\"\n            data-track-pos=\"0\"\n            data-peakFile=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/audio_peaks\/566.peak\"\n            data-peakFile-allow=\"1\"\n            data-is-preview=\"\"\n            data-track-lyric=\"\" data-icecast_json=\"\" data-icecast_mount=\"\"><div class=\"sr-playlist-item-flex\"><span class=\"store-list\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"srp_track_description\"><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div 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srp_player_params_args_69ff2361d5083 = {\"before_widget\":\"<article id=\\\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\\\" class=\\\"iron_widget_radio srp_player_button\\\">\",\"after_widget\":\"<\\\/article>\",\"before_title\":\"<span class='heading-t3'><\\\/span><h3 class=\\\"widgettitle\\\">\",\"after_title\":\"<\\\/h3>\",\"widget_id\":\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\"}  \n        <\/script><script>if(typeof setIronAudioplayers !== \"undefined\"){ setIronAudioplayers(\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361d5083\"); }<\/script><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-stretch is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-section-3 relative banner-language-row has-background wp-container-content-dc435e0d is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f51f2b5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex is-style-section-3--1\" style=\"background-color:#78533794;min-height:60vh;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><figure style=\"width:452px;\" class=\"hero-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"790\" src=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/english.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group banner-language has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b67aa7362332c7f42bbb7c1b9b9dafd5 is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a704a4fb wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"color:#d4b095;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0\"><div style=\"font-size:clamp(3.155rem, 3.155rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 4.933), 6.3rem);font-style:normal;font-weight:900;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"taxonomy-category cat wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/index.php\/category\/english\/\" rel=\"tag\">English<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-9a6d7128 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size\" style=\"font-size:0.68rem;text-transform:uppercase\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-contrast-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" style=\"background-color:#d4b095\"><strong>Poem<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull player-body has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div id=\"sonaar_music_61\"><div class=\"sonaar_audioplayer_block_cover\"><article id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\" class=\"iron_widget_radio\"><div class=\"iron-audioplayer  sonaar-no-artwork playlist_has_no_ctas skin_floated\" id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab-78b6cd6c62\" data-id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\" data-track-sw-cursor=\"\" data-lazyload=\"\" data-albums=\"565\" data-category=\"\" data-url-playlist=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/?load=playlist.json&#038;title=&#038;albums=565&#038;category=&#038;posts_not_in=&#038;category_not_in=&#038;author=&#038;feed_title=&#038;feed=&#038;feed_img=&#038;el_widget_id=&#038;artwork=&#038;posts_per_pages=-1&#038;all_category=&#038;single_playlist=&#038;reverse_tracklist=&#038;audio_meta_field=&#038;repeater_meta_field=&#038;import_file=&#038;rss_items=-1&#038;rss_item_title=&#038;is_favorite=&#038;is_recentlyplayed=&#038;srp_order=date_DESC\" data-sticky-player=\"\" data-shuffle=\"false\" data-playlist_title=\"\" data-scrollbar=\"\" data-wave-color=\"\" data-wave-progress-color=\"\" data-spectro=\"\" data-no-wave=\"\" data-hide-progressbar=\"\" data-progress-bar-style=\"\"data-feedurl=\"0\" data-notrackskip=\"\" data-no-loop-tracklist=\"\" data-playertemplate =\"skin_float_tracklist\" data-hide-artwork =\"1\" data-speedrate=\"1\"  data-tracks-per-page=\"\" data-pagination_scroll_offset=\"\" data-adaptive-colors=\"\" data-adaptive-colors-freeze=\"\" style=\"opacity:0;\"><div class=\"sonaar-grid\" style=&quot;display:none;&quot;><div class=\"playlist sr_waveform_mediaElement\"  id=\"playlist_arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\"><h3 class=\"sr_it-playlist-title\"><\/h3><div class=\"srp_subtitle\"><\/div><div class=\"srp_tracklist\"><ul class=\"srp_list\"><li \n            class=\"sr-playlist-item\" \n            data-audiopath=\"\"\n            data-showloading=\"1\"\n            data-albumTitle=\"Elaine Pillay\"\n            data-albumArt=\"\"\n            data-releasedate=\"\"\n            data-date=\"2024\/12\/19\"\n            data-date-formated=\"19 December 2024\"\n            data-show-date=\"\"\n            data-trackTitle=\"Palesa\u2019s Lockdown Escape\"\n            data-artist=\"\"\n            data-trackID=\"566\"\n            data-trackTime=\"5:15\"\n            data-relatedTrack=\"\"\n            data-post-url=\"\"\n            data-post-id=\"565\"\n            data-track-pos=\"0\"\n            data-peakFile=\"https:\/\/loss-ilahleko.