Morning came and Edward opened his eyes to see Kamaria's head resting on his chest. He smiled to him and thought about wanting to actually start a family with her. He knew it was impossible, with her being African American— there was no way they could get married or even start a family. Tears formed in his eyes and he felt his throat burn. He shakily stroked her face and hair, wishing that there wasn't any laws against them being a couple, laws against her for just being her. His sorrow slowly faded as he saw her stir awake.
"Good morning Kamaria," he kissed her forehead. "I hope you slept alright." He held her close. She smiled sleepily and nodded. Edward held her hands in his, kissing her finger tips and knuckles.
"I want to stay here all day with you." Kamaria pressed herself into Edward more, wanting to be as close as possible to him.
"We can stay here all day together, but will your parents not get upset?" His eyebrows furrowed.
"No, I always stay at Helen's house after dances and school get togethers."
Edward's face softened and a smile appeared on his lips.
"That makes me feel good, that your father and mother won't be worried." He got up from the bed, turned on the lights and made her a bowl of cereal before making his own. They sat on the bed and ate their breakfast.
"You know," Edward set down his bowl and spoon. "My mother pleaded with me to change my mind about going into the Civil War when I turn 18. But I didn't want to listen. However, I now can't picture myself going into that war, knowing I could die and leave you here. I didn't want to leave my mother either but I know my father would be here to protect her. As much as I hate to say that. But, I can not let another man other than me and your father protect you." He looked in her eyes with an intense stare. His eyes full of worry from the what if factor that came with war, the what if factor of being in a world without Kamaria.
She cupped his face and brushed her lips against his, delicately, like a butterfly.
"I'm very happy that you changed your mind for me and I want you to also change your mind for yourself to. Love yourself like you care for me Edward." She laid back on him after setting her empty bowl down on top of his.
He smiled and held her again. "I will do my best."
They spent the day telling stories, reading, and eating. Dancing to records and listening to the radio. It soon was 3 PM and they laid together in the bathtub with warm water. She closed her eyes as he washed her back and she washed his.
"I never got the chance to ask you properly, I have been too busy having fun all day with you but I was wondering if you would like to go steady with me." He held her wash off the soap.
"Yes! I would love nothing more." She hugged him tightly. His smile was ear to ear hearing her words. They finished up their bath together and got dressed with the spare clothes they brought with them. Edward put their clothes in separate bags and carried both as they left the shed. Walking back to her house, Edward couldn't stop himself from thinking. Wanting to tell the world about his new profound love but knew he was unable to do so.
Once they got to her street, Kamaria quickly gave Edward a peck on the lips, before hurrying up the road home so she wouldn't be late coming from "Helen's". He watched her until he saw she made it safe to her house.
"Welcome home Mari!" Her mom embraced her in a warm hug. Kamaria hugged her mom then kisses her father's cheek.
"I had a wonderful time last night mama, papa!" She looked between her two parents with a bright smile.
"I'm so glad you're feeling better sweetheart, you seemed to have been down this past week." Her father spoke in his deep voice.
"I'm a lot better papa!" Kamaria sat at the table for dinner.
Her mother set the table and they all ate.
"Now, I don't want to ruin your good mood." Kamaria felt her stomach start to sink, trying to prepare herself for what her mother might say. "However, your father and I were thinking about moving more up north. Where it's safer for all of us. For you."
Kamaria felt like she was choking, trying to swallow hard on the food that was in her mouth. Tears rushed down her face like a river. Her body started to shake. She did not want to leave Edward nor did she want to tell him this horrible news.
"I don't want to leave here! I have friends here!" Kamaria wiped her eyes vigorously.
"Having only Helen as a friend is not much to leave behind Kamaria!" Her mom was becoming upset that Kamaria wasn't putting her safety first.
She looked at her mother in shock that she basically said she didn't have friends. Kamaria hopped up from the table and ran to her room. Crying herself to sleep.
Kamaria's father sighed and looked at his wife. "Ruth, I know you did not meant to tell her that." He smoked his pipe.
"I know Walter, I just did not know how to make her understand it is for her safety." Ruth frowned. "I should go apologize." She cleaned the table.
"Apologize to her in the morning honey. She has had a long day it seems." Walter hugged her from behind as she washed the dishes.
After the dishes her washed, they both went to bed. Morning came slow for Kamaria, she kept waking up thinking about how upset Edward would be once she told him that she was moving. She slowly got up from her bed, eyes red and puffy. It was Monday. The first school day of what felt like would be a long week.
Kamaria walked into the kitchen to find her mom cooking eggs and ham.
"Kamaria. I'm extremely sorry for upsetting you last night. I said some things that are not true and I know you have other friends like Anna, Elizabeth and that boy Roy." Ruth set the table and Kamaria began to eat.
"Roy is not really my friend. He just likes to hang around all the girls." She took a few bites of her food. "Are we really moving?" Asking that question made her want to puke.
Her mother nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so, in one month." She hates to see her daughter so upset. "Maybe we can throw a going away event with your friends!" Ruth tried to lighten the mood. Kamaria looked at her and smiled.
"That's a good idea mama! I'll invite my friends at school today! We can have it two days before we move!" She quickly finished her breakfast and hugged her mom before rushing off to school.
Edward was standing at the end of the road like always, waiting for her. She ran to him and hugged him tightly. He hugged back and looked down at her.
"I have some upsetting news to tell you Ed." She held her new boyfriend's hands in her's.
"I'm moving..at the end of the month!" She began to cry. He held her close to him, feeling the words go into his heart like a hot knife.
"I'll just go with you. I'll study where you will move at!" He kissed her head and watched her has she buried her face in his chest. Looking up at him in shock from his response.
"But what about your parents? You're going to leave them for me?" She breathed deep to calm herself from crying again.
"As much as I love my mother, she would not approve of us being together. So she wouldn't understand. I will just tell her that I found a better medical school else were." He walked hand in hand with Kamaria to her school.
He looked down at her as they stopped a little ways away from her school.
"I will stop at nothing to be with you. I mean that." They kissed once more before he watched her walk away.
Kamaria shed many tears with her friends, teachers and classmates as she shared the sad news of her departing in a month. As the day went on. It was a blur— that blur continued throughout the weeks. The only time that blur disappeared and everything was clear, was when she was with Edward.
It was a few days before the party was suppose to happen— a Wednesday. Edward was waiting for Kamaria to walk her to school like always but she didn't arrive at her normal time. After a few more minutes of waiting he made his way up to her house. His eyes grew wide and his books fell from his arms onto their yawn. Her parents' car windows were smashed in and the door to the house was ajar.
