Chapter 1 The Beginning
THE END OF HIM
By Sanele Ngidi
INTRODUCTION
Nobody knew what happened to him.
The story goes on to explain more. Would he be found alive, or would he be dead? Nobody knew.
For months, people had watched him walk through the same streets, sit in the same classroom, laugh with the same friends and live what appeared to be a completely normal life. Everything looked fine from the outside.
But sometimes, what you see is not what you know about someone.
Sometimes, the person everyone thinks they know is only the person that person wants them to see.
His name was Jayden Lizzo.
He was eighteen years old—ambitious, confident when he needed to be, and determined to make something of his life. He had dreams bigger than the world around him and plans for a good future.
Until a bad mindset and a series of decisions changed everything.
Then something happened.
It started with one decision.
One decision that seemed small at the time.
But that one decision would eventually cost him almost everything.
The decisions he made would determine whether he would live or die.
This is not a story about a perfect boy.
It is a story about choices. About friendship. About secrets. About love, betrayal and consequences.
And most importantly, it is about what happens when someone keeps pretending that everything is okay until there is nothing left to hide.
Because some things cannot stay hidden forever.
Eventually, the truth comes out.
And sometimes, so does the darkness.
Before the end, there was a beginning.
And this is where it all started.
CHAPTER 1THE BEGINNING
Jayden was born in Johannesburg.
But the story of Jayden began long before he ever opened his eyes.
His mother, Michelle Lizzo, was a forty-eight-year-old woman who had been born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg. Michelle was a woman with dreams. She dreamed of having a family of her own and becoming one of the best lawyers in the country.
She had always believed that her future was waiting for her.
Until she met Jacob Zulu.
Jacob was forty-five years old and came from a respected family with strong traditions. He was one of five children. His sisters were Cebi, Mbali, Jessica and Ntando Zulu. Jacob was the eldest son, while Ntando was the eldest daughter.
The Zulu family came from a royal background, and Jacob had grown up surrounded by expectations. In his family, respect and reputation meant everything.
Michelle and Jacob’s relationship began when they were young.
At first, everything between them seemed perfect.
They loved each other, and eventually Michelle became pregnant.
But when Jacob discovered that Michelle was carrying his child, everything changed.
Jacob was afraid.
He came from a family where his name carried weight. He was expected to protect the family’s reputation and eventually marry someone from a wealthy and respected family.
Having a child with Michelle was something he believed could destroy everything.
So Jacob made a decision.
He disappeared.
He left Michelle to face the pregnancy alone.
Michelle was terrified. She didn’t know how she would explain everything to her parents, especially because she had promised herself that she would continue her studies and become the woman she had always dreamed of becoming.
She was also the firstborn in her family.
She felt as though the future she had planned was slipping away from her.
Then, one morning, Michelle made a decision that would change the life of her unborn child forever.
She went to the hospital.
She gave birth to a baby boy.
His name was Jayden.
Michelle couldn’t raise him herself.
So she made a heartbreaking request to a nurse at the hospital.
She wanted the nurse to take her son and raise him as her own.
No calls.
No messages.
No contact.
Nothing that would lead Jayden back to her.
The nurse’s name was Ntando Zulu.
Ntando agreed to take the baby.
She became Jayden’s mother.
At least, that was what Jayden would believe for the rest of his childhood.
Ntando was happy to have a child to raise. She treated Jayden as if he were her own son and dedicated her life to him.
She raised him alone.
She worked hard, took care of him and made sure he went to school. Life wasn’t always easy, but Ntando did everything she could to give Jayden a good childhood.
Jayden grew up believing that Ntando was his biological mother.
He knew nothing about Michelle.
He knew nothing about Jacob.
He knew nothing about the family he had been born into.
As the years passed, Jayden became a calm and quiet person. He wasn’t interested in unnecessary drama. He minded his own business, had good friendships and generally stayed out of trouble.
His life wasn’t perfect.
They didn’t have everything they wanted.
But they had enough.
They had a home.
They had food.
They had each other.
And for Jayden, that was enough.
Eventually, Ntando retired from the hospital where she had worked for years.
She decided that it was time for a fresh start.
So she packed up her life and moved to Cape Town with Jayden.
There, they bought a house and began a new chapter of their lives.
To Jayden, Cape Town was simply his home.
He had no idea that somewhere in Johannesburg, there was a woman who had given birth to him.
He had no idea that the man who abandoned him came from a family with a royal history.
And he had no idea that the woman he called Mom was carrying a secret that could change everything he believed about himself.
For years, there was no trace of Michelle Lizzo.
And Jayden had no reason to look for her.
Not yet.