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/audio_peaks\/566.peak\"\n            data-peakFile-allow=\"1\"\n            data-is-preview=\"\"\n            data-track-lyric=\"\" data-icecast_json=\"\" data-icecast_mount=\"\"><div class=\"sr-playlist-item-flex\"><span class=\"store-list\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"srp_track_description\"><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"album-player sr_waveform_mediaElement\"><div class=\"srp_miniplayer_metas\"><div class=\" srp_meta srp_meta_0 track-title\" data-prefix=\"\" aria-label=\"Track title\"><\/div><div class=\" srp_meta srp_meta_1 album-title\" data-prefix=\"\" aria-label=\"Title\"><\/div><\/div> <div class=\"player \" ><div class=\"sr_progressbar\">\n                \n            <div class=\"currentTime\">00:00<\/div>\n         \n                <div id=\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab-a3907e6502-wave\" class=\"wave\" >\n                 \n        <div class=\"sonaar_fake_wave\" style=\"height:70px\"> \n            <audio src=\"\" class=\"sonaar_media_element\"><\/audio> \n            <div class=\"sonaar_wave_base\"> \n                <canvas id=\"sonaar_wave_base_canvas\" class=\"\" height=\"70\" width=\"2540\"><\/canvas> \n                <svg><\/svg> \n            <\/div> \n            <div class=\"sonaar_wave_cut\"> \n                <canvas id=\"sonaar_wave_cut_canvas\" class=\"\" height=\"70\" width=\"2540\"><\/canvas> \n                <svg><\/svg> \n            <\/div> \n        <\/div> \n                <\/div>\n                \n            <div class=\"totalTime\"><\/div>\n         \n             <\/div><div class=\"srp_main_control srp_oneColumn\"><div class=\"control\"><div role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"play\" style=\"opacity:0;\" aria-label=\"Play\" title=\"Play\/Pause\">\n                <i class=\"sricon-play\"><\/i>\n            <\/div><\/div><div class=\"control\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"album-store\"><\/div><\/div><script id=\"srp_js_params_69ff2361e3fab\">\n        var srp_player_params_69ff2361e3fab = {\"title\":\"\",\"store_title_text\":\"\",\"albums\":\"565\",\"hide_artwork\":\"1\",\"sticky_player\":\"\",\"show_album_market\":\"1\",\"show_track_market\":\"1\",\"hide_timeline\":\"\",\"titletag_soundwave\":\"div\",\"titletag_playlist\":\"h3\",\"show_playlist\":\"\",\"wave_color\":\"\",\"wave_progress_color\":\"\",\"shuffle\":\"\",\"reverse_tracklist\":\"\",\"searchbar\":\"false\",\"track_desc_lenght\":\"55\",\"strip_html_track_desc\":\"true\",\"player_layout\":\"skin_float_tracklist\",\"hide_progressbar\":\"false\",\"use_play_label\":\"false\",\"use_play_label_with_icon\":\"false\",\"orderby\":\"date\",\"order\":\"DESC\",\"main_settings\":\"||\"} \n        var srp_player_params_args_69ff2361e3fab = {\"before_widget\":\"<article id=\\\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\\\" class=\\\"iron_widget_radio\\\">\",\"after_widget\":\"<\\\/article>\",\"before_title\":\"<span class='heading-t3'><\\\/span><h3 class=\\\"widgettitle\\\">\",\"after_title\":\"<\\\/h3>\",\"widget_id\":\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\"}  \n        <\/script><script>if(typeof setIronAudioplayers !== \"undefined\"){ setIronAudioplayers(\"arbitrary-instance-69ff2361e3fab\"); }<\/script><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-4ccfc4ab wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#d4b095;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-style:normal;font-weight:700\" open><summary><strong><em><strong>Palesa\u2019s Lockdown Escape<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/summary>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-small-font-size has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-dce06815 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\n<p>Palesa had been on lockdown long before the president\u2019s announcement. Lockdown was a way of life since she\u2019d met \u201chim\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For six years she\u2019d endured the beatings, the bruised body, frequent broken bones and accusations of whoring around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But last night was the last straw, she thought, as she toyed with the cellphone in her hand, the shattered screen bearing the scars of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019d stumbled into the house. His breath foul, his temper worse. &nbsp;Even in lockdown he managed to purchase liquor illegally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019d sworn at her and accused her of cheating on him. Palesa knew what followed as her life was on replay. He charged at her, threw her up against the wall and started to choke her. She crashed to the floor and hit her head as the image of her child swam before her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the haze of pain, Palesa heard the resounding slap as her child\u2019s pained screams pierced the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite her head hurting, Palesa got up off the floor and pounced on him. She punched and bit him. Clawed at his face and arms and paid the price for attacking him as he dragged her across the floor by her hair and kicked her repeatedly in her stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As she lay at his mercy, Palesa vowed silently, if she lived through the night, she\u2019d take Kea far away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sound of Kea moaning in her sleep interrupted Palesa\u2019s thoughts. She caressed the bluish red swollen cheek of her daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It started with a slap but Palesa was determined Kea\u2019s life won\u2019t be like hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She typed furiously with clumsy fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHello, Ma Thabi,\u201d she sent the message and threw the phone on the bed as though it burned her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What had she done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What was she thinking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If he found out, he would kill her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No. I will kill him, she thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She had to get Kea out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa waited for a response with bated breath as she prowled around the room. Needing something to do, she walked to the small fridge and yanked the door open. A<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>yellowing cabbage, wrinkled skin potatoes and a box of spoilt milk greeted her. He never bought much in the way of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The beeping of her phone jarred Palesa as excitement coursed through her battered body. She tiptoed to the phone her breath ragged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHad enough?