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“N-no, Master, no. I-I didn’t do no such thing. You gotta believe me. P-please. I did nothing like that,” I stammer. He sighs deeply and backs away from me, his hand still tight on my arm. face to face. Once again, I fear for my life. He swings his arm back and slaps me. My entire left side of my face burns, since his hand is practically the size of my head. With my free hand I touch the burning spot. He stands up, dragging me with him. Fear is etched on my face and my brows are pulled tightly together. He takes me out of the room and down the old wooden steps. knows what’ll come to me. I could get someone worse than Master. Then I see her. Misses. She picks flowers peacefully while I am falling apart. This is all her fault. She got me into this mess. “YOU’RE THE DEVIL! THE DEVIL!” I howl. “Don’t you lie to me!” he yells. He moves in front of me so we are “We’re leaving. Now,” he declares. No. No, no, no. I can’t leave. Who

I’m about to shout some more, but Master hits me again, hissing, “Shut it!” The carriage is already there with two horses harnessed to it. “Tom! Thomas!” Master calls to the overseer. The overseer walks over to the two of us and greets Master. “We’ll go now. Is that alright?” Master questions. “Yes, of course!” The overseer responds in his always cheery voice. My right arm is getting tingly from Master’s grip, but I do nothing to loosen it. Together, we walk to the green painted carriage. I look around me once more. Other slaves do not look up from their work at my parting. “Master! Master, Misses has something for you!” Abigail announces from behind us. Master turns and so do I. She’s running in her pale yellow dress to us. She gasps for breath and points back to where Misses is. Master sighs quietly and turns to the overseer. “Don’t let her out of you sight,” he commands. The overseer nods and

Master takes off to his wife. My arm is finally free. I look up at Abigail, who still stands in front of me and the overseer. She has tears in her dark eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but then quickly glanced up at the overseer for permission. Again, he nods his head. She moves her eyes back to mine. “Oh, Glory, I’m gonna miss you,” she weeps. I would smile if I could, but I am too fearful to do so. I simply nod. She kneels down and cradles me in her warm arms. I feel wet

photograph Megha Rameshkumar

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