This is how I vanished, 116 people and me. ‘Just gone’ is how some people put it, but I know that it wasn’t that. No one knows the truth of our lives; my life. We should be known. ‘Vanished’ is not good enough. For my story and change of life twice, tells it all.
A blue wave ventured onto the sand of the beach. Then, scuttling back it withdrew its arms of water leaving a painting on the sand. I rubbed my toes into the sand enjoying the feeling. My blue eyes shone with joy and only a little sadness. Memories crowded my mind. The strongest memory was when I left.
It was a Monday afternoon when the news came, some people would travel to the New World and start a colony. My parents wanted me to go. Things would be fine at home and I was to comfort my aunt from her experiences. Finally, I agreed. With tears I left knowing my family would join me later. I would miss them, but I needed to go for my aunt’s sake.
Pushing the memory away, I fell back onto the shore of Roanoke Island, letting the sand stick to my bonnet. This was perfect a moment. No one was ordering me around with the dumb ‘unladylike’ word. Right now, I was free.
“Erica!” A voice cut through the air. It was her. The woman who had escorted me to the New Word. The one who watched me like a hawk, correcting me every few seconds. She was the owner of the ‘unladylike’ word. She was my guardian. I snapped up, brushing the sand off my dress and bonnet. Then, fast walking I slipped on my shoes.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Why would you lay on the ground in such an unladylike way?” She demanded. There was that word again ‘unladylike.’ It was the culprit for all the things I had done wrong in the year of 1590.
“Answer me, Erica Esperanza Veritine!” Aunt Genevieve, the impatient woman snapped me back to attention.
“ I was tired.” I said weakly.
“ I was tired, Aunt Genevieve.” She corrected.
“I was tired, Aunt Genevieve.” I said with a hint of mockery.
“Well come, we must get back. Governor John White has a big announcement to make.”
“Oh and you want to be there when in your imagination he asks you to marry him?” I tell her meaning to be sassy. She blushed and turned away. This time she didn’t correct me.
