We are suppose to be leaving tomorrow and we still had no idea of where we are going and what we are going to do when we got there. Ultimately, I knew that I would have to make the final decision. The burden of keeping my promise to my parents was a heavy one, but one that I planned to shoulder until it comes to fruition, no matter the weight.
“You know what, I got it! We should go to Canada!” Joshua shouted, interrupting my thoughts. “They are far more progressive when it comes to Negros getting a start in life.”
“Yeah, and they got snow too!” Bear quickly killed any thoughts of the move north. “My black ass is going somewhere warm.”
“You two are unbelievable. I’m going for a walk.” I needed to get away to be alone with my thoughts. I was going to make the decision, and they were going to follow whatever plan I came up with. I just had to get it all straight in my head.
After walking for thirty minutes or so, I ended up on top of the hill near the old well. After fetching a drink, I sat and rested up against the old oak not too far away just off the trail. The tree provided the perfect shade from the midday sun, and every so often, a nice summer breeze would find its way up to me. I briefly closed my eyes and pondered the big move. Just as my thoughts began to structure themselves into feasible concepts, I heard a woman’s voice.
“Excuse me, sir.”
I opened my eyes and scrambled to my feet, dusting myself off. “Yes, hello, ma’am.” Still not looking up as I searched the ground for my hat. She spoke again.
“I’m sorry I startled you, but I am looking for Carter and Olivia Wright. Do they still live here on the plantation?”
I scooped up my hat and finally gathered myself to stand erect. Looking at the woman who was speaking to me, I gasped at the sight of her. There was no mistaking, I was absolutely positive that I knew this woman. Well, to be more accurate, I knew the little girl who is now the woman standing before me.
The woman I was looking at was five feet seven inches tall, and my best guess said she weighed 140 pounds. Her skin was a medium brown complexion and buttery smooth. Her hair was shoulder-length and appeared to have been straightened from its natural texture. The one thing that triggered my memory banks was those eyes. She had beautiful big doe eyes like a baby deer, with long lashes that seemingly fluttered like butterfly wings when she blinked.
“Millie? Can it really be?” I said with astonishment.
“Oh my Lord, Ben!” she responded, realizing who I was.
We embraced as if we never wanted to be separated again. Amillia and I were childhood friends. Our parents had raised us together since she was born and I was two years old. As you might imagine being so close for so many years led to us falling in love. She was my best friend, and we were inseparable, that is until Mr. Wright sold her ten years ago. There were two reasons why he sold her away. One was because of our friendship—he hated how close we were. The second was because she fought his advances with her life. He finally decided that since she would not submit to him he would hurt her by separating her from her family. It was apparent that since that time she had no contact with anyone back here on the plantation. I had to inform her of the heartbreaking news.
As I released her from our embrace, I said to her, “I hate that I have to tell you this, Millie, but both your parents died within a year after your departure.”
She stood there for a moment digesting what I figured had to be the toughest news she has ever heard. Her expression went from a surreal disbelief to sudden calmness.
“Lord, I know that they are in a better place now. Watch over them and keep them near the cross.”
“Millie, are you OK?”
“Ben, believe it or not, I am actually relieved. Now I know that they didn’t spend the last ten years worrying about me. I can honestly say that I accept this news as a blessing.”
We embraced again, but this time was different. It was more consoling and retrospecting. I shared with her that I too had lost my parents during that period while she was gone.
We began to walk and talk, catching up on the past ten years. She told me how life at the Foster Plantation where she was sold off to was not so bad. She said the only drawback was that she was separated from her friends and family. I gave her the rundown of my escape and travels over the last few years. Alas, our conversation brought me back to the dilemma I was facing. I still hadn’t made a decision on the direction to take my family. I discussed this with her, and she helped me make my decision. Millie had a way of making things so simply clear. She summed it up in one question.
“Where would you and your brothers have the best opportunity to start your lives anew?”
I had my answer, “We are going west.” Now the only question was would Millie come with us? Only one way to find out, so I asked.
“Millie, what are your plans? I mean, you came all this way to reunite with your family and now… well. I guess what I’m saying is, looks like we all are looking for a fresh start, and I think you should consider moving west as well.”
“Are you asking me to come with you, Ben? If so, why not just say it?”
“How about I say this… Will you marry me?”
“Ben, I don’t know what to say. This is so sudden.”
“Well, of all your possible choices, I like ‘yes’ the best.”
“Yes! Yes, I will come with you. Yes, I will marry you!”
“Well, it’s settled, now let’s go tell my brothers the good news.”
We made our way to the house where my brothers were still inside fussing over warm and cold climates and anything else you could imagine that they couldn’t agree on for our move.
“Hey, fellas, look who I ran into. I told her about our move, and she helped me decide that we are going west, also she is coming with us. Oh yeah, and we are getting married.”
“Must have been one hell of a walk,” Bear interjected with his impeccable timing.
Millie was more than familiar with his sarcasm, and she always thought he was charming in his own way. Nevertheless, my brothers congratulated us both, and we all spent the day and night rejoicing and preparing for what was going to be a life-altering event.