Forget when I said I had it good.
Just think of it no more.
I nursed the bruises on my face, mainly under my eye. I dare say, as it may be, I deserved it. Master William's had visitors, they had supper here. Upon my serving... the seemingly old aged man grabbed my behind making me lose my grip on the tray I was holding. It all went daubing all over him and his wife. I didn't do it calculatedly, I swear I didn't. I was startled, this had happened so many times to me in my life but I still managed to be startled. It was never something I would get used to.
The man continuously said that my owners didn't discipline me enough and that I was a little ungrateful floozy. He also kept talking about my body. He said it was my fault that I wore a dress that outline my behind like that. I did not own any tight fitting clothes, I did not understand what he wanted me to wear. I did not respond as I cleaned up the mess. As soon as I was done, Master William stared at me with so much vile anger. Lady Tracy took Liam to bed. Master William grabbed me my arm and locked us in the basement where he relentlessly beat me with his belt, kicked me and pushed me to the ground. I had never in my life been beaten this badly. When he was done, he couldn't even look at my bloody mess.. he left.
I could hear laughter afterwards, although I thought I was hallucinating.
The basement was not only my room. In the far corner there were tools and all that junk and on the other corner was my bed and a dressing table with drawers where I kept my clothes. There was also a shower, not like the one upstairs, but it was still in a good working condition.
Waking up this morning, I looked slightly better. More damage was on my body not my face - I had just a few bruises here and there.
I didn't know what Master William did for a living but he was only twenty-six, sometimes he was home all the time and sometimes he was gone for weeks, sometimes months at a time. Such a happy time!
I managed to clean the house, dust up and make breakfast. When I went to wake up Liam and get him all bathed and ready for the day. The little boy just kept staring at me.
"I'm sorry..." He said softly, while I was bathing him. He was five and I was still required to do so. Including clothe him. I didn't want him to know what his father had done or how evil the world was. I wanted to protect him from all the vileness this world had.
"Close your eyes Liam, the soap might get in your eyes.." I told him.
He listened.
After rinsing and dabbing his face with a towel, he gave me a toothy smile. It made me all warm inside. I smiled back at him.
"I love you Nase." He muttered, he had a hard time pronouncing my name but these simple words meant so much to me. I had only been here for three months and this little boy had grown fond of me.
"I love you too Liam."
"When I grow up, we will go far far away to a nice place. Where everyone is happy and.. and.. and w-we all stay together."
I understood exactly what he meant. I'd like to think before any revolution would revolt, I would probably be dead and forgotten. I didn't even have a reason for living honestly. Pastor Richardson told us that those who commit suicide go straight to Hell.. maybe my mother was right. They created a religion to control us mentally. I'd like to think it's also true, committing suicide would land me in hell. I just prayed I would get a beating that will lead me straight to my death.
"That's nice, Liam." I told him. "You're a very very smart boy, I hope you never change."
"Dad, I'm bathing!!" Liam yelled.
"Oh so Nashe can see you bath but I can not?" Master William chuckled from behind me. I tensed.
I was kneeling on the floor next to the bathtub. I didn't dare turn around. I was afraid but I had to greet him to avoid causing anymore problems for myself.
"Good Morning Master William."
"Good morning." He replied, gruffly.
"Stand up, Liam. The water is getting cold, wouldn't want you becoming sick alright?"
My ribs hurt, my arms hurt.. my body hurt but I had to keep going. I couldn't complain. I prayed Master William had left and that he wasn't watching me.
Once Liam was all dressed up. I combed his blonde locks backwards. He gave me a toothy smile. Whenever he smiled, I wanted to smile.
"Where does it hurt?" Liam questioned.
"No where, I'm fine Liam."
"You should be resting Nase." The five year old seemed concerned but I shook my head. "I'm perfectly fine Liam see—" I showed him, turning around for him. My eyes immediately found those of his father. I was utterly embarrassed, I thought he had left.
"I apologize." I said quickly turning back around. The door then closed and I was beyond glad. The day went on really fast. The only thing I could think of was my bed, it was uncomfortable but it was still my bed and I really wanted to be in my bed. I did not eat, Lady Tracy said that was my punishment for wasting food yesterday. It was perfectly fine with me, I wasn't hungry either. When she said I couldn't have water either that's when I .. was at loss of words.
I avoided him all day.
Surely he would have the decency of not coming to lay with me when he had battered and bruised me up badly. I was wrong, he came. I looked down, not wanting to look at him.
"Evening Master Williams."
He didn't respond.
I immediately turned around and started unbuttoning my dress. The faster we started, the sooner he would be done. What he did next absolutely astound me. He left a plate of food and a jug of water then left.