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A sob escaped Palesa as she read the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She took a pained breath and typed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGet yourself together,\u201d was the response, \u201cI am on my way. &nbsp;We need to move fast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat about lockdown?\u201d Palesa typed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stage five lockdown rules meant no one could drive on the highway without a permit and if you did and were caught by the police, you were fined or worse thrown in jail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although, for Palesa, even jail was a welcome relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The phone beeped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGet ready,\u201d the message read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One didn\u2019t argue with Ma Thabi. Ever since Palesa\u2019s mother died at the hands of her lover, Ma Thabi seemed to have lost her mind as she blamed herself for her sister\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa stuffed the few items, she and her child possessed, into two shopping bags as her hands trembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the sound of footsteps on the door stoep, she stopped and held her breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Was he home early?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>God, no!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an essential worker, he had to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surely, they wouldn\u2019t let him off early?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOpen the door, Palesa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa cried with relief at the sound of Ma Thabi\u2019s raspy voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She ran to the door and wrenched it open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy God!\u201d exclaimed Ma Thabi as Palesa bowed her head in shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLook at you,\u201d said Ma Thabi as she surveyed the swollen face, the half-closed eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI will fucken kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elaine Pillay<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, Ma Thabi, just help me get Kea out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ma Thabi pushed past Palesa, rushed to where Kea was sleeping, saw the bruised face and scooped the child in her arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen did he start beating her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLast night. That\u2019s why I messaged you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCome, my neighbour is waiting in the car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMa Thabi, the people in the yard will tell him I ran away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019ll come for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd I\u2019ll be waiting for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cKea is the best thing in my life and I won\u2019t let him break her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ma Thabi smiled, nodded and walked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa grabbed her belongings and rushed out the door not bothering to close it behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMa Thabi, what about the police?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa jumped into the rickety old car beside Ma Thabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is your first victory, sweetheart,\u201d Ma Thabi whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palesa smiled with a wince and squeezed Ma Thabi\u2019s hand as they drove off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-4ccfc4ab wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#d4b095;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><summary><strong><em><strong><em>Elaine Pillay<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/summary>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-small-font-size has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-dce06815 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\n<p>Elaine Pillay is a Durban born, award-winning author with a degree in English Literature. She is passionate about teaching and is an English Teacher. Elaine is also passionate about writing and has co-authored two academic books. Her first children\u2019s book \u201cZwai and the. Little Creature\u201d is an African fantasy and a bestselling book in South Africa. She also writes short stories which have been published in different anthologies. Elaine has<br>a great love for reading, travelling, nature, and watching old Hollywood movies. She lives in Johannesburg with her husband, Donald. They are enslaved by their two furbabies, Cola and Lily.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Palesa had been on lockdown long before the president\u2019s announcement. Lockdown was a way of life since she\u2019d met \u201chim\u201d. 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