I Will Not Become a Victim

I LOVE IT

Anh Co Tran

“I can try to find it myself, I just… I don’t know the way. And I certainly don’t want to get lost. That’s all.” 

The walk to the river was quiet and fairly brief. It was not an incredibly long trip, especially for someone like Vin who knew all the best shortcuts. Reaching the river, Vin drew in a deep breath of the moist air and stepped aside to give Elizabeth access to the water. Giving the woman some privacy, he crouched down in front of Billy and distracted him. “Now what’d I teach you last time about knowing if the water’s safe or not?” Dutifully, the boy began reciting everything Vin had taught him about reading currents, how to tell if the water level was too high and might be flooding, and how the water was often much colder under the surface then people would think. Deeply focused, he paid no attention to what Elizabeth might be doing while she prepared for her swim.

“Besides. If you two hadn’t shown me that I wasn’t some hideous wretch like they would have had me believe, I never would have had the courage to even talk to Kit. I remember well… When you forced me in front of that mirror… It was the first time in my life I actually felt pretty for myself, Mary. When my mother was alive, I lived in her shadow. Not that she meant it to be that way, but she was always so beautiful and so perfect. And I wanted so badly to be just like her, but I never could. And it made me feel like a failure. Then Madam and the girls… Well, they’d have done or said anything to destroy me and make me feel as ugly as they were inside.”

Mary listened to Ella quietly, smiling softly as the girl extolled the many ways she and Belle had helped her, giving her a new view on herself after all the cruel things her step-mother and step-siblings put her through. As her friend reached the end of her speech, Mary reached across to take Ella’s hand and squeeze it lightly. “We might have given you the self-confidence to talk with Kit but it was your own charms that won him over and stole his heart.” Mary smiled. “Never forget that.  You are a charming, beautiful kind woman and that is what has carried you so far. Belle and I just provided some support and encouragement.” Squeezing her hand again, Mary then leaned back in her chair. “Now, tell me all of the exciting things that you and Kit have been up too since we last spoke. How is restoring your father’s house going? What kind of progress are you making with it?” Restoring the old manor would be a long job but Mary was sure Ella and Kit would complete it. Ella was so passionate about it that her force of will would be enough to see the project through if nothing else.  Mary was sure though that Kit was equally as excited—he loved Ella so much that any project which brought her joy would bring him joy as well.

She Turned Her Back on Me and Went Imperturbably On With Her Sketching, 1906, Charles M. Russell