Tiffany2

�One Girl�s Journey�

      RUN! It was the only thing I could think of as my mama and I shot through the woods on that humid night. Barefooted and half-dressed- the twigs and leaves were cutting through my legs like darts on a bull�s eye. The dogs� barks were getting louder, and I did not know how much longer I could run.

          Finally, my mama and I reached a river and jumped into it. She always said when I see a river jump in, because it will prevent the dogs from taking scent of me. We crawled out of the river and headed into a small cave and waited. The footsteps were getting closer and the barks even louder. Tears began to stream down our faces, as out fates seemed determined. Suddenly, we began to make out what the familiar voices were saying.

          �Do ya see �em?� asked our overseer, shining his kerosene lamp around the wooded area.

          �No,� replied our master, his white face glowing pale in the light. �But they couldn�t have gotten far. Confederate soldiers are all over the place and if they see them, they�ll surely return them to me. Come on; let�s go home.�

          Our master and overseer led the dogs homeward and we sighed with relief. Overwhelmed with exhaustion, my mother fell asleep, but I could not. I kept thinking about my father, brother, and most of all, my baby sister. My father and brother were sent to another plantation, and this was the decisive event that caused my mama to want freedom. We left my baby sister with some of our friends to watch and promised her we would come back to get her as soon as possible.

          I wonder what the future holds for us. The North is supposed to be full of hopes and dreams, but will it hold on to its promises. The South has been so cruel to my family and me. It has split my beautiful family up and caused loneliness in my heart that is almost unbearable. My only hope is that my mother and I make it to the North, and restore our dreams before they are lost forever.

          The hot sweat and gnats on our skin woke mama and I up and we continued our journey to freedom. During the day, we had to walk and stay close to secluded areas because the forest was full of Confederates. Georgia�s heat got to us a few times, but we kept racing for our freedom.

          Our most critical area of the journey was when the Confederates almost caught us. We were running through one of the countless nights when we stumbled upon a small confederate camp. The only thing that saved us was God and the fact that the soldiers were asleep. After the experience, my mama and I finally made it to the safe house where we prepared to be taken to North to freedom.

          Now, I am on a ship to Philadelphia. As I ride it, I think about how my ancestors may have felt. When they crossed the seas, did they dream of being free or did they know their fates? Although the North is supposed to bring freedom me freedom, I do not believe there will ever be a true freedom for me, the Black slave girl. If the people are not judging my gender or status, my color will always be a handicap for me. I just hope that I overcome those obstacles and achieve our goal: to bring our family together again.