Chapter 43
I continue to bring in a modest sum of money.I buy shoes for Anna,even though she insists I shouldn’t.But those flimsy slave shoes she’s been wearing are literally falling apart.I can tell Anna is grateful.She’s never owned such a fine pair of shoes.
“My feet don’t know how to react,”she says,and is considerably warmer to me than she had been for the past few days.
On one of our night time sessions,Anna links her arm through mine,staring at the moon.
“Elizabeth,”she says quietly.
I tense,knowing this must be something serious.“Yes?”
“I think you should stay here,”she whispers.
I pull away.“I can’t do that.We’re—”
“It won’t be the same for you in Canada as it will be for me.I’ll have someplace to go.I don’t think you’ll be accepted into a freed slave community.Where else would you go?What would you do?You have a job here,people to take care of you.You might even have love.There’s nothing for me here,but you already have a life.”
I shake my head stubbornly.“I won’t do it.”