The day I learned to breath wasn’t when I was born, it was the day when my mother was snatched right before my eyes, and the day my father left us. With a broken faith, and the lost innocence of a child to trust.
Breathing never had meaning to me until after that horrific day, I realized I’d only learned to inhale oxygen to live, but that wasn’t breathing. It wasn’t even living. Living in this world full of angst, it’s hard to say the least. That’s an understatement. It’s beyond hard, especially since I had to learn to trick at the age of seven. Living on the edge of life and death isn’t something I signed up for.
Feeling a rash bump to my side, a stranger shouted. “Hey kid! Watch where you’re going!” I looked up into their eyes and smiled.
“Sorry, I’ll be careful next time.” nodding my head, I proceeded to walk on my way to Uncle Sam’s place. The stranger rolled his eyes, and continued to stare at girls walking by. Just smile and apologize, keep a low profile, and don’t meddle in other’s business. That’s how I’ve learned to survive in this harsh driven world. This town, I despise it. Everything, and its people especially. People have forgotten what it’s like to live in harmony, help each other build up a town into a city from nothing but rubbish and ashes. This town has become rough and disorganized, breeding nothing but disease and ill-willed people who wouldn’t hesitate to use the coloured skin for their own purposes. Whether it’s to make them do the jobs no one else wants to do, or just to have a one-night stand with. I scoffed at the memory of the perverted old geezer from earlier and rubbed my hands together, breathing warmth onto them. It was a chilly December evening with frost accumulated on the grounds before me. Careful not to trip over the bumpy paths of Johannesburg, I travelled towards the only people I’d consider family now.
“Well look who’s here? It’s my very own late 19th century playboy!” I was greeted by a loud, booming voice as I strolled into the kitchen of Aunt Tammie’s. Smiling, I let out a laugh and hung up my coat. The only present my parents gave me before everything came crumbling down. I use it now to hide my face in public.
“I’m no playboy Auntie, I’m just a poor boy who needs two strangers to look after him,” I hugged Aunt Tammie back as she strangled me in her grasps. “I thank you for all the care, but I really need some air please.”
“Oh you’ll live.” She chuckled, agreeing to let go after I took a long exasperated gasp. “There’s no need to say thanks anymore boy. You’re a good 16 years of age now, been nine years now!”
“Has it really been that long?” I sighed, walking to the sink to rinse off my tainted hands. I’d help out Aunt Tammie with cooking while Uncle Sam worked in the gold mines. He dug and dug all day, every day, comes home with little to nothing each night. The white miners aren’t fair at all, I’m ashamed of my kind, the men who betrays their wife and children.
“Sure has! I remember when you were just about yee big,” Tammie gently raised and lowered her hand to an estimated height of when I was seven. “ A little boy came crashing in through the doors, bawling and asking for food. I couldn’t leave such a small child, so I took you in. You would go on and on about your dreams. You dreamt big alright, planning to help out with Sam when you’re older.” She grinned, ruffling my hair. 

“It only seems natural to me to pay back you and Uncle Sam who took care of a strange child like me,” I swatted her hand away playfully. “I’ll be big and strong like Uncle Sam one day, just you wait!”
She nodded, “Of course you will. I have no doubt you will.” Her expression turned sorrowful and her hand movements started to move slower. “I’m just worried that you’ll be treated differently because you’re raised by two coloured folks. I also want to send you to school for a better education, but money isn’t our forte right now.”
“Aye! That’s alright Tammie! If they want to treat me any differently, let them. You’re my family, and that’s all I care about,” I grabbed her hands and gently placed the dishes down so they wouldn’t shatter. “As for school, that can wait. I’ll make sure to go to school someday, and live in the suburban area I want to. That place called Kew in northern Johannesburg where all the wealthy are. I’ll bring you and Uncle Sam there with me!”
“Aw why’d you bring two old folks like us with you to that bustling area of town? You should worry about yourself more, Sam and I can take care of each other.” Tammie laughed as I slapped her hands together in an attempt to loosen the tension on her muscles and stress on her mind.
