Chapter 13

Anna follows my master out, and a jolly looking bow tied man closes the door behind them. Finally, I can relax my tired muscles and just breathe! As soon as I catch hold of my nerves, Elise also breathes a sigh of relief, and begins to giggle. I'm beginning to notice that she does a lot of that. Apparently, she's thinking of something hilarious because the look on her face is one of absolute entertainment.

"Is something funny?", I ask her, so confused as to how she could laugh after the tension in the room was just so thick, it could be cut with a knife.

"Oh, I'm sorry, it's nothing. I've just never seen him touch a woman before.", she explains, thoroughly amused. "I've worked as one of his attendants here for five years, and every day, I see maids swooning over him left and right. I was beginning to think he prefers the company of other men, if you know what I mean. It turns out he just needed himself a little damsel in distress, is all."

I do not, in fact, know what she means, but I nod my head to save myself any further embarrassment for today. There are so many things I need to learn about the life of city dwellers and their peculiar households. All of this is just so much to take in all at once. As I continue to pretend that I'm following what she is saying, Elise points to the tray on the table with a wiggle of her finger.

"This was made especially for you.", she says, with a playful wink. "Doctor's orders!"

She pats me on the shoulder, and lifts the dome to reveal the most beautiful plate I've ever seen! Between a perfectly sliced, soft, fluffy bun lies a glorious chunk of grilled meat. But that's not all! It's topped with lettuce and tomato slices, and onions and a red sauce too. The smell is absolutely divine! To the side of the sandwich are a pickled cucumber spear and some thinly sliced, roasted vegetables. I begin to feast upon it with my eyes, as I feel the drool begin to accumulate behind my lips.

"Oh, my!", I mumble with wide eyes.

"Bon appetite!", Elise says with a smile before walking out through a side door.

Taking no time at all to dive into the heap of food before me, I sit in front of the platter, pick up a fork, and take a bite of carrot. Delicious! It's been days since I've eaten, and now that I've got my first taste of nourishment, the ping of the first swallow is bitter sweet. It's painful as the food hits my gut, yet so satisfying at the same time. Now to taste this thing called hambirdjer! Unsure how I'm supposed to eat this, I jab my fork into it and grab the knife. The black tied man at the nearest door snickers. Stopping in my tracks, I look to see him holding his hands out.

"It's a hamburger, my lady. You eat it with your hands."

I look at the plate and back at him, before asking, "With my hands?"

"Yes, my dear. Pick it up and take a bite. It's made to be eaten that way. Don't worry."

Skeptically putting the fork and knife down on the plate, I pick up the ham...burger and look back at him. He nods at me with an approving smile, and I take it as reassurance that I'm holding it correctly. And then, I take my first bite of the most delicious food in all the lands. The sauce squishes into my mouth like a little blast of joy and my senses are filled with pleasure. Even the heavens must not have food this tasty!

How have I gone my entire life not knowing the glory of a hamburger? Is this even ham? What part of the pig do they cut this delectable piece from? I mean to savor every bite, but my terrible hunger appears to get the better of me. In no time at all, I've polished off the entire hamburger and eaten every last thing on my plate. Down to the little sprigs of green that were on the side, I've completely cleaned the porcelain of anything edible.

Feeling a bit disheartened at the fact that I have nothing more to devour, I come to terms with the fact that I'm full anyway. I couldn't eat another bite, no matter how badly I want to. What do I do now? Am I supposed to wait for Elise? Do I attempt to make my way back to the room where I was before? As I look around awkwardly, the jolly man in the black tie addresses me once again.

"Would you perhaps like some tea, my lady?"

My heart is warmed by how kind this jolly man is, but I feel that if he keeps addressing me as someone higher than my status, he may get in trouble. I don't particularly mind it, but I have a feeling that my master wants me to remember my rank, and being referred to as a 'lady' probably isn't very conductive to that. It's possible that I could come into an issue as well, if I allow him to continue addressing me as a lady, so I set my mind on correcting him.

"Tea would be lovely. But, you shouldn't address me as you would a lady, sir. I'm a slave."

"Right now, you are a slave, my dear, but I feel like that may not be the case for long. You and I, we are both humans with hearts that bleed, don't you think?", he says with his warm smile softening a bit.

"What do you mean? How can one become not a slave? I have a microchip. My master can find me if I run. And if I take out the microchip, I will die anyway. That's a silly feeling to have, sir.", I argue, as I look down into my lap.

"Oh, but dearie, do you not know that slaves can be freed by their masters if they choose to do so?

"Freed?"

"You know, sometimes we think we know what we want when we are young. And then, one day, we wake up and realize that we have no idea what we truly need. With time comes experience, and with experience comes wisdom. Mr. Velucia is still quite young, but he will grow wise with age. As will you, my lady. Only time will tell."

"I don't understand."

"The Velucia family has owned many slaves over countless generations. I'll let you in on a secret. My own mother was a slave. She was freed by Mr. Velucia's grandmother, after many years of service. She was purchased as a childhood companion for the late Mrs. Velucia. After the madame married, she freed my mother, so that she could get the chance to know that same happiness, to find love, and to raise a family."

"I never expected that people would willingly choose to free their slaves.", I say with a sniffle. "What a beautiful heart the late Mrs. Velucia had. If only it had been carried down to my master."

"You know, you'll never know one's true heart until you allow them to show it to you. After I graduated from the academy, I chose to return to the manor and continue serving the family who was always so good to us. You've met Akida, correct? Her grandmother was a slave as well, though she was a slave of a different kind, and with a different story. But that's not my story to tell. The point is, you see, where there's a will, there's a way. Always keep your faith that things will get better."

His optimism is so touching. And Akida, no wonder she was so willing to help me. Her grandmother was a slave, just like me, and she probably had to face her own inner turmoil, knowing that she was on the other side of what her grandmother had to go through. Unknowingly, pools of tears have accumulated in my eyes and begun to flow down my cheeks. Wiping them away with the palms of my hands, I lift my head to look at the jolly man and address him directly.

"Thank you very much for your kind words, and for sharing your long learned wisdom. May I ask your name, sir?"

"Of course, my good lady. My name is Emrickson. Emrickson Sherman."

"Pleasure to know you, Emrickson. My name is Euroah Minari. I hope to meet with you often."

"As do I, young Miss Euroah. But for now, I've just heard that your master is asking for you to be escorted to his quarters. A guard will be arriving momentarily."

Why now? Why again? I was finally at peace, sharing a hopeful conversation with a kind soul, and he's calling for me again already? What does he want from me this time? As my heart sinks into my stomach, at the thought of being summoned by the cold man I'm incapable of refusing, I stand up and walk to the door where Emrickson has been stationed the entire time. I take a deep breath, look to him, and nod with determination in my motions.

"Where there's a will, there's a way. Things will get better." I repeat his words, as I turn to face the door, ready to face my master with restored hope for the future.