A fresh start. New beginnings. An escape from the nothingness of the life behind me and the reminders of myprecious family,she thought as she adjusted to the difference in brightness from the platform.
The train was teeming with a variety of passengers, some faces she recognized, traveling for business. Many were strangers waiting impatiently at yet another step toward their final destination.
She checked her ticket, first class. It was a huge splurge, but with a long one-way journey she felt it was money well spent. Her suitcase bumped into the walls and fellow passengers as she continued her way towards her cabin. She reached her door and set the luggage down, taking in the moment.
“Ma’am, we need to keep the hallway clear as we load and unload.” A steward ahead of her appeared, his voice attempting to remain pleasant but firm with instruction.
“Sorry.” She nodded at him in appreciation and grabbed her suitcase, the old leather cracking and peeling off. The steward eyed her luggage and shook his head as he passed by. Her manner of dress was the only clue that she could possibly come from money. The suitcase gave away the truth.
Abigail laid her suitcase on the bed with a heave. The room was a comfortable size, bigger than the room she left behind. A small vanity sat opposite from a narrow closet. Dresser drawers jutted out next to the vanity and were nestled right up against the bed. A lamp that was attached to the top of the dresser had a shade made of stained glass.
She sat with a sigh at the vanity and glanced into the mirror. Previous mirrors she had owned were cloudy and hard to see in. She realized that despite the three proposals, she did not find herself to be a beauty.
Disappointment ached in her heart.It’s perfectly okay that I am plain looking. I need to focus on my future and making money for myself.
It wasn’t long after she made it to her room did the train's whistle sounded and the locomotive churned to life. She leaned over to watch as her past disappeared behind her and left her alone with nothing but renewed hope for her future.
At dinnerlater that evening she sat in the first-class dining car and felt simultaneously fancy and out of place. Her dress was one of her own designs. A careful replication of a dress she saw one time at the docks. The woman wearing the original was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. It was one of her most prized possessions.
The steam from her meal captivated her senses and she scooped a large portion into her salivating mouth. The dining car was half-empty as a variety of people sat and dined.
She kept finding herself staring at a young woman, about her own age, who had the air of sophistication that she so desperately wanted to emulate. She had shiny brown hair that was worn in the latest style, with a puffy crown of hair pulled together in a tidy knot on top.
Her deep purple dress was spilling over with white lace trim and puff sleeves. When she brought her fork to her mouth, it was a small morsel that the woman carefully placed in her small mouth.
She mimicked the other woman’s mannerisms, committing them to memory so that she could carry herself better than she was raised.
The woman must have sensed someone looking at her because Abigail suddenly found herself staring into the young woman’s green eyes for several seconds. She quickly lookedaway and knew deep down she was the one. The one that would change everything for her. The next escape she needed.
It was a familiar feeling, but she couldn’t quite place where she previously felt this way. She brushed the feeling aside and decided that if nothing else she could attempt to befriend her and learn a new way to carry herself.
Abigail braved another glance at the young woman and was surprised to see her hand waving, an invitation to come join her.
Her dinner was all but finished, so she returned the smile and made her way to the other table. She remembered the small bites compared to her normal mouth stuffing size.
Smaller bites. I need to remember that, so I don’t eat my food too fast.The thought invaded her mind as she sat down as gracefully as she could.
“I am sorry for staring. I was surprised to see another woman around my age on this journey.” The young woman spoke quickly before Abigail could say her apologies first.
“I am sorry too, I guess we had the same idea.” Abigail allowed the lie to flow easily. “Thank you for letting me come join you.”
“Of course! My name is Theresa Sanderfelt.” Abigail shook Theresa’s extended hand.
“I’m Abigail Winslow. Where are you heading?”
“I am heading back home to New Orleans to be reunited with my fiancé. I spent the summer with my aunt and uncle to avoid the hot season and to allow for my parents to finalize the marriage agreement. I apparently have a large dowry and had many potential suitors. I have only eyes for my Richard though.”
This woman may come from a wealthy family, but humility was clearly not something she was taught,Abigail thought.
“Richard quite literally swept me off my feet,” Theresa continued. “I was walking with my friend, Margaret, as we headed downtown for some afternoon tea. I wasn’t payingattention to where I was walking and wandered just slightly into the walking path for the horses pulling carriages!” Theresa gasped for dramatic effect.
Instinctively both Abigail and Theresa leaned in closer. The drama pulled Abigail in and she was genuinely interested in the rest of the story.
“Just as I heard someone scream for me to move, I felt a strong hand grab my arm and pull me out of the way, just before I would have collided with a horse. Can you believe it?”
Theresa collapsed back against her seat as though retelling the story exhausted her.
Why does that story feel so familiar?Abigail pondered, her body remained leaning forward.I must have read a similar story in a book as a child.
