The next few days went by in a blur. My heart raced at the signature I produced when I made a deal with Matthew and I anticipated my departure with hope and anxiousness about my future at the Conkett estate. I enjoyed Matthews stories with the rest of the town and smiled at my neighbors but I bit my tongue and relished my secret about leaving. I never knew anyone to leave and here I was leaving in a short amount of time. I continued on as I normally did and smiled at knowing that each task was my last. I felt a tiny bit guilty about not sharing these facts with my family and some of my closest friends so they had a chance to wish me farewell, but I knew that if I did, they would try to hold me back, and not for my benefit but for theirs. At the time, I made a decision for me and me alone and I am still proud to say that I did a selfish thing for the benefit of me.
On the third day, I awoke before the sun hit my face. Never one to wake up with the sun, I took this time to tiptoe around my tiny room and packed up a few of my possessions in my bag that I would need. I looked around my plain room, with my well loved quilt and simple furniture and felt a sense of remorse of leaving behind my childhood sanctuary. Sighing, I picked up my bag and closed the door, realizing this is the only heartfelt goodbye I would have as I left.
I arrived at the town square to find Matthew packing up his wagon, a look of disgruntlement on his face. I flinched when I saw some bystanders watching him pack up, tears in their eyes as they cried out farewells to him. Though my family was not among them, I inwardly groaned when I saw Catherine and Aaron Gerard, creating the best acting I would imagine I ever saw. Catherine was daintily dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief while Aaron soothed his mother consongly with a side hug and rubbing her arms in comfort. I pretended to puke before I huffed and walked up to Matthew, refocused on why I chose to leave.
Matthew saw me approaching and his eyes relaxed. I gave a big smile and rushed over to him, holding onto my bag with support. I heard the farewells cease as I threw my bag in the back of the wagon and patted the team on the nose.
With a broad smile, I loudly called out to Matthew, and those eavesdroppers "Anything I can help with before we get going?"
Matthew chuckled but the look of astonishment on everyone's faces was priceless. "Nah Lis, hop onto the seat and we will leave right now. You took your time girl, I was waiting too long for ya."
"Sorry Matthew, I was packing. I am ready now" I hopped up on the bench and waited for Matthew to jump up as well, only to have Aaron step in my line of view. Without another thought, Aaron held onto the team's reins and stared me down as Catherine Gerard walked up to Matthew, all tears disappeared from her eyes.
"Matthew, darling. What kind of joke are you and sweet Lisbeth doing here! You know that we are under instructions to never leave. And even if you could, you could never take my future daughter-in-law away from us." Catherine Gerard chuckled and flashed a brilliant smile, like she was in on some joke. "Lisbeth, sweetheart, jump off that filthy wagon and come here please."
I turned my gaze from Aaron and looked quickly at Matthew, hoping he understood my look as an early apology for the drama I brought to him. Looking at Catherine Gerard with my usual sweet smile I tilted my head to the side and prepared myself for a beautiful moment with her.
"Why Mrs. Gerard, would I ever listen to a bitch like you when I am off to bigger and better things?"
A gasp erupted from the crowd and Catherine Gerard's smile dropped but I kept going.
"I have found a way out from your horrible, manipulative claws and I am so thrilled that I will never have to marry into your family and your awful son." My voice started rising but I couldn't stop, my feelings that were bubbling up for weeks, finally coming free from my thoughts. "If I married your son, we both know I would have reported him for his affair and illegitimate child to Mrs. Anderson, and we all know you would have found a way to destroy me. I am not your puppet to play with! I am a human being, with my own life, and own decisions and I will not be manipulated by you any longer!" I took a deep breath and pressed on. "I have signed a deal to leave this place once and for all. I will never have to see your awful faces ever again. And I pray to whoever will listen that this town will stop feeling some morbid obligation to the Gerard family and build a life of their own choosing. Forget this auction, forget the one elder who decides your fate. Everyone should have a say what their fate should be! I swear, give up on the Gerard names and choose new representatives to support you."
I turned to Aaron, who glared at me with a red face. Not afraid of him anymore I knelt close to him from the bench and glared right back.
"Now, my dear, if you don't let go of those reins, I swear, I will reveal more of your precious secrets, along with a nice kick in your nether regions so that Matthew and I are not delayed any longer. I hope you can find a better 'servant' than me." With a spit, I tried aiming at his face, but not one to often spit in anyone's face, it only landed on his boots. Still shocked by my assault, he dropped the reins and jumped back. Still feeling escalated from my confession, I cried out to Matthew.
"I am ready when you are sir!" With a nod to the townsfolk, he yanked his arm free of Catherine Gerard and climbed quickly up in the seat with me. Grabbing the reins, he clicked and drove the team towards the thin path out of the town, ready to see if I was able to pass through the barrier with him. The townsfolk, overcome with shock, started following, jogging behind us, mumbling among themselves of the events that were to come and those that I would hopefully leave behind. Surprisngly, I overheard some applauding my bravery, especially since there was no way I was going through the barrier, some wondering what I would do outside in the real world, some feeling sympathetic to my family, wondering if they knew of my folly. I kept a straight face, nervous of what everyone was saying but focusing on the team's ears as they led me to the barrier.
Before we could make it, I heard a cry from Abigail, huffing loudly behind the wagon screaming my name. Turning, I saw tears in her eyes, as she faced me. Smiling gently, I waved as she stopped, and used both hands to scream at me.
"I'll miss you! I'll look over your family and let them know you love them. I love you and take care!"
Letting a small tear slip from my eye, I used both hands to scream at her "I love you too, and thank you! Take care!"
With a final wave, I faced forward, facing the real challenge – the barrier. Matthew slowed the team, and faced me, a look of concern on his face.
"You ready Lis?"
I looked quickly back at the townsfolk, my family, my childhood and smiled at the memories I would be leaving behind. I felt some sadness, but I felt mostly excitement over the future that was before me and knowing I was in charge of my own destiny.
With a smile I faced Matthew and nodded my acknowledgement. "Ready."
He faced forward, and drove the team towards the barrier. Gripping the seat, I watched as the barrier reached towards me and prepared myself for impact. As I watched the team walk through the barrier, I closed my eyes, waiting to be thrown off and stuck with the townspeople of Cromerth for all of my days. Before I knew it, I felt Matthews hand upon mine and I opened my eyes to find that I was through the barrier. Releasing a sigh, I let out the air I was holding and laughed stupidly, surprised by the first appearance of this new world I stumbled into. I laughed at my audacity of leaving and being able to leave and knowing I was off to new things. I laughed until tears poured from my eyes and I kept echoing over and over the words I always wanted to say.
"I'm free, I'm free, I am finally free!"