My greatest discovery

by Abongile Gqirana (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find South Africa

My best friend and I recently took a leap of faith and drove down to Cape Town with money only enough to book us in a hotel for 2 nights. We usually take drives around Port Elizabeth everytime I feel under the weather, this time we just chose Cape Town. So we stashed the car with snacks in our cupboards, because well; we are 2 broke students. There was nothing much happening on our way there besides me taking several pictures of landscapes, nature. There is something soothing, calming and relaxing about nature. It is one of my great escapes. Upon arrival, at approximately 7AM, we decided to split up, weird right? But we are two very awkward people so we had decided to make new friend in random places, and what better way to do it than doing it in Cape Town? At the beach where amazing people usually hang out. The first two hours obviously went by, and I had not caught any fish 😉.. I was too busy gazing at the ocean and just trying to figure out how it got to be there, and perhaps why it is the way it is. I do that. A lot. Weird? I know. On the third hour, I realised I was hungry, so I looked around for any food stall that sells something for R25, because that's all I had with me. I found an old container that sells hotdogs and fortunately, they had one that costs R22, I even had change for myself. I got served by the kindest old man I have ever met, he reminded me of my grandfather. The way he wanted to make me smile, intentionally. He carried so much peace with me, and that's one of the reasons I love old people. They are very genuine and kind. My grandfather always said, "after all these bad things I've done, the people I've hurt, I wish I had been more kind, more loving and that's what I want for you. To choose love, joy no matter what. The hotdog was the best, I have never tasted anything like that, EVER. I felt the love it was made with. Just as I was about to take my last 3 bites, the most beautiful woman sits next to me (no homo). She was so beautiful I wanted to text my brother and tell him I found him a wife. She had a book in her hand (ticks box number 2) and she was wearing a yellow summer dress. I didnt know whether it's the dress that made her even more beautiful. "Do you mind?", of course I was staring her, and of course that looked weird. Awkward me, now didnt know what to do. She then just stared back, for a good 2 minutes. My mouth did it, it said what is on my mind without my permission, "OMG, I want you to meet my parents". She laughed. Hard. Of course, I was talking on behalf of my brother, but my brain didn't process what it just said. Three hours later, we are on the bench, chatting away about books, the size of an ocean and why its probably geographically placed where it it. She was so funny, so kind and so warm. She too, reminded me of my grandfather, I could tell something had happened to her, something had broken her but she chose to make people laugh, she chose to be the light. Today, she is one fof the reasons when my mental illness forces me to try committing suicide, it's weird but I think about her. I think about the way she just laughed at me, she could have been rude, but she laughed. I found myself again on that beach. My brother, who I wanted her to meet also fell in love with her. They have been together for 5 months now, the look happy and they have given me hope. I found a sister, a best friend but most importantly, I found someone who brought me back to myself, broke as I was.