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Phiwe Dlamini

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2026

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19 Followers
2 Following

33 Stories

291 karma pts

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School's Out!

Maya was first in class, as usual, and the Literature teacher’s desk was neater than usual. She credited the Summer break and assumed it had inspired new ‘within-the-year’ resolutions for the middle-aged educator. Maya walked to her seat in the back row and began to unpack her green and yellow bag pack. The spacious bag had earned her a funny nickname and presumably could fit a mini library. She wasn’t much bothered by her schoolmates’ remarks and often found their ignorance repulsive. Class was meant to begin in a just ten minutes, as Maya ...

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Counterfeit

Lenhle grabbed her ‘my Boaz’ list and beamed at the number of checked boxes against her preferences for the ideal partner. She checked the ninth one out of twelve of them, as she pulled out her floral, cocktail party dress which she would be wearing as Sive’s plus-one. Sive Khumalo was one of the many new congregants that had joined her church just under a year ago, and since Lenhle was a youth leader, she was tasked with familiarizing the new members with their new home and sanctuary. She loved communicating with people, especially concerni...

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The Burden In Certainty

The wind was pushing against the wilting leaves that were fighting to stay attached to their branches. Mhlengi was sitting on the bench beneath a wide avocado tree, tossing his car keys between his hands and tapping his shoes against the concrete paving under them. At around 9am, Mhlengi was at work and preparing for a trip to Cape Town, South Africa and as he was drafting an email to the finance department concerning his travelling expenses, he felt a sudden, sharp pain shooting along his spine. It kept him locked in his sitting position fo...

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The Jordan River

I was the last one in the sanctuary again today, because I felt a stirring in my spirit that wouldn’t let me leave without praying and dwelling in the presence of God. I’ve been hoping that my friends will soon join me for these priceless moments with Jesus, but I’m not pushing them too hard yet. Selfishly, I’ve really been enjoying having the whole sanctuary to myself after service, with no one to pick at my prayers or the pitch of my voice when the Spirit takes over. It’s indescribable bliss. Being the last one means I have to ensure that ...

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The Good Teacher

Formerly known as Besive High School, the vacant property looked more like a bunch of old toolsheds and gang hotspots under the sunlight. Umile Ndlovu walked carefully toward his former school and remembered all the times he’d run through the hallways to make it to his first class in time. Being late was a trendy thing back in his youth days, but the cost had never been worth it. He’d never enjoyed being part of the ‘cool kids’ and found himself associating with them because their parents were all elitists and snobbish. Well, at least that’s...

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See Through It

I’m not sure why I’m still here, three hours after the manager closed for the night. I was initially sitting in my corner stool, looking at the out-of-place painting of children playing on a beach. I’ve told the bartender more than once to damage it ‘accidentally’ and get an appropriate photo for this place. Despite the oddly guilt-tripping painting, I love this place. The ambience inside; warm lights and polite staff, rich food and private booths to eat. I’ve even made friends with one of the part-time waiters, which I’ll probably mention a...

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The True Vine

She was livid. From the moment that she'd noticed Matthew's absence, her ears turned red from an odd heat as she searched her bag for her phone. She paced in and out of each room in the house, then caught sight of a piece of paper placed on her neat bed. Christen walked toward her bed and felt her heart pounding. She picked it and recognised Matthew's handwriting. Her phone screen displayed her ontacts and she'd selected his number to dial. She sat on her bed, almost forgetting the stone beneath her bed that kept it leveled. She'd been meani...

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Silver Lining

“Read Matthew 10. Verses 34 and 35. Just read them,” I charged my sister. I sounded sterner that I intended to but it was too late to reverse it. She walked toward my side table and picked up the brown-cased NIV bible to find Matthew, chapter 10. I waited for her but kept my eyes on my legs. Lately, I hadn’t been myself and she picked it off our text messages and rushed right over to check on me. I longed for the day when I’d successfully hide my heartache. But this one was heavier than any other pain I’ve been through. Much heavier and com...

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The Shadow of the Almighty

Weekly Contest #352

There’s nothing quite like a starlit sky, Mvelo thought to herself and smiled as she stared right into it. The navy blue to black background was perfect for the stars. So little yet so significant. She shifted on the woven mat she was laying on and attempted to create a trail; moving her eyes from one single star to the next. A mosquito bite interrupted her on the fifth star and she slapped the stinger. Her blood smeared over her skin and she knew it was time to head back indoors but before she did, she opened a conversation with her most t...

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The Potter

Weekly Contest #351

“I don’t really want to go anywhere. Plus, my garden needs attention and that landscaper made a mess of my tulips”, Menzi explained himself to his persistent colleague. “You’ve been in this house for over three weeks Menz. C’mon man. I already miss you back at the office and everyone keeps asking me how you are. Apparently, they can’t reach you on your phone during the day and obviously night calls would be a violation in too many ways. Just one beer to catch up and then I’ll drive you back here?” Max prompted him. The truth was that, sinc...

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He That Began A Work In Me

Weekly Contest #351

I don’t know what to do. I pace in my cozy, blue-walled bedroom. It’s just after 8am and I’m not ready to go anywhere. I have an itinerary that I’m trying to forget right now. Where are my winter socks? It’s 30°C outside and this is a fairly warm house, but I want my socks. I walk to the drawer below my gold mirror and look frantically for the unnecessary pair of white, woolen socks. I grab them and walk back, slowly, to my unmade bed. I take a seat and draw one leg up to wear the sock. I’m disappointed when my eyes land on the forsaken bo...

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Light overcomes darkness

“We’re so excited to have you join us, Mr. Rein. This is Coast Networks’ best deal yet and in no time, you’ll say so yourself. Thank you for trusting us with your visionary work. Your customers, who are now also our responsibility, will be pleased”, the CEO of 21stNet shakes my hand frantically as he speaks. I’m okay with the merge but something else is off about this whole deal. Something bigger than profits and cutting costs. I shake his hand and keep my eyes on his hand, signaling him to let my hand go. It was all for show obviously; the...

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Promise keeper

Weekly Contest #349

Today is April 31, 2020. I’m not sure why I care but I peep at my phone screen and take note of the date. It’s a Saturday. The sun is roasting my right arm, shooting through my bedroom window. The sting on my skin wakes me and I’m a bit groggy. I’m not sure what it is yet but something’s different. I feel different. I slide out of my old, single bed and slowly walk to the bathroom. I feel like brushing my teeth. Yes. It’s been a few months…maybe a year, since I was conscious about my hygiene or anything good. My mirror is broken but I can ...

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But I have prayed for you

Weekly Contest #347

The sanctuary is packed. I'm already sweating and it's only been ten minutes since I arrived. I'm waiting in the doorway and pretending to be busy with my phone as more saints walk into the church. The decoration inside is exquisite; It's obvious that the first lady, Mrs. Roshe was involved in the aesthetics department. It's the holy week; Jesus dies on the cross and rises to ascend to heaven but before He does, He visits the disciples a lot. I can't forget what the bible says about Thomas in that passage. The fact that Jesus went as far as ...

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Mercy

I lied ??? I don’t deserve you. Or this. I made a mistake and I shouldn’t have kept it a secret but I made excuses not to tell you and now it’s this nagging truth in my head. You have school in a few weeks and I can’t risk you leaving, thinking you have a future with a liar…I know you’ll be angry and I don’t blame you. I didn’t grow up with my parents or in the way I told you. I was an orphan and lived in a foster home for almost all my childhood until one year when they told the remaining children in my age group that a last-minute reques...

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