Sobbing Women

"Sobbin' Women"

It was a long ride and now it was a long walk.

I tried to keep my pace as the monster tugged at the leash we were attached to. My bound hands reached out for my sister's. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. The day we dreaded had came to pass. We were sold.

They called us "Sobbin' Women", a stupid reference to a stupid song made by a stupid man for a stupid movie from the time before. It was a disgusting euphemism disguising what we really were. Stolen women.

The three of us trudged along the winding dirt road, he in front leading us like dogs to our "new home." Before we left the jail, the others whispered how lucky we were to be sold together, to a family no less. It was cold comfort considering we were still slaves. Our fates were no longer ours but tied to the slings are arrows of another man's fortune.

"I know this isn't the best situation." My new "husband" declared, breaking the sweet silence. "But I'm a man of my word and a man of the law. Just 10 years and five children. It will fly by."

I bristled at his words. The mere mention of the years of bondage we were assigned, the task we were to complete, was enough to drive any woman to hysterics. Ten years a work horse and broodmare to a man who was my enemy was too much to bare. But they forced us to bare it, nonetheless. They had killed their own women from the weight of their oppression and now they had set their sights on us.

Back home we were free. We ran wild through concrete jungles and ate veraciously from the tree of knowledge. We worked for ourselves and each other, our colorful bodies flourished under the setting sun. Then they invaded. Then they stole us.

Now we had no light. No warmth save the bed of our oppressors. We were in a colorless world with humorless people. Their only passion was violence. They did not seek peace with their neighbors, only dominion over them. And women were just a horrible means to a tragic end.

"Maybe it won't be so bad?" My sister tried to assure me in our language. "Maybe they are good men."

"No man in this world is good, Kadijah. Especially not a man who would buy another person."

My sister, Kadijah was soft hearted. She tried to find the good in everything. But ten years of being in this hell had hardened me, made me resolute. We survived previous masters and we would survive him too. My lips curled into a sly grin that didn't escape Kadijah.

"Why do you smile, Calafia?" She asked.

"I smile because I know the truth. We will be gone from here long before the leaves change. We, dear sister are going to run."