I owe money to the man who threatened my brother

Dear Delyara, My younger brother borrowed money from men who charge interest by the week. When he disappeared, one of them came to my shop and said the debt now belonged to the family. I did not know whether that was true. I paid anyway because he mentioned my daughter’s school by name. The original loan was 20,000 rand. I have already paid 31,000, and he says I still owe more. There are no documents, no statements, only voice messages and the knowledge that he knows where we live. My husband thinks the money is going toward my brother’s rehabilitation. I have sold jewellery, delayed rent, and taken cash from the shop without recording it. Every Friday, the man waits in a silver car near the petrol station. He never raises his voice. That calm frightens me more. My brother calls occasionally asking for forgiveness, but he cannot tell me where he is or how much he truly borrowed. Debt usually comes with numbers. This one comes with a face watching my child leave school.