I looked up and down the beach looking out at the waning sun. I realized that I should go home to my house by the docks, to my loving mother, to my abusive father, to my numerous brothers and of course to my impending doom. You see today is the last day of my life, tomorrow I marry.
I wonder what it will be like to be married. Will I end up like my mother, a woman having child after child? Or like Mrs. Baker, wondering when or if ever her husband will get back from his favorite place in the world, the neighborhood whorehouse? Did any marriage work out the way you wanted it?
I look up to see that the sun is gone from the sky leaving an ominous twilight on the island of Barbados. Oh no!! Father will have my hide for this! I pick up my shoes from the sand and run as fast as I can from the twinkling stars and sapphire water. I run past the clanging sounds of the blacksmith's shop, vaguely hearing the slap of my feet on the cobblestone street. When I reach my house I run a quick hand through my red hair and start to open the door to have it yanked from my hand. I look up into the seething eyes of my father.
"Get inside" He hissed through clenched teeth. I hurry tripping over my skirt. "How was your lovely trek to the beach? Have fun di-" his eyes had moved from mine down to the bottoms of my dress. I looked down to notice two bare feet poking out. I'd forgotten to put on my shoes!
"Katherine! How dare you tatter our good name by traipsing about barefoot! Know you no shame!" His hands were clenched into fist and his face was redder than my hair.
"I'm sorry Father! I thought I had enough time to go to the beach and come back to start dinner! I didn't even think a-" a slap cut my words in half. My face stung but I wouldn't look away, nor cry.
"That's your problem! You don't think!" He moved away from me in the direction of his office. I knew what he was going for but refused show fear. "You think Colonel Jacobs will let you get away with a much as I do? Do you?!"
"No sir, I imagine not." I said trying to tone him down. But his step never faltered he walked straight into his office and straight. There it was, in its leather case. He pulled it clear from the case and I looked at it with such loathing. His favorite toy to use, but I refused to flinch; I was not his horse to break.
"Turn around" he said meticulously, holding the leather whip in his right hand. I don't know why but the defiant words slipped from my mouth before I could catch them.
"No" I said evenly, my eyes never leaving his.
"What?" he growled.
"I won't marry the Colonel and won't be you hitting post!" I said with conviction, but my father never left his hateful nature, the words only made him grasp at them with more strength then ever.
The leather hit with a taut snap on my thigh. I gasped and grabbed at the pain, bending over and leaving my back exposed, the pain leading my down the path to stupidity. He hit my back and made me fall to my knees. He hit me over and over, cutting my skin every once and awhile, but mostly just leaving deep black welts. I looked through the red waterfall of my hair.
"Silly girl" He said with a sadistic smile "I just hope the Colonel has better time with you than I did" He walked away leaving me on the floor of his despicable house. The last thing I noticed was that my shoes lay by my face on the floor, and then the blackness took me.
* * * * * * *
I woke to see my mother stirring the coals to keep the fire going. The room was at loss of light save for the burning embers. We were in her room and I was stomach down on her bed.
"He's despicable" I said bitterly recalling the night's events. My mother didn't answer but went over to her bed stand. I tried to follow her with my eyes but I couldn't move neck because of the pain so instead I focused on the Oriental rug on the floor. Cold ran down my back, surprising me until I realized that my mother was wiping down my back. There were probably herbs in the water to help with the welts, as always
"The pain should be gone by tomorrow" My mother said her hand moving rhythmic and gentle down my back. "Just in time for your marriage"
"Mama, please don't make me marry him!" I cried "I'll do what you want of me!"
"SSHHH!" My mother said her gentle voice once again touching the depths of my soul "I have no more control over your father than you" tears jumped to my brown eyes, but I would refuse to shed them, only weaklings cry and I am not weak! My mother began to sing, her hands moving in time with the song. I drifted off then only to wake the next day to my doom, or at least what I thought would be my doom until something truly amazing happened.