Hark ran first, Nat Turner followed. The two of them ran as though they were being called, like the work bell was calling. Peeking through branches around the pond, they saw the girls floating in the water, giggling, washing away winter’s skin layers.
He and Hark watched them through the leaves. Nat Turner staggered, intoxicated. He and Hark tried not to giggle.
They had seen girls before: worked with them in the fields, and there was no privacy for slaves, neither in the fields nor in the barns. But they had not seen them this way, not in spring, not without rags, not with their hair undone floating in the water… not with the sun kissing their brown skin.
He and Hark knew the girls, had seen them all before. Teased them, jostled with them—at least Hark had while Nat Turner watched. But this way—with birds singing while they floated on the water, among the sweet perfume of spring flowers—was something more.
Cherry dived into the water, her head first, then hips, and finally her feet. He had known her since she was a little girl. The water closed around her, and Nat realized that he had forgotten to breathe. Beautiful, he thought, and finally understood the word. When her head gently parted the water and she reappeared, the first thing he noticed were her full, dark lips.
Hark’s hand grabbed Nat Turner’s shirt and pulled him back before he stepped out of the cover of the trees. He had not realized that he was walking toward the pond.
After that day he could not stop saying her name. Cherry. He found excuses to say it. Cherry. Every breeze, raindrop, even the sunshine reminded him of her.
When he saw her again, Nat Turner made his intentions known to her. She took his hand as though she had been waiting all the time. Cherry kissed him. His lips and then his neck, and he forgot all the promises and vows he had made. He forgot what would happen to him and to his children. With a kiss it all melted away.
Hope was the nectar on her lips, and each one of her fingers touching his face told him that things would be better. Hark helped him to laugh, but Cherry helped him to forget. When she smiled, the burden lifted. There was sweet life in Cherry.