Chapter 13

Anna follows my master out and a jolly looking bow tied man closes the door behind them. Finally, I can unclench my tired muscles and just breathe! As soon as I catch hold of my nerves, Elise also breathes a sigh of relief and begins to giggle. Apparently, she's thinking of something hilarious because the look on her face is one of absolute entertainment.

"Is something funny?", I ask her, so confused as to how she could laugh after the embarrassment I just had to endure.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing. I've just never seen him touch a woman.", she explains, thoroughly amused. "I've worked as one of his attendants here for five years and every day, I see maids swooning over him left and right. I was beginning to think he prefers the company of another man, if you know what I mean."

I do not in fact know what she means, but I nod my head to save myself any further embarrassment. There are so many things I must learn about the life of city dwellers and their peculiar households. All of this is so much to take in all at once. As I continue to pretend that I'm following what she is saying, Elise points to the tray on the table with a wiggle of her finger.

"This was made especially for you.", she says and winks at me playfully. "Doctor's orders!"

She pats me on the shoulder and lifts the dome to reveal the most beautiful plate I've ever seen. Between two slices of soft, fluffy bread lies a glorious chunk of grilled meat. But that's not all! It's topped with lettuce and tomato slices and onions and a red sauce. The smell is absolutely divine! To the side of the sandwich are a pickled cucumber spear and some thinly sliced, roasted vegetables. I begin to feast upon it with my gaze and then I feel the drool begin to accumulate in behind my lips.

"Oh, my!", I mumble with wide eyes.

"Bon appetite!", Elise says with a smile before walking out through a side door.

Taking no time at all to ingest the heap of food before be, I sit in front of the platter, pick up a fork, and take a bite of carrot. Delicious! It's been days since I've eaten and now that I've got my first taste of nourishment, the ping of the first swallow is bitter sweet. Now to taste this thing called hambirdjer! Unsure how I'm supposed to eat this, I jab my fork into it and grab the knife. The black tied man at the nearest door snickers. Stopping in my tracks, I look to see him holding his hands out.

"It's a hamburger, my lady. You eat it with your hands."

I look at the plate and back at him, before asking "With my hands?"

"Yes, my dear. Pick it up and take a bite. It's made to be eaten that way."

Skeptically putting the fork and knife down on the plate, I pick up the ham...burger and look back at him. He nods at me with a comforting smile and I take it as reassurance that I'm holding it correctly. And then, I take my first bite of the most delicious food in all the lands. The sauce squishes into my mouth like a little blast of joy and my senses are filled with pleasure.

How have I gone my entire life not knowing the glory of a hamburger? Is this even ham? What part of the pig do they cut this delectable chunk from? I mean to savor every bite, but my terrible hunger appears to get the better of me. In no time at all, I've polished off the entire hamburger and eaten every last thing on my plate. Down to the little sprigs of greenery that were on the plate, I've completely cleaned the porcelain of anything edible.

Feeling a bit saddened at the fact that I have nothing more to eat, I come to terms with the fact that I'm funny anyways. I couldn't eat another bite even if I wanted to. What do I do now? Am I supposed to wait for Elise? Do I attempt to make my way back to the room where I was before? As I look around awkwardly, the jolly man in the black tie addresses me once again.

"Would you perhaps would like some tea, my lady?"

My heart is warmed by how kind this jolly man is but I feel that if he keeps addressing me as someone higher than my status, he may get in trouble.It's possible that I could come into an issue as well if I allow him to continue addressing me as a lady, so I set my mind on correcting him.

"Tea would be lovely. But you shouldn't address me as you would a lady, sir. I'm a slave."

"Right now, you are a slave, my lady, but I feel like that may not be the case forever. You and I, we are both humans with hearts that bleed, don't you think?", he says with his warm smile softening a bit.

"What do you mean? How can one become not a slave? I have a micro-chip. My master can find me if I run. And if I take out the micro chip, I will die anyways. That's a silly feeling to have, sir.", I argue as I look down into my lap, tears beginning to well up in my eyes.

"Oh, my dear, do you not know that slaves can be freed by their masters?

"Freed?"

"You know, sometimes we think we know what we want when we have no idea what we truly need. With time comes experience and with experience comes wisdom. Mr. Velucia is still quite young but he will grow wise with age."

"I don't understand."

"The Velucia family has owned many slaves over countless generations. My mother was a slave. She was freed by Mr. Velucia's grandmother after many years of service. She was bought as a childhood companion for the late Mrs. Velucia. And after the madame married, she freed my mother so that she would have a chance to know that same happiness."

"I never expected that there were people who would free their slaves.", I say with a sniffle.

"After I graduated from the academy, I chose to return to the manor and continue serving the family who was always so good to us. You've met Akida, correct? Her grandmother was a slave as well, though a slave of a different kind and with a different story. But that's not my story to tell. The point is, you see, where there's a will, there's a way. Always keep your faith that things will get better."

Wiping my tears away, I lift my head to look at the jolly man to address him directly, "Thank you very much for your kind words and for sharing your long learned wisdom. May I be so bold as to ask your name, kind sir?"

"Of course, my gentle lady. My name is Emrickson. Emrickson Sherman."

"Pleasure to know you, Emrickson. My name is Euroah Minari. I hope to meet with you often."

"As do I, young Miss Euroah. But for now, I've just heard that your master is asking for you to be escorted to his quarters. A guard will be arriving momentarily."

As my heart sinks into my stomach at the thought of being summoned by the cold man Im incapable of refusing, I stand up and walk to the door where Emrickson has been stationed the entire time. I take a deep breath, look to him, and nod with determination in my motions.

"Where there's a will, there's a way. Things will get better." I declare as I turn to face the door, ready to face my master with renewed hope.