Dreams Diminished

During the next few months, Katherine and Daniel were free, well as free as two runaways could be. Traveling by the light of the moon searching for a place where they could be together. Living in caves to keep warm and surviving off of nature. They dreamed of the life that awaited them, the marriage that they dreamed of. Nothing seemed impossible anymore everything to them was finally going right. Even in the coldest wind could not extinguish their love for each other. Each night they traveled not keeping track of time as they ventured farther in the direction they believed to be North to freedom.

If they did see a town Katherine would go and sell a treasure from home for supplies and people just thought she was a peasant woman working for an employer. Or if the town seemed rough then Daniel would go and no one paid much attention to him, he spoke in a slave tone and made sure not to look at anyone. The traveling did get harder for the weather was not their friend but they didn't give up. They still had a dream to achieve and for once they could be together.

Months passed and they continued to travel until finally they found a place to call home. They came upon another small village and when the people saw Katherine and Daniel no one asked any questions. Still they ventured to the outskirts of the town and found an old cabin that was abandoned. According to the town it belonged to an old hermit that died two months ago. The area around it was so beautiful. On the far right were endless woods that would soon grow fruit to eat or supply for firewood. In the very back was a lake now frozen but it glistened in the moon light. Katherine looked up at her old friend the moon and realized this was to be their new home.

"Daniel it is perfect, let's just stay here and start our life together," she said holding his hand.

"Are you sure Daydream, we can keep going till we know for sure that we are in the North," he said bringing her closer to him. Daniel loved this place to but wanted to make sure they were in the North so he and Katherine could truly be together. He just hoped that the north was all he heard it was.

"I know but no one knows who we are and we can start new. Let's just stay and have our life here. If anything goes wrong we can leave I promise," Katherine said smiling at him.

"Okay, let's do it," Daniel said. They began fixing the cabin together. Chopping wood and fixing the house up to live in. Each nail set into place as the windows were fixed. It took many months but soon the cabin was fixed. Daniel held Katherine by the waist as they gazed at their new cabin together. The roof was built stronger and the windows no longer cracked but solid and gleamed in the moon light. He even made an extra room for future little ones. A fireplace was in the living room and Katherine bought some cooking utensils for their small kitchen. It was a small quaint home for them but it was their home. Daniel still had one more dream he wanted to fulfill, though.

They were in their new home and Katherine later learned tomorrow was going to be her birthday. She would be 18 for they had been traveling for two years and Daniel wanted her birthday to be truly special. "Daydream can I ask you a question?" Daniel asked walking over to her. Katherine was in the rocking chair Daniel made for her gazing into the fire her life complete.

"Of course silly, what is it?" she asked looking up with a smile. Daniel looked at her with such love and devotion it made her heart melt. He held her hand and began to speak.

"I know you asked me never to steal but this, I promise you, was my last time," he told her gently. He held out a gold ring it had flowers made from

diamonds and Katherine cried when she saw it, the ring belonged to her mother. "You always said that you dreamed of marrying for love like her so this ring will symbolize your greatest dream. But my question is," he said as he began to get down on one knee. Katherine began to tear up more when she saw this for her true dream was coming true. "Will you Katherine Johnson, be my wife?" he asked slipping the ring on her finger.

"Yes, yes I will," she said sliding her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. Both hearts began to beat as one and they knew they found their greatest dream.

The wedding took place in their cabin on Katherine's birthday. Since no one could marry them legally they did their own ceremony. It was snowing again and Daniel managed to find some wild flowers still growing. To Katherine's joy a full moon was out meaning her friend could witness it through the windows. While Daniel made her a wedding bouquet she was sewing his good shirt, it was just a simple black shirt she had bought for him, and black pants for their wedding. Soon the time had come and Daniel stood a few inches away from the fire place wearing a black shirt and pants with his boots. His hair was a bit long but he smoothed it back on his head, as he waited for his bride.

Katherine came out in a flowing sky blue dress, it was to the floor and the sleeves fell past her delicate fingers, her hair fell in a single braid, she wore simple sandals and held her wildflowers smiling at Daniel. Instead of a veil she wore a deep blue cloak that sparkled in the moonlight and trailed behind her. Holding Daniel's hand they began to recite their vows. "I, Daniel take Katherine to be my wedded wife now and forever. I vow to always love and cherish her. To keep her safe from any danger and to make all her dreams come true," he said slipping the ring on her finger.

"I, Katherine take Daniel to be my wedded husband now and forever. To love him and be there for him whenever he needs me. I vow to make him happy and to take care of him in sickness and in health. For better or for worse and to protect him from danger and to make his dreams come true," she said slipping a ring on his finger. They smiled and kissed each other sealing their vows as husband and wife. They knew not even death could part them, so they left that part of the vows out of the ceremony.

Unbeknown to them a group of slave traders had come to the village seeking shelter and saw their cabin. "Hey boys a light is on, let's see who is home," said the leader in a crackling voice. They looked through the window and saw a white woman kissing a slave. Rage filled them as they decided to teach both the woman and the slave a lesson. Two men broke the door down and Daniel stood in front of Katherine.

"Who are you? What do you men want?" Daniel asked a bit loud but he was a tad fearful.

"Shut up boy we will be asking the questions. Real cozy place you have ma'am too bad you we are taking it from you," said the leader eyeing Katherine with a lustful look.

"Don't you be looking at my wife!" Daniel yelled. The leader punched Daniel in the gut causing him to fall on his knees.

"Wife?" the slave traders looked at each other, "Well maybe we can be like the lords of the land and take your wife to the bed chamber for a go," They laughed as Katherine kneeled over Daniel crying. The two men grabbed her while the leader looked her over.

"Tell me why such a pretty lady would let a slave touch her. Let me show you how a white man kisses you," he said. Grabbing her neck he forced his lips on her. She reacted by kneeing him in the groin. The leader yelled out in pain slapping her as Daniel finally able to get up hit the men holding Katherine over the head with a frying pan.

"Come on!" he told her and they made a run for it. They made it outside almost to the lake but a gunshot echoed through the woods and Katherine felt a pain in her chest. "Katherine!" Daniel cried grabbing onto her. Before he could say anything to her the two men hit him over the head and dragged him away. "No, Katherine!" Daniel shouted as he struggled to get free.

The leader seized Katherine by the shoulders and she spat blood in his face. He dropped her and whipped his face, "Time to really teach you a lesson," he snarled grabbing her hair as hard as he could, dragging her over to the lake, and shoving her into the icy water. Katherine struggled but couldn't get free. She scratched at the man's arms and face but he continued to hold her. The last thing she remembered was a gun shot and Daniel's voice echoing through the water. Then her world went cold and dark.