Indigo

by Beverly Jenkins

"Does this man own you, Mary?" The woman nodded her head. Hester looked to the man. "Do you own them, sir?" "Yes." Hester told Mary, "By the laws of the state of Michigan you became free the moment you arrived. If you want to be free, the choice is yours." The owner interrupted. "She knows all about the law, she doesn't want to be free. Look at her, you can see by her clothing that I treat her well, why would she want to be a destitute and penniless fugitive?" He came over and stood before Mary and implored her in an emotion-filled voice, "Think of what you're throwing away. How are you going to feed the girls, where are you going to go? I told you I'd free you in a few years, and I'm going to keep my promise." "No you won't," Mary whispered. Their eyes held. He slowly placed a finger against her cheek and stroked it with the tenderness of a lover. Mary's lids closed and a tear slid down to meet the caress. His voice was soft. "But I will, I will. Don't leave me, Mary... please..." "You sold my sons," she told him, her voice choked with pain and grief. "The children of my flesh, the children of your flesh, and you sold them like they were nothing more than pigs at the trough." "Darling, I'm sorry. That was business, I explained that." "Business?! Will you sell the girls for business?" she demanded through her tears. "Would you sell your daughters too?!" He wouldn't or couldn't answer. "I will hate you for the rest of my life for what you've done. May the Lord have mercy up...

Jenkins is always catching me with this tragic shit out of nowhere