April 2, 1861

Dear diary...

Today, I had the misfortune of coming across a little girl. She was awfully small with beautiful blue eyes and a bright smile. Although she was indeed pleasant and kind, she almost cost me my life.

I was walking towards the mills when she appeared on a horse. I almost froze in my place mesmerized by it's essence. I snapped out of it once she fell and the dark horse ran off. I quickly helped her up and decided to take her back to the house in order to clean her wounds.

"Let's get you fixed up" I told her quietly. She nodded silently and I brought her into the bathroom.

I hushed her quietly keeping her calm until I finished. "Better?" I asked. "Yes, much better. Thank you" She murmured pulling me into a hug. I smiled patting her back and we began to walk out of the bathroom.

"What do you think you're doing?" A tall man asked in a firm voice.

"Master, I apologize. I just needed to help her" I told him, making sure she stayed behind me.

He raised a brow glancing down at her. "Did I give you permission?" He asked.

I shook my head. I knew what was to come. I could almost feel myself already flinching from the whip. I only wanted to help her. After all, she was only a child. Innocent and pure...

"Look at me when I'm speaking to you slave!" He scolded. I looked into his eyes which were practically glistened with rage.

"My apologies, sir. It won't happen again" I told him. I needed to stay calm. I knew the child was just as fearful as I. But I had to protect her. Eventually she left safely with her horse.

However, I was taken to the barn for my punishment. Twenty of the other servants stood silently as he prepared the whip.

I faced the wall and took in a deep breath.

'Just breathe, Maige. It'll be over soon' I thought to myself. I clenched my jaw as I felt the first lashes of the whip hitting against my back. I wanted to scream, but instead I was silent.

"1.." He counted. I closed my eyes as he continued.

"10.." He spoke loudly. Ten? How was he already at ten? I listened to him count every hit and yet we were already at ten. I could feel my body shaking, holding back the tears.

'Be strong, Maige. You can do this, only a few more' I thought to myself. My thoughts were racing, I could hardly focus. All I could think about was the pain of the whip against my back, which was now covered in blood.

"20.." Once he finished, I could feel myself fall to the ground, barely conscious.

How can a person be so cruel to another human being? Yes, our skin may be different, along with our culture, but do we not have the same morals? Breathe the same air, share the same Earth? It isn't fair to want what others have, when all you want is something as simple as a meal, or even a glass of water. Why is it that we suffer so that others may feast?

It was at that moment, I knew. I had to escape. I could not spend the rest of my life as a slave. I had to free myself from this, but how? I couldn't leave my sister or my father behind, who were also kept as servants.

I wanted to figure this out as soon as I could...