Consumed by Carrie Rogers
1909
In late March London, I
decided to begin a new life. All of the people who I cared for were gone.
Headed off to find something new, I made my way through the busy streets.
Beggars lined the route to the Atlantic transport.
Stepping to the ticket
window, I asked, "where is the boat headed?"
"America," He
answered.
"One, please!"
I said, handing the man my money. He gave me a ticket and asked my name.
"Randis Blackburn."
He wrote my name along with the other ship passengers.
"Age?"
"22." seems
like a good number. After all, my age was unbelievable.
I was waiting for my
turn to board the ship. Watching the ship's two giant smokestacks as they
puffed angrily. Parents said goodbye to their children, knowing they might
never see them again. A child smiled, waving frantically. I waved back. Her
smile was sweet, intentions pure. The feeling of life surged through me. Would
I have the strength to leave if I had a child?
"Excuse me,"
a quiet voice said, breaking me from my thoughts. I stepped to the side,
apologizing for being in her way. “Is that yours?" she asked, looking down
at an old worn brown trunk that sat at my feet.
"No," I
answered, gazing into her deep green eyes. I was frozen in place by the depth
of her stare. There was something familiar about her; I couldn't say what. She
bent down, picking up the lock in her hand. She turned the key, opening the
lock. She let out a sigh of relief as she pulled open the trunk.
The smell of wild roses
filled the air around me. She turned and smiled at me quickly before shutting
the lid. The scent of roses hit me once again. Locking the trunk and standing
to her feet, she held her lacey gloves that she had taken from the chest in her
pale hands. With a smile, she said,
"Good day,
sir."
"Please, Call me
Randis," I stuttered out.
"You are?" I
asked as I took her hand, slowly lifting it to my lips and kissing her warm
hand gently. I looked up to see her rosy cheeks. I had made her blush.
"Sarah." She
said in a nervous voice.
"Nice to make your
acquaintance, Sarah." Holding her hand in mine, I said, "Safe
journey."
"Same to you,
Randis," she said, pulling her hand from mine.
As she walked away, I
felt that a part of me was now missing. I felt so alone, more alone than I ever
had, as she disappeared into the crowd.
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