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He always wanted to leave, Marcus.

As long as I can remember we had been servants; being controlled by Master Collin and his wife, Edna. Edna was the kind one, but she must follow her husband. In the spare time she had, she would bring us bits of bread and biscuits… In those days when Marcus was still here…

Marcus was my best friend. He was my only friend on this confounded ranch.

Sometimes I sit and wonder.

“What happened to him?”

I was curious after all.

I ever so longingly want to know… I desire a hope in which the truth will surely blossom.

I want to believe that he has survived.

He and his mother worked here on the ranch. His mother worked for Master Collin.

Every day I saw her. She would fold linens for the master overnight. She looked so hollow and empty.

November 16, 1832, Florence, Kentucky

Master Collin was such a horrid person… He was joyless and unsympathetic. I mostly worked for the second wife of the Master, Edna. Edna was kind. She was stiff and odd around her husband; as she was to follow his rules and orders.

Marcus and his mother hated working for Collin. He would yell and scream at them all throughout the day.

I remember when they got away. It was about a year ago. I woke up at 5 o’clock, as I usually do. I was going to meet Marcus at the stream. He was my only friend. There weren't many children like me on this ranch. So, because I saw Marcus a lot, we grew closer. Our mothers always brought us to the stream for bath time, and ever since Master Collin grew bitter, and my mother left, we’d gone by ourselves. We would wash our faces and play in the water until time to clean or fold or pick up after the horses. One day, my mother got taken away to a different ranch, and I was left with just Marcus and his mother.

I awoke one day to find he wasn’t by the shelter, or the house, or the stream.

He had disappeared. He escaped. I had never been able to escape, nor had my mother.

At least they were safe. I hope…

November 23, 1832, Florence, Kentucky