Khaya looked at the bright blue coffin, wondering why anyone would choose such a tacky colour to be buried in. Coffins were supposed to be dark, elegant and made of mahogany, not something her 8-year-old son could have coloured in. Her stomach rumbled and with every rumble, she coughed hoping to mask them. Between the wailing and heaving, her mother-in-law, Doris shot Khaya a look of anger. Khaya sorrowfully dabbed her handkerchief to wipe away her non-existent tears. The leftover chicken soup she left in the freezer was all she could think about. Her husband was the only one who truly enjoyed her soup, so much so that he didn’t notice the abdominal pain, nausea, and bottle of arsenic that made its way into it. A single tear fell when she wondered who she’d nurse back to health now that he was gone. She looked at her son, he quietly played with his aeroplanes and wondered…maybe he’d like some chicken soup.
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Lihle Ndita is a South African screenwriter passionate about crafting powerful, resonant stories. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Journalism from Rhodes University and a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree from AFDA Film School. In 2022, she received development funding from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). With this support, she wrote a coming-of-age short film titled, “The Sleepover.” Building on this success, she participated as a writer in the 2023 Youth Filmmaker Program run by the NFVF and Sisanda Henna Films. Her ultimate goal is to create stories that resonate with diverse audiences, transporting them to different universes where they can confront their deepest wounds. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and rewatching her favourite horror movies.
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