“No can do. If I get to go to Kew, so do you guys. I’ll also get us those big vehicle things. Newly invented, automobiles! It’d be a heck of a lot easier to travel in those compared to foot or horseback.” I concluded. I placed a finger on her lips as she was about to say more, and went back to chopping the potato.
“Fine, there’s no getting through to you is there?” Aunt Tammie shook her head and rushed to get the door as someone had knocked on it.
“Nope! I was born stubborn!” I chuckled and nodded in Uncle Sam’s direction as he entered the one layered house, hugging Aunt Tammie.
“Can’t say no to that statement lad!” Uncle Sam laughed and hung up his coat next to mine. I began to set the dining table, placing the finished dishes in a neat array of potatoes, soup, vegetables, and fruit. A simple and affordable meal is perfect for me. I looked around at the one layered building where everything is crammed together since there’s barely any space.
“I’ll also get us a larger house. One that’s larger than anyone else’s in the neighborhood in Kew, I’ll make them envy us.” I stated, sitting down in my chair and waited for Uncle Sam to start eating before I did. “How’s the food?”
“You and your wide imaginations,” He chuckled and took a sip of soup, then bites of potato. “But that’s what I like about you, and you’ll definitely achieve it all! It’s delicious!” Aunt Tammie and I looked at each other, another successful meal.
“How was work hun?” Aunt Tammie asked gently, as she knew it was a hard topic for me as well as Uncle Sam.
“As usual.” He sighed, holding up three chunks of gold. I glared at the pieces of gold. It was the source of survival, but also the reason why people hurt each other. “But I do bring back good news today.” Uncle Sam let out a tired, but excited smile.
“What’s the good news?” Aunt Tammie asked. Uncle Sam pulled out a roll of newspaper from his pocket and began reading.
“Greetings and great news! Major building developments are taking place right now thanks to everyone’s hard work. The gold mining industry of Johannesburg has prospered a long ways. Now, it has the potential of becoming a city with suburban sprawl expanding the territory farther north and south, adding more land to our city of Johannesburg! With further growth, we’re hoping to expand the population and improve areas that aren’t in great environmental conditions right now such as the Inner City of Johannesburg. Kew will become more spacious and we’ll be recruiting more students! Good luck to everyone and please await the good fortune in the future.” Uncle Sam finished and took another sip from his soup. “I also have this to give you.” He took out a letter and handed it to me.
“What’s this-” I stared at the addressing in the letter and scowled. “Why do you have this?! How?”
Aunt Tammie looked worried and came to my side, patting me. “What’s wrong Tobias?”
“This is my father - that man’s name,” I dropped the letter onto the table, not wanting to look at it ever again. “His handwriting too.”
“A man I met at work today, he was asking around for a Tobias, and I told him I knew a Tobias. He told me to give you this letter.” Uncle Sam massaged his forehead. “I know you aren’t on good terms with your father. He isn’t a bad person though, I don’t blame him for what he’s done. In fact, I’m grateful because I had the honour to meet you. At least read the letter.”
“You don’t blame him? He left his wife for good and his son for dead. I’ll read this letter, but only because you, my uncle and saviour asked me to.” I sighed, opening the letter with hate and began reading silently.
“He had reasons to do these actions. Although they aren’t the best, he still cared for you.” Sam said.
“He only cares to use me as his successor. He’s offering for me to go to school in Kew, but I don’t want to listen to him or accept an offer from him.” I scoffed, crossing my arms and looking at Sam and Tammie for answers.
Aunt Tammie frowned and came behind me. “Don’t do this. It’s your opportunity, go and follow you dreams. Do it for yourself, don’t take it as doing your father a favor. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for us. We want you happy and didn’t you say you’d take us to Kew no matter what?” 
“You’re right…” I stood up and cleaned the table after everyone finished dinner. “Alright, I’ll leave tomorrow then,” I sighed and smiled at Aunt Tammie and Uncle Sam. “For our future together mom and dad.”