1772

"We need to get you away from him," Alexander pleaded.

I shook my head. "If he needs me for Lily, then I need to stay. It's been lovely knowing you Alexander, but I don't think we'll be seeing each other for much longer."

I could barely see the coast of New York from the boat now. Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Mary were discussing below deck who they would be getting rid of here. Lily more than likely sat with them but had no say. My hands shook, as did most of the slaves who were up here with me. I'd grown up with them, helping them through the pain that Mr. Daniel and other men like him brought. I didn't want to part with any of them.

The latch of the door was heard, and Alexander ducked behind me to run and watch from afar. I stood as straight as I could, watching as Mr. Daniel approached me with an envelope. My heart beat so hard that my clothes may have shaken. It's not possible, it's not possible-!

"You are released from your duties as a slave. May God be with you," Mr. Daniel grumbled, making sure that I took the paper. Mr. Daniel's face had turned into a grimace- and I couldn't tell if it came from the salty air or the fact he was letting slaves go.

"Thank you, sir," I whispered. He handed a slip of paper to John as well, repeating the mantra. We were the only ones that were given those slips. I could tell why John had been given the slip- his ailment made it hard for him to work. But me? I had no clue why.

As soon as Mr. Daniel disappeared below the deck, I got engulfed in hugs from those around me. There were cheers to open the envelope and to read its contents. I pulled them out, scanning over each sheet. Despite what the paper said, I still couldn't believe it.

Alexander ran towards me, enveloping me in a hug. I laughed, squeezing his neck.

I was free.

1773

Alexander dropped his bags on the chair in the dining room as I stood in the kitchen area.

"Smells delicious," Alexander commented.

I stirred the soup, "Should warm us up a little."

Alexander came up behind me and pressed up against my back. I shivered, "Alexander, get off. You're freezing me."

"Maybe I want to," Alexander teased, pulling away. He leaned against the counter as I dipped a couple of bowls out. "How are the projects coming along?"

"Really good." I gave him a bowl and a spoon, moving to the table with my own, "The jacket is taking a little bit longer than I would like, but the skirt is coming along quickly."

"That's amazing." Alexander sat across from me, dipping into his soup. I thought back onto how this whole sewing ordeal got started.

Money had been hard to come by lately, with Alexander attending college (and therefore unable to work) and me being, well, a woman. No one would hire me.

"Clarissa! My classmates loved the jacket!" Alexander called, coming in the door of the apartment.

"I'm glad," I said, sewing my own skirt.

"And I've got good news for you," Alexander commented, leaning on the chair.

I looked up at him, "And that is?"

"They want you to make them some clothes too!"

At first, I had been terrified, admittedly. But Alexander explained that he had been learning that as long as he handled all the transactions, we would legally be fine. He promised to walk me through everything he was doing though- letting me learn through example.

I blew on my soup, trying to cool it down. I sipped from the spoon, shivering a bit. "I have to run to the store tomorrow while you're at work."

Alexander nodded, "Make sure you get some of that paper, I need some more for notes."

I grinned, "And any ink?"

"Please!"

I spent the rest of dinner just listening to Alexander as he recounted his day. Even after we finished and moved to the living room, I continued to listen to him as I sewed. After finishing the recounting of his day, he picked a book and began to read to me as I continued.

As the day grew dark, we moved to our room and curled close. We never even considered this as anything other than preserving heat. New York seemed to always be freezing, and Alexander agreed with me. Both of us nearly always wore our thicker clothing, even if those around us wore thinner ones. Some days I couldn't tell if it was because we were further north, or if Mother Nature wanted to play a trick on just Alexander and I, and try and make us move back south and to warmer climates.

Why did that matter, though? The only thing that made the cold worse was the idea that Alexander wore through his clothes like a damn toddler. I couldn't tell you how many jackets and pants I had to sew him in our first couple of months here.