The depth of Manacles

18th Century, London 40 pounds. And sold! A slave market. An auction which would change her life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The stink of unwashed bodies hung heavy in the air as slaves, one after the other were presented and sold, mere chattels.A betrayal so ghastly, her soul still shook from it as her new reality threatened to drown her for she was nothing more than a pawn in the world of men and politics, Jennifer longed to escape the confines that fate had so cruelly placed upon her. "And the next slave. A girl seventeen summers old, untouched and beautiful. Going for 50 pounds. Here starts the bidding." Her hair arranged in an elegant coif, a mere mockery of what could have been for the clothes she wore gave not even an illusion of modesty, the lecherous gaze of her bidders made her each step heavier than its predecessor. Being forced up the steps of the crudely designed dias, she watched as men bid on her, she watched as the last semblance of her freedom died as she was sold. And manacled. Forever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When being beautiful may very well be a curse and where love only goes skin deep.....