My husband, love of my life and best friend

by Ntombenhle Mthunywa
(South Africa)

I was only 14 years old when we met and he was 16. This year 2009, was our 21st year together. Our relationship was the envy of many, we were like twins. We grew up together in the same township, just separated by the street. I could see him at his home from the front yard of my home. As we grew up we were always separated from each other by the distance. When he was in a boarding school, I was a day scholer and vice versa.

We always abstained from sex but when we had our stolen moment for the first time after four years in our relationship, I fell pregnant and I was 18 years old and in Matric. The following year I was to go to varsity and fortunately my parents reluctantly allowed me. He went to a local University and I went to another which was far away in a different Province.

Even though I didn't realise it at the age of 18 but my daughter Ntokozo born in 1993 is a blessing for us. She is now 16 years old and loves me to bits.

I spent 8 years away from my daughter and my husband studying law at the Univeristy of Cape Town but our love could withstand the test of tme and long distance. They always visited me during short vacations and we had so much joy. The years that followed after completing my studies were full of financial struggles and all but greatfully we found God during that time. We lost our baby boy through ectopic pregnancy but we also conceived a beautiful baby girl in 2005 now aged 4.

Just when we thought we have made it in life financially, my husband fell ill. I had just been promoted into a Managerial Position at Work, driving our dream car and busy building our second home which is our dream home. The only thing that was left for us was to travel abroad and raise our kids. He died of Leukemia on 15 April 2009, leaving me with a 4 year old that he mostly prayed about and an unfinished mansion home.

I may be secured financially but how am I suppose to enjoy all this financial success without him? We struggled and also worked hard together for all of this. If I was given an option to trade-in, I would trade-in all the financial prosperity for his life. He was my best friend, my lover, my confidant and my cheeror-on. I am only 35 and he was only 37 when he died.....how am I suppose to live without him!