All Our Lives

Chapter 1

    Today was white day in the village and everyone was told to wear white. This year I had planned to wear yellow, hence, it was my favorite color. Oh how my aunt hated the color and often called it ghastly. Oh silly me, I have not introduced myself. My maiden name is Marabeth Crimson. But my aunt calls me Mara Crim. I stood in front of the mirror checking my reflection and fix my long hazel hair into a braid. I added a sunflower to my hair, as it matched my dress.

    Soon my aunt came into the room and sighed. “Mara Crim I swear I shall never understand that unpleasant dress you wear.” She scoffed.

I shook my head happily and smiled at her. “As I recall I am 24 today and I can wear what I please.” My aunt shook her head and reached for my hands to hold them. I gave her my hands and she squeezed them.

    “You have grown to look just like your mother. So beautiful and kind.” She said with a heavy sigh. “I truly wish you all the best when you leave here.” She added as she pulled me into a hug.

I hugged her back. It was true I would move away from here once I retire from the church. I am going to England tomorrow to live out the rest of my days. My aunt smiled at me then left the room.I turned back to the mirror and sighed. What type of man would want a 224 year old as their wife? Ah that’s right they would never know. I smiled to myself being a bit sad that I may never find a person who I would be able to share my secret.  I fluffed my dress and put back on my smile. I walked out into the living room and picked up my flowers. A bouquet of roses shows maturity and pureness. My aunt smiled and nodded.

“Alright, let us go now.” She said, grabbing her satchel and her key. I walked behind her and out the door. I could see everyone even the children looking at my dress. I have always been different other than my magical abilities. I liked the mud and bugs. The other girls from richer families would laugh at me. But I didn’t care. I loved the free feeling of being able to think for myself.

Soon I felt a sharp pain on my arm. My aunt scolded me. “Pay attention girl and watch where yah look.” She whispered in my ear. I nodded my head and focused back onto reality. I love my aunt and it would be hard to leave her but, she wants me to be independent and explore the world. Going to England would be a great place for me to start fresh. There I will start a new journey.

We arrived at the church a few moments later. My aunt and I sat in the middle row because we weren’t of rich persona. We hadn’t paid our tithe yet which was five dollars every Sunday. Unfortunately, we were only able to give up two dollars because the rest of the money was used for food. The ladies in the front always whispered the same nonsense and gossip. They always talked about how the preacher’s wife committed adultery ever Saturday just to be cleansed that Sunday. Or how the soldiers in England were no do gooders and would never be allowed in Italy.

These old bats talked non stop throughout the retirement ceremony. But besides that, I heard my aunt pray. Not for the church but for me. We didn’t like going to church but I, well we, were required to go since my parents were Evil Sprites. They wanted to make sure I was pure. I scoffed to myself. Bastards. To hell with them.  Soon the ceremony was over.

My aunt and I were heading home when we had heard a shout in the distance. The shout startled us, causing us to look and see where it had came from. It was another woman. She was tied up and shackled and was being carried off to the burning circle. Ever since that day, we have never walked past it, even though it was the shortest way home.

We turned back around and quickly walked back to our little home. I mourned for another poor soul who was done wrong by the very people she had trusted to protect her. Once I dried my tears I went out back to my aunt’s garden and tended to the weeds. I plucked a few berries to eat as a snack. My aunt had called me back inside to wash up and finish packing the rest of my clothes. She had almost cried so she excused herself and went into the kitchen to pack me a food basket. I smiled sadly in the direction of the kitchen. She had always been there to protect and care for me. I would always love her; she was like a second mother to me.

An hour later I had finished packing and made my way into the kitchen, setting my baskets of clothing by the back door. My aunt sat at the table next to where the food basket she had prepared for me was. She had a blank expression on her face. “I hope there’s enough in there for the long walk and the carriage ride. There is money in your bag. Hopefully you can buy a place for yourself.” She explained as she started to get teary-eyed again.

    I walked over to her and hugged her. “I love you, Auntie.” I whispered into her ear. Not long after I did, she began to sob. My eyes were getting watery as I rubbed her back. I couldn’t stop a few from spilling. This was the last time that I’d be able to feel the warmth of my Aunt.

   
    The morning sun shined through my window. My stomach was still stuffed with dinner from the night before. I sat up and yawned, covering my mouth. I could smell breakfast cooking from the kitchen. It was how I always knew whether my aunt was awake or not. I got out of bed, stretched and walked over to the chair to look over my outfit. I wanted to look nice today. Once I finished looking over my clothes, I slide on my cotton-made robe and walked into the kitchen. I smiled seeing my aunt by the firewood stove.

“Good morning.” I sat down at the table and grabbed my own silverware.

She looked back and softly smiled at me. “Good morning Mara.”

This morning felt so peaceful and calm. It hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Today I was actually glad to have been leaving. We ate our breakfast and talked about my parents a little bit. My aunt said that they were the most beautiful couple that could be imagined. My mother had made most of my old baby clothes and shoes. My father made most of the squash and green peas that I ate. They were the happiest when they found out that I was a girl. They had even made my name from the combination of theirs. Mara came from my father’s middle name, and Beth had came from my mother’s name, Bethany.

My parents had weird names i said this to her many times before. My aunt had laughed at me and said that I was a very weird baby so I deserved the name that I had got. I smirked at her, accepting the fact that I was weird.

        Soon we finished reminiscing and our breakfast was now in our stomachs. I offered to wash the trays, but she insisted that I went to wash my face and get dressed. I nodded and headed into my room. I got dressed in a cream colored dress and wore my yellow shoes that had silver buttons to tighten them up. Then I braided my hair into a parted style. My hair was getting long, but it didn’t bother me much.

Once I had finished getting dressed I looked at the reflection. I looked beautiful. My aunt was waiting at the door when I left my room. Her eyes looked like they were puffy from crying. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her before grabbing my bag.