The Dawn of Freedom

Hello, everyone! This is a story that I have been working on for quite some time, so I thought I should share it with you all! Enjoy!

-Elena

                    T H E  Dawn

                                                                                                                          O F  Freedom

M A R C H

C H A P T E R   One

1762

Temperance ducked her head behind the hill. She laid stomach first, 

down on the fresh spring grass. It smelled sweet. Temperance sighed 

with contentment. There was nothing like a beautiful day in March. She felt relaxed and carefree. Even with the fear of Father finding her. Finding her playing when she hadn’t finished her chores. Oh, the beating she would get. But though Temperance had to deal with her father’s anger, she still tried to enjoy her life.

Mother always said that when something happened to Father, they would leave on a ship to go to Virginia. A place where they could be truly happy. But Father would not allow it. He was a very abusive drunk man, and most of the time, he wasn’t in his senses. But nevertheless, Mother, Temperance, and her brother James still remained hopeful.

Suddenly, James interrupted her of her thoughts. He found her hiding. He was supposed to be the seeker in their game, but the sight of him made Temperance fearful. His eye and lips were cut and bloody.

“Temperance, come quick, Father is looking for you.” He was quiet and solemn. 

Temperance breathed a shuddered breath. “Has he gone mad?” She asked her older brother.

“Yes, Temperance.” James replied. “He broke my spectacles. I fear I may never own a pair, until I am grown. It took Mother years to save up.” James looked back to the cottage. “Go quick. It’s best you get it done and over with.”

Temperance nodded and dashed off to the house. By the time she was there, she was panting. She couldn’t spot Father. She only heard the faint sound of her mother crying.

She went to the small room where her parents slept. She sat bruised and sobbing, on the small wooden bed, that barely stood on its little legs.

“Oh, Mother, what has he done now?” She sat by her mother’s side and comforted her.

“H—he—he hurt,—hurt me. I—I threw his drink—drinking bo—bottles away. I buried them as deep as I could, but he threatened me and I was forced to tell him.” Mother continued sobbing. “He’s drowned himself  in taxes, and now—” She looked Temperance in the eyes. “He’s going to sell you and your brother.” 

Temperance stared at her mother. “Fa—father? He—no! He can’t! Mother, we have to run! We have to escape. We can board a ship and go to America, just like we’ve always wanted.”

Mother put a finger to Temperance’s lips to quiet her. “No, child. It’s been my dream to see my children become free from Father, and happy. I am too weak to travel, I—” She looked down ashamed. “I had a baby. And I—I took her far away to a woman who was going to America. She said she’d care for her and love her.” Mother touched her daughter’s tear stained face. “You have to run. Leave me here, I’ll be alright.”

Temperance’s eyes widened. “I could never leave you here. Who knows what Father could do to you?”

Mother nodded. “I’m very weak and frail. I visited the doctor yesterday, and he told me I only have a week or more to live. But I want my children to grow up happy.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a compass attached to a golden chain. She placed it in the palm of Temperance’s hand. “Keep this in remembrance of me. But leave tonight. Father is looking for you.”

Temperance nodded seriously and standing up, she backed away slowly and made her way to the door. “I’ll be back, Mother. I’ll gather food and supplies.”

With a single tear rolling down her sunburned face, Temperance dashed out the door to find her brother.