You South Africa – 29 August 2019

prison up to twice a month, she’s no
longer as impatient as before for Levona
to return home. “It’s going to be strange
when she comes back. I’ve changed and
I’ve had to make big decisions. But I hope
she’ll come home and I’m excited when
I think about it. She’s still my mommy
and she’ll always be my mommy.”
Initially Miché struggled because she
wasn’t experiencing the emotions people
expected her to have.
“People wanted me to be angry and
hate her. There was a time when I was
frustrated but I couldn’t hate her. There
were a lot of questions and she caused
my biological parents pain but I couldn’t
hate her. I love her.
“Here’s how I see it: that woman risked
everything [to have me]. I can’t justify
what she did but she must’ve been pre-
pared for the day when the truth came
out. She carried the secret all by herself
and she’ll be paying for it for the rest of
her life – because she knows it’s not her
blood in my veins.”
Miché opens a parcel of books from
her publisher and holds a copy of her life
story in her hands for the first time.
“It’s nice,” she says.
She’s relieved that people now know
who she is, Miché adds. “Sometimes I’d
be walking in a shopping centre and peo-
plewouldstare.Itwashardformebut
I realisepeopledidn’tknowwhatwas
going on.
“Many people think we’re struggling
and now they can see we aren’t. I can’t
justify what Levona did but look at me –
I was raised well and I’m fine. Speaking
out about it has brought a lot of healing
and I’m prepared for what lies ahead.”
Miché says she wants to spread her
message of hope through the book.
“I want to reach out to people in a pos-
itive way. I especially want to bring hope
to single mothers and I want to show
people what unconditional love can do.”
She’s also determined to continue her
social work studies through Unisa next
year.
“This book is about healing – for my-
self, my biological parents and for the
parents who raised me. If I can give any-
oneevena glimmerof hope, then that’s
”

MICHÉ BECOMES

A MOTHER

Michésaysmotherhoodtransformedher

andinfluencedherdecisiontotellher

story to the world. On the right, she’s eight

months pregnant with Sophia (pictured be-

low as a baby). Miché describes her daugh-

ter as independent, while son Matteo

(whom she’s pictured below right tucking

into a cot on the day they were released

from hospital) is shy.

ZEPHANY, WRITTEN BY JOANNE JOWELL,

IS PUBLISHED BY TAFELBERG. R195 AT

TAKEALOT.COM.

PRICE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

you.co.za 29 AUGUST 2019 | (^11)
YOU NEWS