Lady Tracy was a dressmaker. She worked from home, she had a room where she did everything required. Master William also had his own office. There were two guest bedrooms and yet I still slept in the basement. Sometimes.. I thought Master William wanted me in the basement because of the things.. he wanted to do to me. These words kept ringing in my head.. 'Nothing can be heard from the basement.. you can moan as you please.'My name was called.I hurriedly went to the dining room where I met Elliot. He was smartly dressed in black worn out slacks and a brown dress shirt. His black 4c hair was smartly combed. He gave me a clean white smile. His teeth were so white, they were the highlight from his dark skin. He was a tad bit lighter than myself though."You could chat a little while I go fetch Mrs. Cunningham's possessions." Lady Tracy said with a hint of amusement. "Just don't do what I wouldn't." She warned.I panicked, what if she told him that she thought we were having sexual rela
Just when I was beginning to think, I was off the hook and he wasn't coming. I heard foot steps, steady as to not make any sound. The door slowly closed. I turned to look at him. He intimidated me."Don't call me Master William, it disgusts me." He said immediately cutting me off. You disgust me! I said to myself."Call me Will." He paused. "You make me feel like a bad person which I'm not." He took slow steps approaching me. I did not wish to this close to him. To call him by his name, no!"She will kill me." I finally said. "Is that what you want? You can beat me to a pulp for saying what I'm about to say but I don't care. I will gladly take it. I don't mind dying in fact I really want to die so badly and you would be doing me a favor."He seemed amused, he gave me a smirk. I looked away. I hate this man."I like this rebellious side of you. I was starting to think you're dim-witted.""She won't kill you." He added when I remained unwaveringly quiet."If you love her why are you doi
"You never touch me, William." I heard Lady Tracy whining. The door was closed but as I cleaned the passage, I could hear. "I'm a woman, I'm your wife.. I need to be touched. Liam is five, we ought to give him a sibling already.""I will not be having kids like we're breeding chickens. Liam is enough." Master William arrogantly yelled back. I could tell he was aggravated. I could also tell that his wife was desperate."We said we would have five kids and I'm best fertile now. We planned on a big family remember? Now whenever you're with me... you never cum or you claim to be tired then roll over. Is something wrong? Would you like to see a doctor.""Woman, don't disrespect me like that! It's not my fault you're as stretched out as a rubber band.""Wi..lliam!" Lady Tracy gasped clearly shocked. I felt awful for her. I couldn't wait to be stretched out.. maybe he would leave me alone."I gave you a son." She said in a quivering voice."Yes, I'm grateful for that!""No, you aren't if you
He ignored me.Not just for a day or two but for a week. I should be happy right? I'm not not happy. He didn't talk to me. He didn't laugh with me. He didn't share crude remarks with me. He acted mutual, like he didn't care if I was there or not. I probably sound stupid for trying to get his attention. I would always expect him to say something when we were alone but he did not, he would dismiss and tell me to close the door behind me. I do not know what I did. Before I went to sleep, I replayed everything I said that day. Did I say something wrong? I probably did. Maybe I came off as rude, I just did not understand why he had suddenly become distant.It all made sense when I saw her.I was replaced.Long curly bouncy hair, green eyes and a lighter skin tone. She was obviously the result of an... unwanted affair. She was much more appealing."This is my half sister.. Mary. She will be staying with us for a bit. She will help out around the house.." Lady Tracy informed me.Half sister?
Mr. Durham had his fiftieth birthday celebration. It was a milestone achievement into old age for someone with so much wealth and over seven children with different mothers. It wasn't anything new. I was—Obviously not very not invited.I knew how those always events planned out, I used to help serve every time there was an event at the Gallagher household. People would arrive extravagantly dressed up and powder faced. Socialize for a bit, more like comparing wealth and achievements. They would then gather around the piano for entertainment. Playing piano pieces composed by Oliver Shaw, Thomas Moore. Most of the time they just repeated the same songs like "Coming through the Rye," "Annie Laurie," "Old Dan Tucker" and "Oh, Susannah."... I had them all memorized by head.After their piano sessions they would eat because what's a party without a big meal. They would socialize and simultaneously find slaves to make a banter about or look for a slave to be angry at. The theme never got old
"Jesus christ! What are you doing here..?! Quickly away from me." These were the sour words I woke up to. "For goodness sake get dressed." He hissed looking away from me. I was hurt... but I was expecting it. The alcohol must have worn off."What happened?" He questioned, then immediately answered himself before I could form an answer. "You most probably took advantage of me. You're shameless!"I didn't mind, he had thrown much worse insults at me before. Insults more lethal than this. I looked at the watch at the corner of the room, it was currently five am. Lady Tracy, Mary and Liam would be back soon. I should forget last night ever happened. When I was about to leave he pulled me against his chest."My wife shouldn't know." He said. "I was very drunk. I most probably said things, I didn't mean. Don't let them get to your head."I only nodded, before he let me go.—It didn't take an hour before they were back. They were all seated having breakfast. Lady Tracy was telling her husba
Lady Tracy asked for my measurements the other day. I honestly did not pay much attention to it. Now, here I was wearing the most beautiful dress, I had ever had in my whole entire existence. It must have cost a lot of money and Lady Tracy did not work for free. I thought she was using me as a mannequin until she told me that it was entirely mine for a date."I did not know I had a date?""Elliot paid me his weeks pay. He said he wanted to do something nice for you. He also asked for a day off on your behalf."No one has ever done anything so nice and considerate for me.The fact that Elliot had sacrificed his week's pay just so I could stand here wearing such a elegant dress.. it baffled me. He loves me, I should love him back. I really want to try and return the love he gives me. I want to get to know him more.. basically I want to give this all a try."You look really pretty." Mary said genuinely, it made me feel actually pretty. I did not feel that way all the time in fact rarely.
"Lock the door.""I'm on my period." I said almost immediately without even thinking."Not everything is about sex.. what do you take me for?" He added. "Lock the door!"I did as I was told.I did not know what to expect. I was afraid this was all just a trick, he was literally playing mind games with me."Come here." He held his hand out for me. At this point I was shaking, I did not know what he expected of me. I was literally astound when I held his hand and he pulled me into a... hug. I was confused, I expected him to give me backhand clap or anything of that sort but he didn't."I missed the way you smell. The way you smile, the way you make feel. I just really missed you.." He whispered in my ear holding me really tightly. I didn't hug him back, I just stood there surprised."Are you drunk?" I asked him, he pulled back and gave me a heartwarming smile."I couldn't be sober enough to stomach you being out there with him.. alone."That just confirmed it."You have to stop drinking